San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-06

4 from q window, saw her 1alilhg =
the grass. Strangers had to com
and lift her; strangers did those loy
ing things.
Her tears were raining oow. SL'
wiped them Quickly and went stealing
down the hall Poor, lovely one strug
Cling for her breath. She would Iusl
in and comfort her
Margaret's head lay back agains
the pillows: her mouth half open
the lips blue and straining wit
their shallow, painting breaths. oh
those lips had lost their beauty anC
the face its quiet charm.
Nora Lee took chair at the bed
She was frightened even as she had
been years ago: afraid of her mother
afraid of the terror creeping in and
stealing Margaret from her. And
she wanted to run away-dash out
of the house, fling herself into the
get away from this.
She dropped her head near Mar
garet's hand and whispered No
oh, mother darling, | won't leave
oh, my dearest, dearest
ANGUISHED WAITING.
1t seemed weakness most terrible
to sit here and let her mother go
to sit with bowed head and wait. II
she might only crowd sweet, life
giving air into Margarets mouth; if
she might only take Margaret's fail
ing heart and pour her own young
blood upon it; il she could put out
fighting arms and keep away this
final cruelty.
She kissed her mothers hands and
felt their palms press softly TO her
lips. That faint recognition filled her
with a balf-mad joy. She laughed
softly: "Mothcr-oh, mother dear
Margaretis hand pressed again.
You know I'm here? You feel
me?"
She searched Margaret's face. The
eyes opened. deep now and for n
moment lighted with their love. Mar
garet's lips struggled with words she
seemed determined to speak.
Nora Lee said: Il know you love
me. ! can guess what you would
say. Rest
But Margaret won. Between sharp
gasps she whispered Leaving
darling girl-forgive--"
Nora Lee let the tears fall though
she smiled back in Margaret's sor-
rowing eyes. She even laughed: "Oh,
you dear-you dear" And she was
glad that Margarets lids dropped
heavily glad to be released from
that piercing Revelation of her moth
cr's sublime and sacrificial love.
Forgive her because she had 10 die
Forgive her that she must bring pain
TO this, her little one-her only little
one
And now her mothers last hour
was an anguish because her thoughts
would not abandon Nora Lee; be-
cause her spirit chung to a young
girl who would be left. alone.
FIGHT FOR CHILD.
Nora Lee sobbcd. All Margaret's
life had been struck to these aching
chords of Remuneration. 4 lovely girl
OF 20 forced from her home; sent out
into the night with a little baby in
her arms. That baby was Nora Lee,
Margaret had gone out carrying her
burden. Holding it priceless treas
urc.zshe had raised her head proudly
and fought the world for it.
Margaret had given up love and
friends and every beauty-shc. who
was so moulded for the gracious
things Of life; she who could have
charmed the loftiest, had become a
hermit for wee child that needed
her.
Images Of Margaret carved sharp
as canoes in Nora Lees mind. g..
that day in Fairdale with her mother,
white as a statute bidding Andrew
farewell, that night when they raced
through the bills and the hills went
about them silent and brown and
vast, Margaret dropped on her knees
weeping, her arms about the child !:
Sad, Why, we're not sad, my gypsy
girl. How could ! sorrow when
have you? Why, no."
1t was only the touch of death that
winter in the snow; only the utter
finally beaten Margaret down 90 that
finally beaten Margaret dokWn so that
she took this great love Andrew Of
fcred.
FRIENDSHIP LOST.
Nora Lee knew now that it had
always been half anguish. She could
not take it bravely 10 the world. The
one sweetness life had offered her,
who was 50 beautiful, had been faint
ed in this Misunderstanding way.
Her mother had to hide herself in
this lonely cottage; she had TO fOrego
like tome outcast. And
she had lived in torment even Of the
day when her child would judge her.
That tragic day had come.
Nora Lee could slay herself now,
recalling the hour when Margarets
hand had tremblcd so: when Mar.
Saret's lips had deadcned in their
pain. Those narrowing weeks when
Andrew didn't come aud Margaret
grew so pale: when finally she said.
Yes. you have judged me, Nora
Lee"
Nora Lee wound her hands on her
mothers arm. She would make I'D
for that hardness. She would bring
a thousand joys TO Margaret. #
occurred 10 her that Margaret would
be pleased; Margaret would cherish
cternally the memory Of her triumph.
She must tell her about the magazine
and the litle article. She must run
and get II.
But as she stood Up with this
abrupt thought. Margarct's hand
presse'h implOringly: ''Stay-stay-'.
"Why-do you think I'm Ieaying?"
NEARING; THF FSD
The dear eyes were seeking hers.
She stopped down and kissed them.
She brushed the soft, damp hair from
Margarct's forehead. She would wait