American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-11-12
THE TIE
BY CARRIE l.. =. CURTIS.
fcoprrrhl- 1oIs- MenIern Nemnnnner I-nlnn1

fAnE hNkRAL AAA1
little home. had lost interest since Don
aid went to war. II he had not beer
such an exceptional son. his mother
might not have missed him so BIT
terly.
Always she had loved her boy with
q selfish love. Flercely she had claim
ed him la her yidowhood, her own.
Donald's father had died when the lad
was young but his mother had taken
a silent, almost unconscious vow, thu
the boy must live to care for her, even
as his father would have cared, II he
had been spared.
The little home became eloquent Of
those things which pleased his moth
or. Donald did moi realize that young
women whose acquaintance he made,
and for whom he entertained at times
a passing interest, were not made well
come la this home Of his endeavor; he
wondered vaguely. why mother found
In each girl some disappointing quail
ity. But he knew that the friendships
grieyed 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 good-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-
ionship. Now she was alone. Tears
made their way through her wrinkled
fingers. she did not hear a light step.
onIbe path n, the side. & sas a girls
| voice which reused her.
IL beg your pardon" said the voice.
III have been directed to you. l am
anxious 10 spend my summer In the
country. and It was thought possible,
that you. being alone. would take me
in"
II could not care for any one"
Donald'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, | helping In every way.
And. because OF her henrt-achlng
loneliness. because her need Of hui
man comfort was so great. Donald's
mother did. what she never would
have believed herself willing e do,
she took the strange girl into her
home.
AS time passed. she was glad. II
was good to hear footsteps at night
n Don's room, wen though the steps
we're 80 different and light: II was
food to see a bright young face OPP
poslte her own at table. But best
II all. were the condolences over
)on's pictures. pictures In childish
rocks TO the latest In soldiers uni
orm. Myra-that was the girls
pame-went to the post Office each
lay. returning with Don's bulky let
ers. Together they read them.
IL 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 to be a composite of
them both.
Donald was reported missing ;
Killed. II was believed. by a German
plane. Her light step dragged as
Myra moved with difficulty up the
hower-bordered path. Donald's moth
or 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 yes 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 I
l suffer with you"
Donald's mother turned in unex-
pected passion.
what do you know OF sufreringY p
she cried. "Youl l love him. l am
his mother"
The girl raised her white tear
stained face. ~" she quietly re-
) piled, "am his wife"
"When1" the mother asked unbe-
lievingly, could that have hap
penedT'
"ln the city" the girl answered.
All life had gone from her voice.
"And you knew when you came to
me that l was his motherG"
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
I but her son. so the two chung to
! gether.
. 1t was a messenger on the porch
y nh, ,unT,l al.