Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-10-13

IA SuC S1St SAASO -
Mrs. Blagden did not keep Mary long
In the room upstairs. To the girls SUR
prise. the shades were up as high as
they would go. the lace curtains and
the chlntz over-hangings were drawn
back and caught in loops over the long
unused brass hooks at III sides of the
windows. The sun streamed into the
room. Her aunt sat by a window,
looking into the yard. AS Mary en-
tered. h turned toward her, holding
out her hand.
Come here. Mary" she said, her
voice clear and steady. and full of a
rare sweetness. The girl crossed quick
~. ID you think you can learn to
love me? Can you forget the unkind-
ness"
Mary dropped to her knees beside the
chair and kissed the delicate hand that
had been lifted against her up to this
day.
Il do not ask you to try to do all this
at once said Mrs. Blagden, laying the
other hand on the dark head at her
knee. "Impulsiveness moves you now.
Will taxi time to bring about all that
1 want. all that l crave. See! The
sun Is bright. The world is brighter
today n an 1t has been for years. Look
at me. Mary. Am l not different? Am
l not changed?"
girl looked up and wondered.
there was life in her eyes.
IL thought you would be utterly
crushed. Aunt Rena.' she murmured.
Crushed? All. I am not happy. I
can never be happy, my child. But my
mind is at rest. My boy Is not wan
dering. He is in heaven. Yes, in
heaven. for his mothers prayers ut
tered all through the days of his life
cannot have been without avail in the
hour that he stood before his Maker,
So suddenly called. so miserably unpre-
pared. God must have kept account Of
all my prayers. Chetwynd did not go
before Him unheralded. unrepresented.
A mothers love had spoken for him
through all the years,-even through
those evil years when he was not what
ne should have been. And God kept q
record of my prayers. Chetwynd Is
with God today. Something deep IN
my soul tells me this. l know it. HIS
sins We're paid for in full dur
agony while he was falling to the
rocks. Did not Eric heal his single
cry to God? That one word-'God'-
that was his prayer, and his salvation.
In the 18th hour, II we ask we shall
receive. In the final second Of life,
GODS name is our refuge. our hope.
He prayed to God in that swift descent.
In the half second Of life left to him.
No, Mary, he is not out there in the
Atlantic. He is with Christ in-Ah.
my dear. o cannot understand! You
do not see 1t as / see 1t. But how can
you?"
A smile Of ineffable sweetness illum-
mated her eyes.
TRY to love me, dear. That's all I
asking you to forgive Chetwynd. You
have nothing to cherish in the memor
OF your cousin, I do not expect that
you"
He hated Eric and me- was all that
Mary could say She felt as though
had committed a crime, the instant
the words were out.
Blagden. with a shiver. How sweet,
how gentle. how tender is that other
word-love! Come, l want you to draw
up a chair beside. We will watch for
the return OF your uncle and Eric. He
has gone out to find Eric, t. bring him
here before he can do anything
rash. See! ] shall be sitting here in
the window where he can see me as
he comes up the walk. He is to be
our boy now.'
Mary burst into tears. The prom
Use OF mercy In that brief but signi-
ficant sentence was more than she
could have hoped for. Eric was safe!
The Blagdens were great. after all!
Mrs. Blagden's voice. when she
spoke again after Mary's outburst was
over. was strangely dull and l~istless.
long 1T has been. It seems to
me that I have sat in these windows
for centuries. waiting. watching. al
most dreading. And oh, the fear Of
Adam Carr! The fear Of a blood
hound!"
Don't. Aunt Rena, please don't
think about it," came in choked tones
from Mary.
Her aunt was pensive for a long
time. her far-away ne resting on
the rim Of blue sky that topped the
trees.
II hope you uncle 10 not too late"
she said. q sudden weariness in her
manner.
Mary sprang to her feet. The
thought that had been lying dormant
In her mind all morning revived with
starfling force.
Eric may have gone nrst to Mrs.
Payson's house" she said rapidly. "He
was to see about arranging q bond Of
some sort. Perhaps he = there now"
John Payson!" exclaimed Mrs.
Blagden, her lace ~stiffening. "Why
should he ask anything Of that MANI
a lump rose In Naryss throat. She
cav red Tor an instant.
friend. Aunt Rena,S she aid.
= should think he'd had enough Of
Adam Carr" said the other. With .
world q meaning In her manner.
y know what you mean" oaid Mary
patiently. hut It isn't true-it isn't
trus. Aunt Rama"
sYeur uncle says-
u kncw what he thinks. e not what
~ 49,. suncle. Horece - wrong, hut
SVEN H - - rAwht Whv ahnaslA q vnn1-