The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-04-21
The WOmans voice was slyly toned,

face and vibrant assurances.
'"Then say after me what I'm
thinkin' Of" said Edith.
Tony lifted her eyes to her mothers,
but drew back when she discovered
how terrible she looked, white like a
dead person.
II swear by the livin' Jesus" began
Edith, and then she paused. "Say It,"
she hissed.
"I swear by the nvin' Jesus" Tony
repeated fearfully.
81 swear to my mummy never to
say nothin' mean against Uriah De-
Won, my daddy" went on Mrs. Devon.
Tony repeated this; too, almost
; frightened into fits. She had never
seen her mother look and act so mys-
teriously.
"Now say this, keepin' in your mind
you'll be blasted to hell If you break
your word, I won't never tell that my
father beat my poor mummy, or that
he's thief and a liar" A thick
fearless sob burst from the woman's
lips and brought an ejaculation from
the girl.
"I swear to It all, honey mummy"
she cried "You believe me, Edie.
darlin', don't your
eyes, I believe you," replied Edith
DULY. "Crawl into bed, and 60 to
sleep. baby dear"
Shiveringly Tony Devon got back
under the blanket.
Then for more than an hour there
was silence on the canal boat, silence
that was broken only by the night
noises outside.
Then, extremely weak, the woman
prepared herself to 60 out. It took
her a long time to write note she
had to leave for Tony, and when that
was finished, she divided the money
the doctor had left and stole softly
from the boat
It was in the full blaze Of a morning
sun that Tonnibel opened her eyes and
looked around the cabin. The other
bunk was empty, and her mother was
not in the cabin. In her night clothes,
Tonnibel went to the deck, shouting
the name, Edith" her strong young
voice repeating itself back from the
woods in echoes. Then she went down
stairs again and began to dress
hastily, and every moment her fear
fn
pinned to the lamp handle and stared
at it mutely as if dreading to know its
contents, but she unpinned it with fin
gers that seemed to be all thumbs.
Her legs were shaking so she had to
sit down to read it.
"Tony DEAR" it began.
'I'm going to look up Uriah. took
part of the money. We might need
some. You can 60 to work some
where's Il don't come back. Maybe
some day you'll see me- Leave the
boat where she is so your daddy can
find her. l love you, darling. Remem-
Der about your swearing not to tell
on your Pop, and don't tell I'm gone to
find him. MUMMY.
Tonnibel gave gasping sob. Ihey
had all gone and left her stranded IN
a land of strangers. Because 1t was
no longer her home, she began to love
the silent old canal boat, and to wish
with all her soul that Uriah and Edith
would come walking down the CABIN
steps.
For a long time she sat thinking,
looking out over the water, sometimes
with tears flooding her lids, sometimes
dry-eyed with fright. After while she
got up, took Gussie to the lake, where,
much to the little animals disgust,
she washed her with a scrubb1ng
brush and soap. Then she carefully
washed herself, letting her feet and
legs hang over the end Of the dock
until they, too, we're as clean as her
little friend.
It was while she was sitting there
with the pig in her arms that canoe
slipped under the overhanging trees
and came toward the canal boat swift
ly. She watched 1t coming with no
show Of interest. Directly in front OF
her the paddle remained suspended
and the boat came to stop. Tonn1-
beps heart thumped, then seemed to
fall to the pit Of her stomach. Here,
right before her, was the Salvation
man.
"How do :ou do?" he said, smiling
at her. 81 see you're having nice
time"
Tonnibel shook her head.
mo, I amt, and Gussie amt,
either" she replied almost sullenly.
By a skillful twist Of the paddle,
Philip MacCauley drew the canoe close
to the dock
IT'S this the boat you told me you
lived on?' he asked, climbing up be-
side her and holding the canoe fast by
a rope.
Eyes. the Dirty Mary" answered
Tonnibel, with little catch In her
voice. "Now I live on her, I mean to-
day."
"What do you mean by now you