San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-14

The door to her mothers
room was closed. When She
tried to open it Matty's bill.
lowy form blocked the
Threshold. She wouldn't
let Nora Lee go in.
"Wait now, Missy - VIC
can't make her anxious
But Andrew is coming-I want to
tell her"
mo, she's too sick. She don't care
for nothing"
The child turned away, hiding her
tears. All day she had gone about
in a cold bcwilderment like a little
exile. She had fled in terror from
Margarct's room because the quick,
gasping breaths were terrible to hear
and because once Margaret said "Oh
oh" as though her side was tear
ing out IN pam.
They told her Margaret might be
dying-her own mother dying and she
would be left so alone. Her heart
thumped in awful heaviness, and she
kept seeing the flushed, anxious look
in those sweet, lovely eyes.
Once when no one was there she
had leaned down and whispered /:
"Marmee - marmce - have you got
such dreadful pain?"
Margaret tried to smile. Her fin.
gers opened for the child's hand.
Then Nora Lee pleaded: But you
won't die, will you? What could |
do without your"
But now there was a tingling and
a throb of eager hope. She ran back
to the kitchen and out into the cold,
clean dark. The wind whistled
through the willow tree but high up
in the inky sky a golden star was
shining. 1t looked so kind and gay
she watched il. thinking: "Oh,
hurry-hurry! II he would only
come" She searched the wind-swept
road, listening and listening.
ANSWERS
In the distance a machine honkcd.
The headlights flashed and il came
tearing like a wild thing toward the
gate.
Andrew leaped from the car. All
in a moment she he'd flung her arms
about his neck, crying - unable to
speak.
Andrew leaned down and kissed
her. His face was ice against hers.
He took thick, deep breath and
said in a choking voice: Not Ccad,
Nora Lec?"
"No-no-you didn't come a bit
too soon. Andrcw-oh, l don't know
what to do"
Does she know, Nora Lee? Did
she call for mc?"
. Il sent for you myself, Andrew. |
was afraid to tell her. But you're
he only friend we have"
His arm shook as though he were
Just freezing with the cold. They
Utmost ran to the kitchen. He said,
breathlessly: "Hurry-take me 10
her."
But she said: "Oh, get warm first
they'll make you do that. And you
night frighten her coming in so sud-
len. / guess j better tell her."
She leaned at her mothers bed. She
aid: "Marmee-what do you think!
)h, who do you think is here? An
lrew, Marmee. He's come"
Margarct's eyelids fluttercd. A
ull dropped on that panied, tearing
breath. "Andrew-Andrew is here?"
Then he came softly. The dark
Dom and that old walnut bed were
warmed as in a glow. HeI
ouched her hand and called, Mar
,aret!" Only that, but thousand
learts seemed melted in the word.
Her white, thin hands were trem-
ling, but she raised her eyes. Light
md radiance passed upward. An
rev dropped on his knees and pressed
is face against her arm. 1t was sad
o see her hand touch softly on his
air.
He seemed to cry-to call and call
0 her.
She said between those rasping
ighs: "Andrew-glad-so glad.
Tanted once-just once-to see you"
After a long while she added in the
tillest quiet: Andrew, will you
'atch my Nora Lee?"
He got up then and took the chair
eside her. He held her burning
ands, his face whittier than hers. But
CONTINUED On Page 80, Part 81