The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-10-28

10 Will ileeu Thai, OF course. l can
manage it easily il it isn't too steep.
Ihls house belongs to me; also the
offlce building at the corner of Main
and Fourth streets. That should be
sufficient security for
oh, Jack, l didn't come here to ask
you to go bail for him." she cried. a
deep flush in her cheek. 1--WE couldn't
think of it. You didn't understand me,
l am sure"
You mean that Eric would not ac-
cept me as surety?" he asked, his face
clouding.
mo, no-not that either" she said,
greatly distressed. Only tina you
should not be asked to risk your
property"
Nonsense " he said, and there was
no installing the relief in his voice.
Now, go home. please, and rest Sc
cure. Don't stay here, little girl. i
VIII go to the court house as soon as
Mother won't mind being left alone
for a while. Provided, Of course there
is no Immediate
She caught the note of anxiety in
his voice. mo. Jack dear, you must
not leave her. l will not let you do
II; Your place is here. 1t was hor-
flolby selfish of me to eyen hink-
a door near at hand was closed
gently; then came the rustic of heavy
curtains, and the tread of footsteps in
the parlor. Mary shot an. anxious look
over her shoulder, arresting her w
acknowledgment,
The DOCTOR" said he quickly. He
crossed rapidly and opened the door.
Then. with a glance at her, he left
the room, closing the door behind him.
She was left alone.
Not more than a minute passed be-
fore he returned. She could read
nothing In his face.
| "Par5Ont mo - ha coi5 atrnr C-oa-..
says there is no change. He may die
within he hour or he may live for
! years. We have nave sent to New
york Tor nurses and another doctor.
They get here this afternoon. He-he
is hopelessly paralyzed. There was an
apoplectlc stroke as well. So, you see.
it is impossible to tell what the out
come will be-"
She ~shuddered. Her lips parted. but
In horror, not in the effort to speak.
I can't leave her just now" he
went on painfully. 1T wouldn't be
Mary. She wants me to come in there
now. Go, please, and try to forget that
l ever" He could not complete the
sentence, but turned away to hide his
twitching lips and moist eyes.
n waited for a long time before
speaking. Her heart was aching as il
had never ached before.
Listen, john" she said at last, 'let
me ask this question:: when were YOU
told the truth about yourself. and by
whom"
He faced her reluctantly. Last
IN this room. He-oh, why should we
! go into all this? 1 can't talk about it.
Goodbye, Mary. Don't stay a minute
longer. You must go"
Yes, John" she said gently. 81 will
go now. l won't ask you to tell me
n n q NJ ny-n
it. But, listen to me, dear. Moth
lng-nothing in all this world. can
alter my love for you, nothing
can come between us. 1t is you / love.
Do you understand" She went IN to
him and laid her hands on his Shout
ness in her voice.
My little Mary" he
shaken by a mighty storm of emotion
He put his hands to her cool white
cheeks and kissed her on the brow: not
the kiss of passion, but of boundless
alteration.
to his: a smile so steadfast and grave
that he was never to forget it.
Let me know, John. if there is any
thing i can do for-you," she said
simply. 81 will come If you need me"
She passed from the room and out Of
the house. He followed her to the door.
She did not look back. When she was
out of sight beyond the row Of houses.
he turned back, a great sigh escaping
his lips. His feet dragged. his shoul-
ders dropped Is he crossed the parlor
and drew aside the curtains.
h edroom beyond was darkened.
Closed shutters and drawn shades kept
out the cheerful morning sun. The
habit of darkening a sickroom still OBJ
tanned in Corinth. In the corner be-
yond the window was the bed, white
against the shadowy walls. HEAVY.
stertorous breathing came from the
lungs Of h motionless figure that
stretched it's length Imply under the
coverlet. There was no other sound to
be heard about the house. Only this
CHASTITY breathing. Payson stopped in
the doorway, his heart sick with sud
den, overwhelming pity for the once
strong, virile ma he had known all
his life as a friend, steadfast and true.
Whatever else, he was a friend worth
having.
The Widow Payson sat near the font
Of the bed. Either she did not hear the
man at the door or she was Indifferent
to his presence in the room. At any
rate. she did not look up, but kept her
chin lowered n her eyes closed. She
rocked gently, mechanically, in the low
old fashioned chair.
He watched her in silence for a few
minutes. A great sob swelled up in
his throat, his eyes smarted with the
IuSIl OL ledIS. IO1uS TO n0r side, he
dropped to his knees and began kissing
the worm, bony hand of the woman who
sat sentinel over the man h was his
father.
She opened her tired, dry eyes, and
after a moment smiled.
Don't cry, laddte." she said, laying
her hand caressingly on his head. Il
am sorry l told you. He may never
speak again. 1 could have gone to my
grave with the secret safe, and you
would never ave been the wiser. It
would have been better. He meant
You never should know, and he was
right. l betrayed him. Sometimes /
think he knows that ! have old you.
It's a queersfeeling I have, with him
lying theressenseless and ~unknowing.
Yet. I have the feeling that he heard
me talking last night. that he is listen
ing now. II he does know. he must be
hating me with all his soul. He must
be despising1'
Ssh! Don't a that, mother. Hate
you? Why. how could he hate you