The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-09-28

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called.
At noon Caroline received word
that her mother was deod. Mr..
Rutledge, suffering from nervous
shock, was unable 70 come 70 the
factory for her. It was Malcolm, TO
whom he telephoned at Purce1l's,
who brought her the sad news.
When they got home shs found
her father drinking large glasses 81
cheap whiskey. For. one binding
moment Of white hot rage she hated
him. Then even that 3eeline was
lost In the terrible numbnea9 that
seemed to Be turning her 70 stone.
For hours she lay on her bed with
out uttering . sound, only her IN
gers moving in clutching grasps 1t
whatever they touched predicted the
breaking point. It began with .
whimper, rose to . gaspin9, sobbing
cry and then she shrieked: "Noth-
er! Mother! Mother!"
Mrs. Stuart hastily called . doc
tor. Until he came and admins
tered . sedative Caroline beg9ed
frantically to b taken to her moth
er. The doctor said she was not TO
be moved that day.
Malcolm spoke to him @ he was
leaving, about Mr.. Rutledge. Alec
holism, the physician said. and pre-
scribed . drastic treatment for him.
Malcolm saw that he got it.
Howard came in the evening. He
had not heard Of Alva's death. Mrs.
Stuart admitted him and told him
what had happened. She reported
to Malcolm later that be took il
"cool enough"
well, they weren't very GOOD
friends, ] guess" he said, rsmem-
bering . conversation he had had
with Alva about Dunsworth when
she had told him she was cory
Caroline was interested In Howard.
The way he took charge Of
things!" Mrs. Stuart went On. SJust
- though he owned the place. I'd
never have thought that . 9irl like
Caroline Rutledge would fall In love
with IN uppity no account like him.
He had the face to tell me not 70
disturb her when I Was taking Ia .
hot water bottle for her feet. They
were % cold - ice. Said he'd tele-
phoned for . nurse to look after
her."
Malcolm walked away without
further comment. Now!" his
mother thought, wasn't I the fool
to say anything about her loving
that-young Dunsworth!"
Thet next day Howard came in .
large car to take Caroline and her
father to her mothers old home.
where Alva was to be buried. The
nurse accompanied them. Mr. Rut-
ledge. . wreck Of . man, could not
have held . wheel for IN hour.
Caroline was too stricken with
grief to Question anything anyone
did. The nurse kept her @ quiet a.
possible. No one consulted her
about arrangements.
Howard had reserved rooms for
himself and Mr.. Rutledee at the
Commercial Hotel, the one and only
hostelry in the town. There he took
Philip after the wretched man had
spent m hour in Ferns house,
where Alva lay ct rest.
The nurse remained with Caro-.
lipe. The girl would have spent the
rest Of the night on her knees beside
her mothers bed, but the nurse
practically carried her away at last.
Caroline could never a1terWard
remember clearly the two days that
followed. Her brain seemed to have
retained only . collection Of dis
ordered impressions. % unreal @ .
nightmare.
It was late when they arrived 1t
the house in Edge Street. Mrs.
Stuart was waiting for them and
though Howard greeted her coldly
she coolly ignored him. She felt
she had her duty to do % . neigh.
Dor and she meant to do IL n no one
but IN outsider tried 70 stop her.
Caroline chung to her pathetical-
~, "You were 90 good 70 my
mother" the girl sobbed. Mrs.
Stuart shot triumphant glance e
Howard who had tried to take Caro-
lines hands.
"I'll have . heusskeeper here for
you tomorrow" he said, meaning TO
let Mr& Stuart know that they
would not require her services.
Caroline submitted unresponsiye-
" to his parting kiss. She vas
thinking Of how much she had hurt
her mother On his account, But
BY morning she WAS remerseful.
Ferns grateful praise Of him. COM
Ing back % her with more unoenine