The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-09-10

automobile headlight swept away Fannyf
sa SFsuas Fps y1so
his fathers When the old major died 4
Zes found thar the estate was hopeiessi,
hnsNye4' sitS y. 4
CHAPTER Xxx. when his uncle vent
abroad to: gll Z consular post At q 800 9
year and Ne himself became a clerk m old
Frank Bronson'B law once a el8htt dol
lars q week, George was lonely, indeed
nS pTSsDsct of he fStgFs fs VIII SLY
cruelty to his mother
'-rns Doctor said we must keep her
peaceful, :. George said sharply. "Do
y6d.thinK that MANS coming wosId be
very soothing7 Ny God II it hadn't
been for him this mightn't have hap
pened 81 We could have 4goaeS6 nvIiying
here Fletiy. and--why, 1t would be
like taking a stranger INTO her room |
She hasn't even spoken of him more
than twice In all the time we've been
away. Doesn't he know how sick she
is9 You tell him the. doctor said she
had to be quiet and peaceful. That's
what he did say, isn't it?"
Fanny acQuiesced tearfully. "Tl tell
him. I'll tell him the doctor said she
was to be kept very quiet. II didn't
know" And she pottered out.
An hour later the nurse appeared
In Georges doorway; she came noise
iessly, and his back was toward her;
but he jumped as If he had been shot,
and his jaw. fell, he so feared what
she was going to say.
"She wants to see you"
The terrified mouth shut with a click
and he nodded and followed her. but
She remained outside his mothers
room while he went in.
Isahers eyes were closed, and she
did not open them or move her head,
put she smiled and edged her hand
toward him as he sat on stool beside
the bed. He took that slender, cold
hand and put 1t to his cheek.
Darling, did you-get something to
eatT She could only whisper slowly
and with difficulty. 1t was as il Isa-
pei herself were far away, and only
able to signal what she wanted to say.
"Yes, mother" ~.
"Ally0u neededT
Eyes, mother"
She did not speak again for timer;
then Are you sure you didn't-didn't
catce cOId--coming homer
I'm all right, mother"
That's good. It's sweet-it's
sweet"
what is, mother darllngT'
ITO feel-Iny hand on your cheek.
III can feel it,
But this frightened him horribly
that she seemed 50 glad she could feel
IL. like child proud of some miracu-
lous seeming thing accomplished. 1t
frightened him so that he could not
speak, and he feared that she would
know how he trembled; but she was
unaware and again was silent. Final
~ shee 5oke again:
II wonder if-if Eugene and Lucy
know that we've come-hOme."
"I'm sure they do"
"Has k5--asked about mef
"Yes. he was here"
tHas he gomez"
eyes, mother
She sighed family. "Td like
"What. nnother7'
I'D like to have-seen him" It was
audible. this little regrstgul murmur.
Several minutes passed before there
vas another. "Just-just once" she
Whispered, and then was stIll.
She seemed to have fallen asleep.
and George moved to go, but a faint
pressure upon his fingers detained
him, and he remained, with her hand
sttll pressed against his cheek. After
while he made sure she was asleep,
and moved again, to let the nurse
come in, and this time there was no
pressure Of the fingers to keep him.
She was not asleep but, thinking that
q he went he might get some rest. and
he better prepared for what she. knew
was coming, she commanded those
longing fingers Of hers-and let him
30.
He found the doctor standing with
The nurse in the hall; and telling
Them shat bis mother was browsing
now, George went back to his own
ROOM where he was startled to find
his grandfather lying on the bed, and
bis uncle leaning against the wall.
They had gone home two hours before,
and he did not know they had return
Ia.
"The doctor thought we'd better
come over" Anderson said, then was
silent and George, shaking violently,
sat down on the edge of the bed. His
shaking continued, and from time to
timeshe wiped heavy sweat from his
fOreA ead.
The hours passed, and sometimes
the old man upon the bed would snore
little, stop suddenly, and move as if
to rise, but George Anderson would
set hand upon his shoulder, and
murmur reassuring word or two.
Once George Qasnad defanflv.