The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-11-04
xxI-(CoNTINuED)

past the hour signifed--one that he
had been in the habit OF observing as
long as they could remember-but as
be did not appear they sat down with
put him. She had remarked curious
Oppression in his manner when he
cropped In shortly after the morning
nervice. He seemed unusually down
ln the mouth" as she expressed II, and
significantly inquisitive as to the
whereabouts OF her son. He never
spoke OF him except as her son." Aft
er restless, preoccupied 10 minutes,
be left. with the statement that he was
soing Off for a long walk on Stone
wall. We would be back for tea at
b:30 o'clock. When he did not appear
ut that hour, nor up to 8 o'clock, she
suggested to John that he make inquiry
of old Jabez. and. falling there, In 9TH
er directions.
AT 10 o'clock John met him in the
road, half way to Buds Rock. He was
slowly walking homeward. The moon
was high and full, and the thick, fam
iliar figure was distinguished for a long
distance on the shell road.
| He gave no satisfactory answer to
John's impatient questions, but testify
said that he had gone off to think
something over where he would not be
disturbed. A matter, he said, that was
OF the gravest Importance. Payson
quite naturally though he had re-
ference to an important piece Of secret
service work
Adam accompanied the young man to
his home, and went In to say good
night to Mrs. Payson and to apologize
Cor his unprecedented rudeness In for
gazing tea He, acted so queerly that
Jack insisted on going down to the ho-
tel with him. His eyes were uncom-
monty prominent and starry, and his
face was livid; his breathing was hard,
his lips sagged instead Of holding the
frm, rigid line that always marked
them. ..s 81
He sat ljstless and morose in the big
chair before the fireplace. The night
air from the sea had chilled him to the
marrow. Payson set about to cheer
him up. He began by telling OF Horace
concession. Carr picked up his ears
while John was commenting on Hor-
aces sudden change OF front, and even
entered into the discussion, specifically,
it is true, but not without interest. He
advanced the caustic opinion that Mr..
Blagden was as playful as a tiger, and
as safe to deal with. Nevertheless, he
was keenly interested In Jacks opinion
that Horace would no longer oppose
the marriage. IN ..
One obstacle was left in the way,
John announced; it would have to be
removed before he could conscientious
~ hold Mary to her promise, which had
been renewed that afternoon in no half
hearted terms. This led up to the
question that lay so heavily in the
lovers mind. What was the nature Of
the mystery attending his own origin ?
Adams slack lips Strengthened out in
a hard, stubborn line; he briefly de-
clared that there was nothing to tell.
Payson interrupted the look that passed
between the man and the woman, and
flew into a quick passion. He de-
manded the truth from them. The time
had come when even his mothers feel
ings were not to be spared.
Mrs. Payson began to cry softly. Ad-
am Carr upbraided her. an act so I'M
usual that John at first was rendered
speeches. by sort Of stupefaction. The
situation was tense, dramatic With a
great dread in his soul, the young man
turned upon his mother and besought
her to tell him the truth, no matter
what the cost to him or to her.
She shrank away from him. mumbling
piteously. Then, he confronted Adam
Carr. The older man looked up into
the distorted face OF the pleader and
stubbornly insisted that there was
nothing to tell. A sort of frenzy took
possession Of the young man. His man
ner became threatening. Adam con-
Y tinued to smile, but there was hunted,
imploring look In his eyes. he seemed
20 shrivel up in the chair. to grow
older and weaker as he met the harsh
charges without so much as a word OF
anger or resentment.
# Good heaven!" cried John savagely.
What is there to laugh att"
The senseless laughter continued for
q moment and then died away in q
raucous gurgle A purplish hue spread
over Adam Cars face, his eyes bulged,
his hands dropped Imply from the
arms OF the chair. ID.
# A long while afterwards, as John
worked feverishly with the stricken
49, or n
v words his mother was moaning In his
ear as she. too, leaned over the form Of
Adam Carr, now lying on the bed in
the little room off the parlor:
"He is your father. John" she was
sgn a.. as fo IS SoS 9G f hm DG @o
hear me? Save him. Your own
\ father!"
The blow had fallen. John Payson
had got the truth at last. -.
Later on. he received another
learned from her lips that the
woman he had always known as
his mother was not his mother;
in no wav was she related to him. The
blow left him dazed. and quite as
powerless as the paralyzed creature on
the bed.
Mrs. Payson herself went forth and
aroused a neighbor, who set or in
haste to summon DR.. Spooner.
John Payson was like his father in
many ways. Among others, he pos
sessed wonderful power of self-con-
troll. In a surprisingly short time, he
was able to face the crisis with as
much composure and restraint as might
have been expected OF Adam Carr under
similar circumstances. 1t was in the
blood
In the kitchen. while the doctor was
working over the unconscious man in
the bedroom he stood before the Widow
Payson and listened to a story that
went back 30 years and more, listened
calmly and without Interruptions until
every word of IT was told. Then he went
back with her to sit beside the man
who would not acknowledge him but
who loved him so well. The father who
would not put the blight upon him.
And now. the morning after, they
again sat by the bedside.
Tell me once more, said John
gently. 'just how 1t was that she-my
mother--came to YOU"
He had gone over to peer into tho
unseeing eyes of his father, as If to
make cure that no sign of awakening
intelligence was there, ....r. a .
II am afraid" she said nervously.
eff he should really be able to hear, he