The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-09-10


Ills motherr' How she had cher
isbed him through all the years Of his
life. How she had worked and shaved
for his welfare. And he was grateful
for H. lie loved her as a good son
should love a good mother. IL she had
never come between them all would
have been well.
Then came the proud thought: Why
should they have wished to set her
aside for another? She came Of a
great old line. away back. No one in
the wide space of the old Laurentlans
could boast OF better forbears than
she men known in the old land for
their loyalty. their fearlessness. their
love Of right. What II the inlquities Of
an erring son were visited upon his
children's children. The blood would
revive, and revive agalnl
A greenwood log In the fire fell with
a heavy thud. and the roar Of its burn
ing started anew; water oozed from its
sawed front with a Kissing sound and
dropped into the fiery bed.
DOCTOR
The word recalled him. He started
slightly. then sat forward.
IF you had known the other way
to the Ridge 1t might have been pos
sible to get there"
"what do you meanf What other
wayT"
"There's way around the south
side Of the Hewston hill, just a wide
footpatb in summer. under the rock
all the way II Is sheltered from north
winds. but the snow drifts in deep.
II might be done on shoes"
II will try 1t now" he said.
"You could not go alone. I would
have to go. too-to guide you"
"Your' he exclaimed. impossible.
| The very devil is abroadv'
"Fve been out In as bad as this be-
FORE" she said. Il had no fear then.
| and have none now. It's because I'm
weathered"
A faint light. alternately visible for
a moment and obscured by the clouds
of driving snow, sent hope to the
hearts of two people struggling blind
ly forward.
For two long hours they had match
| ed their united strength to that OF the
storm. now vanquishing 1t. again all
but overcome by its mad force.
But they still stumbled on with eyes
fixed steadily upon the beacon
The next thing was the hum OF
voices, the soft rubbing of hands and
feet and gradually returning con-
seriousness OF identity. Of situation and
of circumstance.
"Ah, there. She'll soon be round.
Just to think of i'll She always had
grit. Don't you mind how she always
walked her two miles to school, storm
or sunshine. sometimes wading through
snow to the waistf Never missed a
day"
AYE. I do. And I'll tell We this: 1t
may not be Christianlike. and it's not
a nice thing to say in the house Of the
dying. but II were Lena Miller Ia
never have done 1t for her."
The girls returning senses caught
the word dying" and she raised her
self partly to ask. with weak voice:
"was he too late?'
mo, dear. He is here to do all that
can be done-to give her relief from
pain. No one can save when the Lord
has called"
A long silence came, broken only by
the tick of the tall clock in the corner
and the cry Of the great storm without.
Then some one came through the hall
way and paused at the kitchen door.
Lena Miller is called. She must
come"
For minute the girl scarcely under
stood. Then. hesitatingly. unsteadily
she rose. and with assistance walked
TO the door OF the sick chamber and
there paused.
The room was empty save for the
form Of the dying woman on the bed
She went in alone. and a hand gently
closed the door from without.
Alone with his mother. lying white
and still. The face. upon which Deatt
had so surely set his mark. bore
strange resemblance to his In the din
light II startled her to see a move
ment of the lips and to hear the words
lis II you, Lena?"
The girl bent over her.
I'm dying. DO you hate mer
She tried to answer. but no words
would come. There was a Tightening
of the muscles at the throat Veal
almost to the breaking point with phys
ical and mental strain. she coult
scarcely stand, but she caught rod OF
the bed and steadied herself.
The voice went on:
I'm dying. and I've been wicked
woman. The penalty has been paid
The bodily suffering has been great
but the mental anguish has been dread
ful beyond words. prayed God Il
send you tonight. and he has been good
Girl, | lied TO you and to my son.
She stopped for breath and strength
TO proceed Her voice fast failed her.
II wrote him a letter. and In tina
letter | said you had gone away, fai
away. 10 become another's wife.
spun the story well. cleverly. Then
let you think he had married and will
my own lips told you that she wa.
beautful-and rich"
The hand that held the iron roo
shook. then relaxed and quickly caugh
Al the cold fingers.
| A. h.. "A