Year: 1879

what her fright had blinded her to. A
single cadet, stationed as sentinel near
the river, had sprung from his post and
stood calmly awaiting the coming of the
now maddened animals. Regardless of
the fearful risk to himself, he leaped for
their mouths, turned their wild career
aside, and finally stopped them with
his giant strength. They stood still
with dropping heads, trembling with
fear and dripping with perspiration;
and John Fielding patted their necks
and soothed them by his touch. Verne,
pale with fright and embarrassment,
when he learned who his rescuer was,
was stammering out his thanks.


I" 1t was deuced brave of you, old boy,
to go for me in that handsome style,and
appreciate it, by George, L do We
can't throw off all restraint here, though
and appear as friendly as / should like,
because it would make it deuced awk-
ward for Mrs. Landersdale, you know,
and we would both hate to hear the sew
en- days wonder the truth would create.





heart, and I'll never forget it, never ~


Enough said, Mr.. Landersdale,''
with mocking emphasis on the last
word. :" If our true relationship were
published to the world the recital would
be as humiliating to my pride as yours.
deserve no thanks for doing my duty,
and wish none"


Both had failed to notice, in their
heat, a woman, who, regardless of the
stare of the spectators and the curiosity
she excited, had left the crowd and was
running toward the spot where they
stood. Before Verne could prevent it,
had he desired, she had clasped him
about the neck and kissed him again
and again.


My darling boy, you are saved Oh,
L thought of you as mangled corpse
down on the rocks, and never hoped to
hear your dear lips whisper mother
just once as they did in the happy old
days. Isaac, my darling, darling son !"


Verne blushed scarlet with mortifica-
ton as he saw some of his fashionable
friends watching them from distance.
Almost involuntarily and without
thought he pushed her from him; but
that movement, slight though it was,
was like sword thrust through his
mothers heart.


am all right, not hair of my pre-
cious head hurt. Don't snivel so, old la
dy, all those people are watching u.s.
It's deuced hard for fellow to know
how to act, anyway" looking around
wildly for some hope of escape. "Of
course 1 love you as we'll as ever, but it
won't do to let everybody know. It'll
ruin my prospects. Oh, what will Maud
say when she finds the whole miserable
truth out? ?''


He broke down here and ended with
fretful whine.


He is ashamed of me-" walled the
poor, heart-broken woman" ashamed
of the mother that. worked away her
life for him and worshiped the very
ground his baby feet trod. see have
sinned; but, o God, my punishment is
hard-hard !"


AS she reeled and fell Verne started
forward with tardy self-reproach, but
John, with sparkling eyes and white
face, pushed him away and with no gen.
tie hand.


"Do not dare to pollute our mother
by touch of your finger, Verne Lam
dersdale May God deal with you as
you have dealt with her this day ~


He crouched away from his brothers.
fierce wrath and covered his face with
both hands as John bore his insensible
burden up the path toward the hotel.


"Verne Landerdale, +" exclaimeda clear
voice close by his side, " "arouse yourself,
if you can, and listen to the girl who de-
nounces you now, as your brother did
but moment ago. 1 have heard all,
and although only partially compre-
hend the truth know that the craven,
who disowns his own mother, because
of her poverty and humble origin, can
never make such woman as Maud Pei
ham happy If you had boldly con-
fessed the truth of your birth / could
have loved you for your courage, now L
despise and detest you Take your ring
and not for the wealth of the Indies
will ever renew our engagement in the
the future. 1t is over now and for