The Press., 1918-09-26
From the Beginning
 ca" By LINCOLN RoTHBLUM
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa.
 nor SYndicAfAN

per Syndicate.)
 Miss Zebiah Seagrave, unmarried, unbcaut'ful and of uncertain age, pull pd the canC-bcttOm rocker closer to the window. and, folding her thin hands .n her lap, heaved a great siglI.
 "Zebiah," called a weak, complain ing voice from the other room. And Zeblan l:fteH her angular form and listlessly walked to the bed where lay frail. old WC man.
 "What is il, mOther" she asked gently, though her voice had a weary note in 1t, "aren't you cOmfOrtableT
 ''It jest seems as if I can't get cOm- fortable," was the querulOus response. "If face the window, the sun bOthers me; and If I face the door, I don't see the sun; and If set up, my bones ache" And the voice dwindled off iA a whining wall.
 Zebiah did not answer. She lowered the shade to cut off the bright glare of the sui, strengthened the pillows and, drawing up chair to the bed, picked up book prt paratOry to reading.
 q (ion't want to be read to and you ought to know it." the old lady mutteC- ed, her brow throwing in million wrinkles, "yOu don't pay no attention to me at all, though I don't know as ought to be expectin' much more from stepchild."
 Zebiah seemed restrained from argu" ing by the invalid's weakness. "NOw, mother" she softly replied, laying the offending book on the table, "dOn't work yourself up. You know Doctor Merrifield said you should not get O1- cited-your heart won't stand it."
 Mrs. Seagrave waved her shrunken hands dramatically. "There you go mentioning that doctor again to me. Amt I told you how hate him with his vile tasttn' medicines and pills that stick in my throat?" Her voice rose to shrill accent. Anyhow, pears to me he likes to come to see me-eVeFy other day would be enough to take keer of an old woman, to say nothing of twice 8 day like he's been haRgtn' aroun', suppose it's my money what he's after as soon as I'm c0ld-FunR1ng up a big bill like that" And the out burst of temper was followed by pro. tracted racking cough, rendering the body so weak and helpless 1t scarcely seemed alive.
 Zebiah petted the scant, ashy'whits hair, "I am sure Doctor Merritleld does not want your money, mother" she sOOthed, ''he hasn't taken 8 penny yet for all the medicines he has given you. We all want to see you get we'll" Her mlnistratiOns were interrupted by the entrance of a quiet, earnest looking man, whose bald head and bowlegs seemed strangely at variance. He smiled encOuragingly at Zeblah, "HOw did she sleep last night Miss Seagrave?" he questioned in a low tone.
 "I was up all night. doctor, ,as the cough gave her no rest. She is not much better this morning"
 As the doctor turned with prOfes- sional interest toward the patient who lay so white and still, Zeblah stole quietly from the room. 1t was the mirror in the gilt frame, sole adOrn- ment of the bare walls of this 'sitting l room" that claimed her attention. The close inspection did not please her and quick tears of self-pity came to her eyes. As she stood Off so that the small mirror might reflect her figure. the flat-chested, hipless, cOlOrless re- flection brought forth audible suffering.
 "Yes. I've given her my best years. even if she isn't my mother. I've stood her abuse and I've given up friends" :" %0n utterance and Zebiah sank into the cane-bOttOm rocker which creaked sympa thetfcally, as she buried her head in her arms, her shoulders shaking with her SObbing. Doctor Merri6eld en- tered the room.
 "COme, Miss SeagravS," he cOm- forted, batting her head, "yOu mustn't take such things so to heart. Your mother has been i'll a very long time and you know she has been getting steadily wOrse."
 Zebiah rose and wiped her eyes In a handkerchief already sadly wet. "Oh, it's not that"
 "I know you have been very patient and good" the doctor continued, and
  hope you will be rewarded"
 The pent-up gates of suppressed emotion gave way. "WhAt has my goodness and patience brought me? l ! have become a recluSe-even the chill dren can point out old maid Zebiah, our minister questions me what dispO- l sitiOn I will make of her money, and but yesterday heard Widow Bliss re- fer to someone 'as hOmely As Zebiah.' What reward can atone for all that?"
 "YOu must not let such unkindness weigh upon your mind, Miss Sea grave We all have our crosses to bear. Even my life has not been a bed ! of roses"
 Zebiah looked up at the kindly face in surprise.
 ''FOr great many years," he con- 1 tinued. not noticing the interruption, "I turned over every cent I earned as a machinist to support my crippled father and invalid mother and to put my brother through school. I lOnged to study medicine, but" The memory seemed too poignant 8 pain to recall. Zebiah's faded cOun- tenance assumed look of sympathetic understanding. "And for how long did 1t last 2:
 "When I was thirty-five." he spoke very softly, father died, and mother lived but a month longer. My brother married and then I started to learn all I did not know. It is not easy to learn at thirty-fve-nOt medicine, at any rate-and it was ten years later before I got the right to hang out that sign you see in front of my office. And at fOrty-tive a new doctor does not easily build up practice in a small town indeed there were some nights when