- .
Bemorvaic Wald
Bellefonte, Pa., September 18, 1914.
—
The Story of
Waitstill
Baxter
By KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN
Capyright, 1913. by Kate Douglas Wiggin
SYNOPSIS
-Waitstil] Baxter and her sister, Patience
Patty), keep house for their widowed,
mean father. Ivory Boynton, whose fa-
ther disappeared, is interested in Waitstill.
He takes care of his daft mother.
Mrs. Boynton expects her husband to’
rn. Rodman, a young boy, is a mem |
of the Boynton household.
Ivory’s father abandoned his family to
follow Jacob Cochrane, a mystic. Pa-!
tlence chafes under her father’s stern |
rule.
Patty has two admirers—Mark Wilson, |
am educated young man, and Cephas Cole, |
who is unlearned. Mark kisses her.
Waitstill is spending her life in loving |
enre of Patience. Aunt Abby and Uncle |
Bart Cole are friends of the whole com- |
Cephas Cole, tending store for Baxter, |
pwoposes to Patty and is rejected. In his '
agitation he lets the molasses run all
over the store floor. |
Although they love each other, Waitstill
and Ivory suppress their affection because !
of their household cares.
i
|
i
Patty and Waitstill go to church, al-
though their father is too mean to give
them fitting garments. Waitstill sings in
the choir.
A strange young woman in the Wilson
pew, a visitor from Boston, makes Patty
Jealous. Haying time arrives.
Waitstill decides to disobey her father
by paying a visit to Mrs. Boynton. Uncle
Bart discourses to Cephas on woman's
ways.
Mrs. Boynton confides in Waitstill, tell-
ng the girl she believes Rodman is not
her sister's child, but she cannot be sure.
To punish Waitstill for disobedience
Deacon Baxter locks her out all night.
8be spends the night in the barn. Pa-
tlence sympathizes.
Patience Baxter is embarrassed amid a
multitude of suitors. She thinks Mark is
Sekle.
.
Trying to trace his father, Ivory writes
© Waitstill a long account of Boynton’s
following of Cochrane, with which Mrs.
Boynton was not in full sympathy.
The village gossips are busy with the
mames of Waitstill and Ivory, but in a
friendly and sympathetic manner.
In Ivory’s absence young Rodman min-
fsters to Mrs. Boynton. She is ill and
sends Rodman for Ivory.
Ivory receives proof of his father’s death
and succeeds in convincing his mother of’
ft. Waitstill volunteers her help in the
Boynton housekeeping.
Despairing of winning Patty, Cephas
turns his affections elsewhere. Patty and |
Mark are now sweethearts. |
|
|
Patty and Mark know Deacon Baxter |
will not corisent to their marriage, so
they plan an elopement to New- Hamp-
shire.
[Continued from las: week.]
CHAPTER XIX.
Lois Buries Her Dead.
HE replies that Ivory had re-
ceived from his letters of in-
quiry concerning his father’s
movements since leaving
Maine and his possible death in the
west left no reasonable room for doubt.
Traces of Aaron Boynton in New
Hampshire, in Massachusetts, in New
York and finally in Ohio all pointed in
one direction, and, although there were
gaps and discrepancies in the account
of his doings, the fact of his death
seemed to be established by two ap-
parently reliable witnesses.
That he was not unaccompanied in
his earliest migrations seemed clear,
but the woman mentioned as his wife
disappeared suddenly from the reports,
and the story of his last days was the
story of a broken down, melancholy,
wafriended man, dependent for the last
offices on strangers. He left no mes-
sages and no papers, said Ivory’s cor-
respondent and never made mention
eof any family connections whatsoever.
He had no property and no means of
defraying the expenses of his illness
after he was stricken with the fever.
No letters were found among his poor
effects and no article that couid prove
his identity, unless it were a small |
gold locket, which bore no initials or
marks of any kind, but which contain-
ed two locks of fair and brown hair,
intertwined. The tiny trinket was en-
closed in the letter, as of no value, un-
Bess some one recognized it as a keep-
sake.
Ivory read the correspondence with
a heavy heart, inasmuch as it corrob-
orated all his worst fears. He had
sometimes secretly hoped that his fa-
ther might return and explain the rea-
son of his silence or in lieu of that
that there might come to light the sto-
ry of a pilgrimage. fanatical perhaps,
but innocent of evil intention, one that
could be related to his wife and his
former friends and then buried forever |
with the death that had ended it.
Neither of these hopes could now
ever 1» realized nor his father's memo- |
ry made other than a cause for end-
Jess regret, sorrow and shame. His
father, who had begun life so hand-
somely, with rare gifts of mind and
personality, a wife of unusual beauty
and intelligence and. while still young
in years, a considerable success in his
chosen profession. His poor father!
What could have been the reasons for
#0 complete a downfall?
Ivory asked Dr. Perry's advice about
showing one or two of the briefer let-
re
| ters and the locket to his mother.
| answered.
| not look at her patient,
| ly at last.
. that remains to be remembered. I
Aft-
er her fainting fit and the exhaustion
that followed it. Ivory beggad her to
see the old doctor, but without avail.
Finally, after days of pleading, he took
her hands in his and said: *‘1 do every-
thing a mortal man can do to be a
good son to you, mother. Won't you
do this to please me and trust that 1
know what is best?’ Whereupon she
gave a trembling assent. as if she
were agreeing to something indescrib-
ably painful, and. indeed, this sight of
a former friend seemed to frighten her
strangely. :
After Dr. Perry had talked with her
for a half hour and examined her suf-
ficiently to make at least a reasonable
guess as to her mental and physical
condition, he advised Ivory to break
the news of her husband's death to
her.
“If you ~an get her o comprehend
it,” he said, “ it is bound to be a relief
from this terrible suspense.”
“Will there be any danger of making
her worse? Mightn’'t the shock cause
too violent emotion?” asked Ivory anx-
iously.
“I don't think she is any longer ca-
pable of violent emotion.”, the doctor
“Her mind is certainly
clearer than it was three years ago,
but her body is nearly burned away
by the mental conflict. There is scarce-
ly any part of her but is weary—
weary unto death. poor soul! One can-
lovely face
without longing to lift some part of
her burden. Make a trial, Ivory. It's
a justifiable experiment, and I think it
will succeed. 1 must not come any
oftener myself than is absolutely neces-
sary. She seemed afraid of me.”
The experiment did succeed. Lois
Boynton listened breathlessly * with
parted lips and with apparent compre-
henision to the story Ivory told her.
Over and over agnin he told her gen-
ol
<
~
Riss
Her Face Showed That She Was Deep-
ly Moved.
tly the story of her husband's death,
trying to make it sink into her mind
clearly, so that there should be no con-
sequent bewilderment. She was calm
and silent, though her face showed
that she was deeply moved. She broke
down only when Ivory showed her the
locket.
“1 gave it to my husband when you
were born, my son!" she sobbed. ‘*Aft-
er all, it seems no surprise to me that
your father is dead. He said he would
come back hen the mayflowers
bloomed, and when I saw the autumn
leaves 1 knew that six months must
have gone and he would never stay
away from us for six months without
writing. That is the reason [ have
seldom watched for him these last
weeks. I must have known that it
was no use.”
She rose from her rocking chair and i
moved feebly toward her bedroom.
“Can you spare me the rest of the
day, Ivory?” she faltered as she leaned
on her son and made her slow progress
from the kitchen. *I must bury the
body of my grief and I want to be
alone at first. If only I could see Wait-
still! We have both thought this was
coming; she has a woman’s instinct;
she is younger and stronger than 1
am and she said it was braver not to
watch and pine and fret as I have
done, but to have faith in God that he
would send me a sign when he was
ready. She said if I could manage to
be braver you wouid be happier too.”
Here she sank on to her bed exhaust-
ed, but still kept up her murmuring
faintly and feebly between long inter-
vals of silence.
“Do you think Waitstill could come
tomorrow ?"* she asked. “I am so much
braver when she is here with me.
After supper I will put away your
father’s cup and plate once and for
all, Ivory, and your eyes need never
fill with tears again as they have
sometimes when you have seen me
watching. You needn't worry about
me; I am remembering better these
days, and the bells that ring in my
ears are not so loud. If only the pain
in my side were less and I were not
so pressed for breath, I should be quite
strong and could see everything clear-
There is something else
have almost caught it once and it must
come to me again before long. Put the
locket under my pillow, Ivory; close
the door, please. and leave me to my-
self. I can’t make it quite clear, my
feeling about it, but it seems just as
if I were going to bury your father,
and 1 want to be alone.”
* * * * * * *
New England's annual pageant of
autumn was being unfolded day by
day in all its accustomed splendor, and
the feast and riot of color. the almost ina ition of trust, you demand refer- |
unimaginable glory. was the common hla are not at to just read
property of the whole countryside. rich | these references and take them for what
and poor. to be shared alike if per- | they say. You enquire into their genuine- '
chance all eyes were equally alive to | ness. When you give your health into
the wonder and the beauty. | the care of a medicine should you not:
Waitstill Baxter went as often as exercise equal care? Anybody can claim
she could to the Boynton farm. though , ures for a medicine. But proof is a dif |
| ferent matter. The closest scrutiny of |
never when Ivory was at home. and : : , :
the affection between the younger and | he Seims of Dp, Pigtce i en Medical
the older woman grew closer and dyspepsia, “stomach trouble,” weak heart,
closer, so that it almost broke Wait- | sluggish liver, worn out nerves? Does it
still’s heart to leave the fragile crea- enrich and purify the blood and make
ture when her presence seemed to new life by making new blood? Hun-
bring such complete peace and joy. dreds of thousands of people testify that
“No one ever clung to me so before.” ' it does. Look up the testimony and
she often thought as she was hurrying decide Whether you con sllord » be sick
across the fields after one of her hai © SoC" & remedy within reach.
hour visits. “But the end must come
before long. Ivory does not realize it !
yet, nor Rodman. but it seems as if spe
could never survive the long winter.
Thanksgiving day is drawing nearer
and nearer, and how little I am able
to do for a single creature to prove to
God that I am grateful for my exist-
ence! I could, if only 1 were free,
make such a merry day for Patty and
Mark and their young friends. Oh,
what joy if father were a man who
would let me set a bountiful table in
our great kitchen; would sit at the
head and say grace and we could bow
our heads over the cloth, a united fam-
ily, or if 1 had done my duty in my
home and could go to that other, where
I am so needed—go with my father’s
blessing! All the woman in me is
wasting, wasting. Oh, my dear, dear
man, how I long for him! Oh, my
own dear man. my helpmate, shall I
ever live by his side? 1 love him, I
want him, I need him! And my dear
little unmothered. unfathered boy, how
happy I could make him! How I
should love to cook and sew for them
all and wrap them in comfort! How I
should love to smooth my dear moth-
er's last days. for she is my mother in
spirit. in affection. in desire and in be-
ing Ivory's!™
Waitstill’s longing. her discourage-
ment, her helplessness. overcame her
wholly, and she flung herself down
under a tree in the pasture in a very
passion of sobbing, a luxury in which
she could seldom afford to indulge her-
self. The luxury was short lived, for
in five minutes she heard Rodman’s
voice, and heard him running to meet
her as he often did when she came to
their house or went away from it, dog-
ging her footsteps or Patty's whenever
or wherever he could waylay them.
“Why, my dear, dear Waity, did you
tumble and hurt yourself?’ the boy
cried.
“Yes, dreadfully, but I'm better now.
so walk along with me and tell me the
nes, Rod.”
“There isn’t much news. Ivory told
you I'd left school and am studying
at home? He helps me evenings and
1
References.
When you engage a servant, especially |
Hood’s Sars-pe#rilla.
Scrofula and all
Humors Give Way:
There are many things learned from
experience and observation that the older
generation should impress upon the |
younger. Among them is the fact that |
scrofula and other humors, which pro-
duce eczema. boils. pimples and other
eruptions, can be most successfully treat-
ed with Hood's Sarsaparilla.
This great medicine is a peculiar com- i
bination of remarkably effective blood- ’
purifying and health-giving roots, barks
and herbs, which are gathered especially
for it.
Hood's Sarsaparilla has stood the test
of forty years.
Get a bottle today—now—from your
nearest drug store. Always keep it on
hand. 59-37
Excursion.
Niagara Falls
Personally-Conducted Excursions
September 25, October 9, 1914
Round $7.30 Trip
- FROM BELLEFONTE
SPECIAL TRAIN of Pullman Parlor Cars
Dining Car, and Coaches through the
Picturesque Susquehanna Valley.
Tickets good going an Special Train and con-
necting trains, and returning on regular trains
within FIFTEEN DAYS. Stop off at Buffalo
within limit on return trip.
Illustrated Booklet and full information may
be obtained from Ticket Agents.
Pennsylvania R.R.
I'm way ahead of the class.” 59-25-16t.
[Continued on page 7. Col. 11
RIT a cH
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BELLEFONTE PA.
Shoes.
Yeager’s Shoe Store
‘TITZEZY"
The
Ladies’ Shoe
that
Cures Corns
Sold only at
Yeager’s Shoe Store,
Bush Arcade Building, BELLEFONTE, PA
58-27
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