The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-11-03

you, to relieve present anxieties. that
a few employees of your fathers firm
have guaranteed the expenses OF your
mothers funeral, and they also gave
me a sovereign to tide you over the
next few days"
Funeral. The word struck with
sledge hammer force. Phil had not
thought of that. He remembered the
dismal pomp OF such events In this
squalfd locality. the loud sobbing OF
women, the hard faced agony OF men.
the frightened curiosity of children.
His mother. so dear, so tender. so soft
cheeked--the bright, beautiful, laugh
Ing woman OF their life in Dieppe-
to be taken away from him forever,
and permitted to fade slowly into
nothingness in some dreadful place,
hidden from the sunshine and the
flowers she loved. For the first time
he understood death. When his father
was killed his mother was left. Anx-
ious tending on her dispelled the hor-
ror of the greater tragedy. Now all
was lost. The tears that he hated
were yelling forth again, and he saw
agely bit his lip.
You have been--very good--to US
ever-I can repay you
There, there; not q word. Bless
my soul, yours is difficult case
Again the doctor tackled his glove.
He glanced at his watch.
-Four o'clock! / am an hour late
on my rounds. No, Phil. Don't go
upstairs. There are some women COM
ing. Wait until they have tended
your mother. And--one last word. II
will do you no good to keep vigil by
her side Best think of her as living,
not dead. You will be grateful for
my advice in after life"
The woman arrived, coarse bu,
kindly hearted creatures. One OF
them gave the boy a packet OF let
tiers.
II found 'em under the dear lady's
pillow" she said. Neither poverty
nor death robbed Mrs. Arson of the
respect paid to her by all who came
in contact with her.
THE LETTER
He sat down, united string whicf
bound the letters together. and
looked at the address on the first
envelope. 1t bore his mothers name
and recent postmark. Wondering
dolefully what correspondence she
could nave had during these later
months that demanded such careful
preservation. he took out the letter
Suddenly he hestiated. Perhaps these
documents alluded to something which
his mother did not wish him to know
For an instant his impulse was &c
consign the packet to the fire. No,
that might be wrong. He would
glance at their general purport and
init 70 a Aoy q ~
thought fit.
The letter in his hand was headed
The Hall. Be1tham, Dover ant
dated about month earlier. 1t read
Dear Madam: I am requested
by Sir Philip Morland to ask you
not to trouble him with further
correspondence This is the fourth
time / have been desired by him
to write in these terms, so please
note that your letters will in
future remain unanswered. Yours
truly, LOUISA MORLAND."
The curt incivility of the not,
brought an angry flush to the boy'l
face. Who was Sir Philip Morlant
that he should dare to offer this in
suit to lady. Evidently a relative
and a near one. for Morland was hi
mothers name, and his own Christian
name suggested family connection
Yet she had never spoken Of an!
such person.
Three other letters of preceding
dates showed that Louisa Morland
kept accurate reckoning. There wer'
half q dozen more. from Arm o
solicitors. Some OF these were merel.
| formal Acknowledgements OF letters re
ceived and forwarded, but one state'
| that they were instructed by Lad
Morland to inform Mrs Arson tina