The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-04-23

my poor, poor Rod!"
Some of the COchranites can support
him If you won't, or. at the worst,
Aaron Boynton's town car take care
of his son. The doctor has given me
two days to live. If it's a minute
longer I've warned him and warn
you that I'll end it myself. and If you
don't take the boy I'll do the same for
him. He's a good sight better off dead
than knocking about the world alone.
He's innocent, and there's no sense in
his being punished for the sins Of 9TH
er folks"
II see it all. Why did l v think
of it before, my poor. poor Rod" said
Ivory, clinching his hands and burying
his head in them.
"Don't grieve, Ivory. 1t has all turn
ed out so much better than we could
have hoped. Just listen to the end.
She was frighteul to hear and to look
at, the girl was, though all the time l
could feel that she must have had a
gypsy beauty and vigOr that answered
to something in your father.
"'GO along out now!' she cried sud-
denly. 4 can't stand anybody neal
The doctor never gives me half enough
medicine, and for the hour before he
comes l fairly die for lack of it, though
little he cares. Go upstairs and have
your sleep. and tomorrow you can
make up your mind
"'You don't leave me much freedom
to do that l tried to answer, but she
interrupted me, rocking her body to
and fro. Neither of us will eve see
Aaron BoyntOn a%gain-you no more
than l. He's in the west, and a man
with two families and no means of
providing for them doesn't come back
where he's known. Come and take her
away, Eliza! Take her away. quick!
she called.
Il stumbled out of the room, and the
woman waved me upstairs. You must
not mind. Hetty." she apologized. she
had a good disposition at the
best. but she's frantic with the pain
now. and good reason, too. It's about
over, and I'll be thankful when it is.
You'd better swallow the shame and
take the child. I can't and won't have
him, and it'll be easy enough for you
to say he belongs to some of your own
folks
by this time l was mentally bewil-
dered. When the iron first entered my
soul, when 1 first heard the truth about
your father, at that moment my mind
gave way-I know 1t now"
"Poor, poor mother! My poor, gentle
little MOTHER" murmured Ivory bro
kenly as he stroked her hand.
Don't cry, my son; 1t is all past
the sorrow and the bitterness and the
struggle. l will just finish the story.
and then We'll close the book forever.
The woman gave me some bread and
tea, and l flung myself on the bed
without undressing. l don't know how
long afterward it was, but the door
opened and a little boy stole in, a sad,
strange, dark eyed little boy who said:
Can l sleep up here? Mothers scream
ing and I'm afraid He climbed on to
the couch. l covered him with a blan-
ket, and l soon heard his deep breath
ing. But later in the night, when l
must have fallen asleep myself, l sud
denly awoke and felt him lying beside
me. He had dragged the blanket along
and crept up on the bed TO get close to
my side for the warmth l could give
- thu onn,fnr.f nf NV nnornncc VN1,o
touch of him almost broke my heart.
l could not push the little creature
away when he was lying there so near
and warm and confiding-he. all uncon-
scious Of the agony his mere existence
was to me. I must have slept again.
and when the day broke I was alone.
l thought the presence of the child in
the night was a dream, and l could
not remember where I was or why l
was there"
Mother. dear mother, don't tell me
any more tonight. l fear for your
strength" urged Ivory, his eyes full
Of tears at the remembrance of her
sufferings.
There is only a little nor and the
weight will be or my heart and on
yours, my poor son Would that l need
not tell you! Tue house was still, and
l thought at first that no one was
awake, but when l opened the sitting
room door the child ran toward me and
took my hand as the woman came in
from the sickroom. Go into the kitch-
en-. Rodman,'. she said and luce W