The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-10-28

undoubtedly gone to the sheriffR Of
flee. will hurry over at once and
see what can be done about the bond.
he win need that Of course. I can
This house belongs to me; also the
office building at the corner Of Main
and Fourth, streets. That should be
sufficient security for"
"Oh, Jack, didn't come here to ask
you to so bail for him." she cried, a
deep flush In her cheek. I'VE couldn't
think OF It. You didn't understand me,
I 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 that you
should not be asked to risk your
Nonsense " he said, and there was
no mistal1ing the relief In his voice.
Now, go home, please, and rest Sc
cure. Don't stay here, little girl
win 60 to the court house as soon as
the doctor comes out to report.
Mother won't mind being left alone
for a while. Provided, Of course, there
She caught the note OF anxiety In
his voice. NO, Jack dear, you must
i not leave her. / will not let you do
i It. Your place Is here. II was hor-
riblby selfish of me to even think"
/ 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 own
self-arraignment. ...u ."s.
The Doctor" said he quickly. He
crossed rapidly and opened the door.
Then, with glance at her, he left
the room, closing the door behind him.
She was left alone. -r .a.....
Not more than a minute passed be-
foro he returned. She could read
nothing in his face. ...
i Pardon me-" he said. dr. Spooner
says there Is no change. He may die
within the hour or he may live for
years. We have have sent to New
York for nurses and another doctor.
They get here this afternoon. He-he
IN hopelessly paralyzed. There was an
apoplectic stroke as well So, you see,
1t 10 impossible to tell what the out
come win be-" '.
She shuddered. Her lips parted, but
In horror, not in the effort to speak
went on painfully. TT wouldn't be
right. ! can't do 1t, not even for you,
Mary. She wants me to come In there
now. Go, please. and try to forget that
ever" He could not complete the
sentence, but turned away to hide his
i twitching lips and moist eyes
She waited for q 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? ..a.
He faced her reluctantly. Last
night. She told me. We were sitting
in this room. He--oh; why should we
go into all this7 can't talk about it.
Goodbye. Mary. Don't stay a minute
longer. You must 60"
Yes, john" she said gently. II viii
go now. 1 won't ask you to tell me
anything more. 1 don't want to hear
It, But, listen to me, dear. Moth
alter my love for you, nothing
can come between US. It Is you I'love.
| Do you understand" She went UP to
him and laid her hands on his shoul-
| ders. There was q wonderful sweet
ness in her voice.
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.
She smiled, her eyes looking full in
that he was never to forget 1t.
| Let me know, John, II there is any
thing can do for-you," she said
simply. II will come II 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 shouI-
| ders dropped as he crossed the parlor
and drew asideth curtains. > -
The bedroom beyond was darkened.
4 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 the motionless figure that
/ stretched its 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 man he had known all
his life as q friend, steadfast and true
| Whatever else, he was q friend worth
| having.
The Widow Payson sat near the foot
| 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, bpt kept her
1 CLlN lO"GECu ucE eyes ClObOQ. Sn0
rocked gently, mechanically, in the low
| old fashioned chair.
He watched her in silence for q few
minutes. A great sob swelled up In
| his throat, his eyes smarted with the
rush Of tears. Going to her side, he
| dropped to his knees and began kissing
| the worn, bony hand Of the woman who
sat sentinel over the man who was his
| father.
She opened her tired, dry eyes, and
after moment smiled ~
Don't cry, laddie," she said. laying
| her hand caressingly on his head. II
am sorry told you. He may never
| speak again. I could have gone to my
| grave with the secret safe. and you
would never have been the wiser. 1t
would have been better. He meant
you never should know, and he was
right I betrayed him. Sometimes
think he knows that have told you.
| It's q queer feeling have, with him
| lying there senseless and unknowing.
Yet have the feeling that he heard
me talking last night that he is listen
| ing now. IL he does know, he must be
hating me with all his soul. He must
be despising-"
Ssh! Don't say that, mother. Hate
your Why, how could he hate you
you who have done so much for him
and for me? Think Of all the years of