The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-06-30
CHAPTER XIII.

oil my other troubles, the shock OF old
Rufus Gnston'S murder sent me into
m hpathetic state from which 1t
seemed impossible for me to arouse
myself. Without hope and even with
out interest l duly awaited the ap-
pronch Of mT trial for murder.
While there never had been an OBJ
portunity for any bond OF affection to
become established between my aged
relative and mySelf-in fact, I had
seen him only three or four times in
my whole life, and then only for brief
periods-still his unexpected and
dreadful end had hereft me Of practi-
cally every hope of being acquitted of
the absurd charge against me. Wick.
1t was plain, intended to disclaim all
knowledge of my relationship to Mr.
CASTOR, and now there was no one
else to explain how happened to be
living In the building at the time Of
Miss i.utan's murder. Unfortunately
1 had destroyed both Mr.. GastonS let
ter to me and the note from my
mother which had first told me OF the
old mans intention. My great-aunt.
l learned from the newspapers, had
been completely prostrated by the
tragedy and had been unable to come
to the funeral. The shock OF the news
OF Her husbands violent end had left
her In n very critical condition. 1t
seemed to have wholly deranged her
aged brain, and the physicians sum-
mored to the Maine camp where she
was refused to permit her to be re.
moved from there or to let anyone
talk with her, declaring that the least
excitement OF any sort would be ant
to have fatal results
TO be sure there was my mother,
who could prove my relationship, but
/ felt there was little use Of dragging
her into 1t. On reading of her uncle's
death she had FASTENED on from the
West to attend his funeral and had
been puzzled and alarmed by not find
ing me there. All the time had been
in prison | had been writing her my
usual weekly letter, affecting Il cheer
fulncSS was far from feeling and tell
ing her nothing of what had happened
Her letters to me. addressed to the
Granddeck, had been forwarded by the
post office, so that until after she ar.
rived In the city she knew nothing of
my plight. 1t had been my hope That
would be able to conceal everything
from her until after I had been trium.
phnntly acquitted. If were not she
would know the worst soon enough.
When she first learned, or from
whas s,:rcc, of my prcdicamcnt was
| III l.,
presence In the city until the day after
NY Sreht-uncles funeral, when-iust
t"enty-four hours before my trial was
TO begin-a keeper brought me word
that she was waiting downstairs TO
see me.
steclcd myself for the interview
with her. Naturally I expected that
she would be terribly horror stricken
ana shocked at my plight, but what
her altitude toward me would be
could not conjecture. l fully expected
nothing but rcproachcs from her. She
had been ppOsed to my coming to
New York thnt l felt certain that she
would Insist that my conduct must he
responsible for my being where now
was. for years, IT seemed to me, the
relations between my mother and my
self had been nothing but continuous
MISUNDERSTANDING To my great
amazemcnt and bewildcrmcnt not an
unkind word nor the suggestion of a
reproachful thought came from her
lips.
"Oh, my boy, my boy" she had cried
as SHE saw me, III know you didn't do
1t. l know my boy is innocent! What
can do to help you?"
In that glorious, wonderful moment
OF reaction all resentment had felt
toward her forever vanished. had
one sacred, mforgcttable glimpse Of
the eternal greatness OF the Mother
heart, ever ready to forgive, ever quick
to comprehend, ever prompt to aid.