The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-07-19
Her Darkest
Hour
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BY ALVAH JORDAN GARTH
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Copyright, 1919. hy the Western News-
paper Cnion.)
"Whatever is the colonel up tor
"Nhy, he's acting like some mad
man.
Two men strolling near to the old
fashioned house where Col. Blair
Worthington had lived for over fifty
years. halted askance to view a sensa-
tional demonstration on the part OF
their fellow townsman.
Everybody knew the colonel and ey'
erybody liked him. lie was an iras-
chile old tyrO, whimsical and autocrat-
&c; hut in his more prosperous days
he had been generous to a fault. His
daughter Mabel was the idol OF the
community and his tOwnsmen were
proud Of a family whose ancestry ran
back tw" centuries.
With his gold-hea,led cane the col
nel was battering away at tree.
Upon it WAS tackled some kind Of Il
document He tore it to ribbons with
his Swishing blows. he shook his leo.
nine head in Wild excitement and
dashed into the house.
u know!" abruptly spoke one of the
onlookcrs. II! W: or the poster was
a notice Of foreclosure. You know
that has been Threatened fnr- sons
time. Too bad! A fine old gentle
man, and his daughter is about NJ
pear to an angcl as 20" find them.
What's that !" --'~@s saass'stst, :sss.,-.
1t WAS the sharp. startling echo Of
shot within the house. The tw" men
rushed thilhcr; to sind the colonel ly'
Ing prnstrate in Tie lower hall. Be
side him was an o'd-fashi"ned musket.
The fire-eatinY colonel. goaded to in
sane rage hy the threat of expulsion
from his h"use, hHi probably rushed
upstairs TO secure :he means Of guard.
Ing against invasion. The tirearrn
had accidentally exploded, the shock
had sent him headlong. Within few
oncl had suffered brain conclusion
that had robbed him OF his reason. He
was rushed to a Saniiarium and his
daughter, VIII" WAS visiting friend,
WAS sent for.
1t was a sad homecoming for Mabel
WOrthngt0n. A knowledge Of the
loss of their last piece Of property was
as nothing 20 her beside the rorelorn
condition Of her father. After few
days Mabel aroused to rearrange the
tangled threads Of her BROKEN life.
There was no hope Of saving any
thing from the wreck. A just claim
covered the old mansion and all it con"
talned. The holder OF the mortgage
had been unusually patient and in
dulgent His death had necessitated
the settlement OF the sstate and the
foreclosure had resulted, Mabel
learned that a young physician. one
Morton Dale, had been left the place
by legacy. A friend of Mabel, a Mrs.
Exmore, widow, had insisted that
Mabel should make her home with her
until she could rearrange her disor-z
dered living plans. ~~
",rhat won't take long" said Mabel,
sadly. my duty is plain. I shall find
a position somewhere, rent a small
house and make new home for fa
Their. His care shall he my one
thought in life, now. As to the old
home, shall make no claim"
"Dr. Morton Dale"-that was the
name on a card brought to Mabel by
Mrs. Exm"re's maid a few days later.
:;he wondered what purpose the
stranger could have in visiting her.
Mabel entered the parlOr, to find 4
young man, pleasant-faced, courteous
subdued and respectful in his manner
towards her:
II have come to explain to you.
Miss Morthington," he said, that ]