The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-10-14


There was color In her aunt's face,
there was life I'm her eyes.
'sI-I thought you would be utterly
crushed, Aunt Rena." she mnrmured.
"Grushed7 All. am not happy. I
can never be happy, my child. But my
mind is at rest My boy Is not wan
dering. He IL 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 cailed, so miserably unpre-
pared. God must have kept account OF
before Him unheralded, unrepresented>
A mothers love had spoken for him
through all the years,-even through
those evl years when he was not what
he should have been. And God kept q
record OF my prayers. Chetwynd IL
with God today. Something deep IN
my soul tells me this. know Il His
ing that half second OF mortal
agony while he was falling to the
rocks. Did not Eric hear his single
cry to God? That one word--'God'-
that was his prayer, and his salvation.
In the 18th hour, IL we ask we shall
receive. In the final second OF life.
Gods name is our refuge, our hope.
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, you cannot understand You
do not see 1t as I see It, But how can
your"
A smile Of inetfable sweetness illum-
mated her eyes.
"Try to love me, dear. That's all I
ask now" she went on. II am not
asking you to forgive Chetwynd. You
have nothing to cherish in the memory
Of your cousin. do not expect that
Of you"
"He hated Eric and me-" was all that
Mary could say. She felt as though
she had committed crime. the instant
the words were out.
THAT word 'hate'!" cried Mrs.
Blagden, with shiver. How sweet.
how gentle, how tender Is that other
word--lovel Come, want you to draw
up chair beside. We will watch for
the return OF your uncle and Eric. He
has gone out to find Eric. to bring him
back here before he can do anything
rash. See! I shall be sitting here In
thet 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 vas
over, was strangely dull and listless.
How long 1t has been. 1t seems to
me that 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!" Ing ..
Don't, Aunt Rena, please don't
think about it," came In choked tones
from Mary
Her aunt was pensive for q long
time, her far-away gaze resting on
the rim Of blue sky that topped the
trees arbsSIs
4 hope you uncle is not too late"
she said, a sudden WEAKNESS In her
manner.
Mary sprang to her feet. The
thought that had been lying dormant
In her mind all morning revived with
startling force. ta .'t
Eric may have gone first to Mrs.
Payson's house." she said rapidly He
tried TO find John PSyson last night. 1t
was to see about arranging a bond OF
some sort. Perhaps he Is there now"
'John Paysonl" exclaimed Mrs.
Blagden, her face stiffening. why
should he ask anything Of that man?"
A lump rose in Mary's throat She
saw red for an instant.
Because he needs a strong, true
friend. Aunt Rena," she said.
II should think he'd had enough OF
Adam Carr" said the other, with a
world Of meaning in her manner.
II know what you mean" said Mary
patiently. but 1t isn't true-it isn't
true, Aunt Rena." q.
'FYour uncle says"
II know what he thinks II not what
he says. Uncle Horace Is wrong. But
even If he is right, why should Ii mat
ter? John Payson can't help who and
what he is. The same God who made
all of us made him also. He Is what
God made him, not what Uncle Horace
and other try to-"
Hush, Mary. Do not say anything
more. should not have spoken as
did 1t was the old rancor cropping
out Your uncle, good man that he is,
bears no I'll will toward Jack Payson
now. He said as much last night In
this very room. All, what a change
has come over Horace Blagdenl"
She unconsciously gave expression
to the great wonder that had been
growing in her for days.
when you are married to him."
went on Mrs. Blagden, I'VE shall be
glad to receive him as our nephew.
provided he can accept us as we are,
not as we were"
"oh, am sure. Aunt Rena--" began
Mary joyously.
"Do not speak for Jack Payson, my
DEAR" said the older woman calmly.
Let him do that for himself"