The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-09-20
CHAPTER XIV

Expert medical attention and
skilled nursing she had. Alva saw to
that. There had come to the mother
q clarity Of vision ~ she stood be-
side the bed after the doctor had
told her how slight was her daugh-
ter's chance Of recovery, that
brought to her the undeniable truth
that she was in great part response
bic for Caroline's condition.
Darling" she breathed brokenly,
"get well, or l can never forgive my
self. I've been . poor, vain,, selfish
mother. Come back and let me make
it up to you."
From the bedside she had gone
softly about the house, her eyes
tear-dimmed, her heart almost
standing still with CHASTITY fear, and
without regret accumulated and as
sorted every treasure she had. Then.
taking most Of them, she left the
house and waited for Q street ear TO
take her to town.
Philip, remaining behind 70 b
near Caroline, Is Alva had ordered.
struggled to recover from the shock
Of surprise that certain things she
had said had brought to him.
At first he had been inclined 70
doubt her sanity, thinking their
trials and tribulations had been too
much for her mind to endure. But
her voice had been calm. her man
ner quietly determined. He knew
he had seen for the first time the
chivalry underlying her surface love
Of self.
II am going to do all that is left
TO do for her, Philip" she had said.
1--WE have failed her, both Of us.
You with your drinking, I with my
slothfulness. As far as I am con-
cerned that is ended. You may do
Is you like, IS your conscience or
your selfishness dictates, but ] pity
you If Caroline dies and you have
not changed"
Philip, for ! moment, was silent,
then, "What il there to dot" he
asked
"For you nothing but to stay here
and wait. I am taking some things
to SELL" She started away, turned
back. 1.-THE bottle hid from you is
on the top shelf Of my clothes clos
et," she said Internationally. "The
choice is yours"
Two hours later she returned with
more money than she had had in her
possession for months. That after
noon . specialist was called in and
. capable night nurse was put on
the case.
When Alva ct last retired to her
room she looked into the closet for
the bottle she had spoken Of to
Philip. It was. gone. Yet he had
been sober when she left him few
moments before. HE was afraid"
she thought YEARLY, ITO get drunk.
But he took the bottle. He is halt
bad"
Lying sleepless and with the
vision Of Caroline's emaciated body.
great hollow eyes and flaming
cheeks before her eyes she came as
near greatness Is she had ever been
when she resolved that wherein
Philip failed she would seek to full
fill.
The change that had begun "a
take place in her that day, or rather
the uncovering Of her true self, was
like . resurrection. The blundera
she had committed in the perform.
ance Of daily household tasks now
became stupidities to her. Her brain
began to direct her fingers with true
purpose. She saw in failure = lack
Of applied intelligence. Spiritually
she departed from the narrow
warped confines Of her old outlook
upon life and felt shame for the
time she had wasted in grieving over
material losses.
When the turning point came n
Caroline's illness Alva felt that il
was che who stood at the crossroads
II the frail life flickered out Their
she must 60 down into the valley Of
lifelong sadness. II her daughter
were given back to her
She stood with tensely claspet
hands and bated breath prisoner
Of doom-waiting outside Caroline'l
door. for the doctor to emerge anl
give her his verdict.
Philip was not with her. She haf
not expected him to be. He had moi
changed. Strain and worry he has
continued to meet or evade with ,
deadened mind. Alva had accepted
his attitude with ! dull resignation
As truly as she knew that She hat
found herself she knew that PhiliI
was also down to the core Of hil
being. and that what he WAS nov
was what hs had always been DO
tentially. She did not even think 0.
him as she waited, years older thar
she had been IN the spring. but viii