The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-11-07
The TIE
BY CARRIE L. p. CURTIS.

look over the bloom of the garden, but
The garden, like all things about the
little home, had lost interest since Don
aid went to war. If he had not been
such an exceptional son, his mother
might not have missed him so Bit
terly.
Always she had loved her boy with
a selfish love. Ficrcely she had claim
ed him in her -vidowhood, her own.
Donald's father had died when the lad
was young but his mother had taken
a silent, almost unconscious vow, thf
the boy must live to care for her, even
as his father would have cared, If he
had been spared.
The little home became eloquent OF
those things which pleased his moth
er. Donald did not realize that young
women whose acquaintance he made,
and for whom he entertained at times
passing interest. were not made well
come in this home of his endeavor; he
wondered vaguely, why mother found
in each girl some disappointing quail
ity. But he knew that the friendships
grieved her, also he saw that She grew
more frail each day. and that she
found her only joy in his presence.
He had hidden her g0od-by, stand
Ing on the vine-shaded porch, where
nasturtiums nodded their bright heads,
and though Don had been CHEEKY and
brave, a shadow lurked in his eyes, a
shadow which his mother could not
define. Now, he was in France, far
away France, where guns doomed their
warning, where men fought for the
safety Of this beautiful land spread
about her.
Donald's mother sank down upon the
porch. SO many years she had devoted
herself jealousy to her son, there had
been no need for other close cOmpan-
lonship. Now she was alone. Tears
made their way through her wrinkled
fingers, she did not hear light step
on the path at the side. 1t was a girls
voice which reused her.
Il beg your pardon" said the voice.
~ have been directed to you. l am
anxious to spend my summer in the
country, and it was thought possible,
that you, being alone, would take me
in"
81 could not care for any one"
Donad's mother was beginning, when
the girl interrupted eagerly.
THAT / would not ask, only that
ii might be a mutually beneficial ar
rangement-you taking me into your
home, l helping in every way.
And, because of her heart-aching
loneliness, because her need of hui
man comfort was so great, Donald's
mother did, what she never would
have believed herself willing to do,
she took the strange girl into her
home.
AS time passed, she was glad. 1t
was good to hear footsteps at night
in Don's room, even though the steps
were so different and light; it was
good to see bright young face OPP
pOsite her own at table. But best
Of all, were the condolences over
Dons pictures, pictures in childish
frocks to the latest in soldiers uni
form. Myra-that was the girls
name-went to the post Office each
day, returning with Don's bulky let
ters. Together they read them.
1t was Myra at last who answered
letters, her firm hand tracing read
lily lines which the trembling fingers
could not master; so that Donald's
letters came 10 be a composite of
them both.
Donald was reported missing;
killed, it was believed, by a German
plane. Her light step dragged as
Myra moved with difficulty up the
aower-bordered path. Donald's moth
er was there on the porch where he
had hidden her good-by. Twice Myra
tried to speak to tell her terrible
news, but that duty was spared her.
The mother looking into the girls
wide eyes read their message and I'M
derstood.
Dihidently the young woman fol-
lowed the bent form of the other into
the house. a." she murmured, "oh!
] suffer with you"
D0nald's mother turned in unex-
pected passion
"What do you know Of suffering"
she cried. "You! l love him. am
his mother"
The girl raised her white tear
stained face. a." she quietly re-
piled, Jam his wife"
"Whcn" the mother asked uI5e-
lovingly could that have hap
penedY
"In the city" the girl answered.
All life had gone from her voice.
"And YOU knew when you came to
me that | was his mothcr?'
"Don sent me TO comfort YOU she
said.
The mother looked again into the
young face whose sorrow was now
her own, then all at once she opened
the arms which had been closed to all
but her son, So the two clung to-
gCthcr.
1t was messenger on the porch
who called the young wife to answer
his summons, when, presently Myra
returned, her eyes were shining with
some great inner joy.
"Can you bear happiness?" she
asked Don's mother "the great hap
piness Of knowing that your son was
not killed as reported, ihat ne Is but
wounded slightly and IN IA hospital,