Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-09
CHAPTER XVIII.
Asron's Rod.

path alone. n path leading seemingly
nowhere, and then suddenly to have n
companion by ones side. the very
sight of whom enchanted the eye, the
very touch of whom delighted the
senses-whnt joy unspeakabie, Who
could sleep soundly when wakeful-
ness brought a train OF such blissful
thoughts?
Ivory! Ivory
He was fully awake now. for he
knew his mothers voice. In all the
years. ever thoughtful of his comfort
and of the constant strain upon his
strength, Lois had never wakened her
son at night
Coming, mother, coming-' he said.
when he realized she was calling him.
And, hastily drawing on some cloth
ing, for the night was bitterly cold, he
came out of his room and saw his
mother standing at the foot of the
stairway withsa lighted candle 40 her
hand.
"Can you come down, Ivory? It Is
strange hour to call you. but | have
something to tell you-something |
have been piecing together for weeks.
something l have just clearly remem-
bered."
IF it's something that won't keep
till morning. mother. you creep back
into bed and we'll hear it comforta
bly," he said. coming downstairs and
leading her to her room. iii smooth
the covers. so; beat up the pillows
there,-and throw another log on the
sitting room fire. Now, what's the
49, eli
"All summer long ! have been trying
to remember somethinS-something
untrue that you have been believing.
some falsehood for which L was re-
sponsible. / have pursued and pur-
sued il. but it has always escaped me.
Once it was clear as daylight. for Rod
man read me from the Bible n plain
answer TO all the questions that tor
tured me-"
THAT must have been the night that
she tainted" thought Ivory.
when l awoke next morning from
my long sleep the old puzzle had come
back n thousand times worse than be
fore. for then l knew that | had held !
the clew in my own hand and had lost |
it Now, praise God. know the truth. |
y
tell it are close ut hand,'
Ivory looked at his mother and saw |
that the veil that had separated them /
seemed TO have vanished in !
the night that had passed. Often and
often it had blown away, as it were. /
for the fraction of moment and then
blown back again. Now her eyes met
his with an altogether new clearness
that startled him, while her breath
came with ease and she seemed strong
or than for many days.
You remember the winter l was
here al the farm alone when you were
1t the academy"
Yes. II was then that I came home
md found you so terribly I'll. Do you
hink we need go back to that old time
low, mother dear?"
Yes. | must. | must, One morning
received a strange letter. bearing no
signature. in which the writer said that
( wished TO see my husband I had
My 10 go TO certain address in
Srentville. y. II. The letter went on
o say that Mr.. Aaron Boynton was i'll
nd longed for nothing so much as to
peak with me. but there were reasons
!
wood. Would l come TO him without
elay?"
Ivory now sat straight in his chair
nd listened keenly. feeling that this
Tas to be no vague. uncertain and mis-
eading memory, but something true I
nd tangible.
The letter excited me greatly after
our fathers long absence and silence.
knew it could mean nothing but sor-
Dw; but, although | was half i'll at I
ne time, my plain duty was to go. so
thought TO go without making any {
xplanation in the village"
All this was new to Ivory. and he
uns upon his mothers words. dread
IL yet hoping for the light that they e
light shed upon the past.
II arrived at Brentville quite eX- .
austed with the journey and weighed
OWN by anxiety and dread. I found
lie house mentioned in the letter at I Z
clock in the evening and knocked at
lie door. A common, hard featured
oman answered the knock and. seem q
e to expect me. ushered Inc in. do
Dt remember the room; remember
lily child leaning patiently against 6
e hiuuO" Sill LOOKING out INTO Inc
Irk and that the place was bare and '
eerless.
80 came to call upon Mr. Aaron
oynton.' | said, with my heart sink ''
< lower and lower as / spoke The ID
oman opened a door into the next u
ON, and when | walked in. instead :,
seeing your father, | confronted u
gGard. death stricken young woman
ting up in bed. her great eyes bright y
III pain, her lips as white as her
How cheeks and her long black hair :"
over the pillow. The very 81
,ht OF her struck a knell to the little
pc / had OF soothing your fathers y"
k bed and forgiving him IL he had ~
ne me any wrong. ~
Well. you came. as / thought you "
'uld.' said the girl. looking me over ~
I'm head TO foot In way that some ~
w made me burn with shame Now,
u Il