The Witness

rry that telegram over to the West Dormitory to Wittemore, instead of any one of a dozen other fellows who were

ad held out his hand and o

and Abner was faithfully carrying out the course of study he suggested. He was floundering through hours of lectures on the theory of the subject, and conscientiously working in the college settlement to get the practical side of things. He had the distressed look of a person with very short legs who is trying to keep up with a procession of six-footers, although there was nothing short about Abner. His legs were long, and his body was long, his ar

and a dart of fear in his eyes when he saw the telegram. Nobody but his mother would send him a telegram, and she would never waste the money for it unless there w

ng ahead that characterized all Abner's mo

were the terse, cruel words that he re

sp of a hurt thing and st

d, kindly, moved by the gray, stricken look

telegram into Courtland's hand and sank down o

on the bowed shoulder. "But maybe it's only a scare. Somet

en sick a long time. I didn't want to come back this year! I thought she was

likely your coming will help her to rally again! W

looked about his room helpless

ssities for the journey, while Wittemore was inadequately trying to get himself dressed. Suddenly Wittemore stoppe

the next train! Never mind that suit-case. I haven't time to wai

ave gone out the door, but Co

? Surely you won't let anything

to have it to-night, but there was no one else to get it for her, so I promised. She's lying there waiting for it now, listening to every sound till I come. Mother wouldn't want me to come to he

dicine to the old lady-ten old ladies if necessary! You get yo

I could find Dick Folsom I would have about enough.

That had never been one of his troubles. He had been to the bank that day, fo

ugh? And I can send you more if you ne

pon them. Courtland felt his own eyes filling. What a pitiful, lonely life this had been! And

ening street, his heart pounding with several new emotions. Witless Abner for one! What a surprise he had been! Wo

e mission left for him and return in time for supper. There was something in his soul that would not let h

ing the street, or rather court

wondering what in thunder Wittemore came to places like this for? Just to major in sociology? Didn't the nut know that he would never make a success

and he entered a room entirely dark. There didn't even appear to be a window, though he afterward discovered o

r?" asked a feeble voice

m that his mother is dying and he had to g

mother dyin'! An' to think he should remember me an

s is located I'll make a light f

of candle up on that shelf. The distric' nurse left it there. I was thinkin' mebbe I'd get Mr. Widymer to light it fer

in the corner apparently contained a few worn garments. Some dishes and provisions were huddled on the table. The walls and floor were bare. The district nurse had done her level best to clear up

e couldn't. "Here's this medicine," he

over there somewhere," she said, weakly. "If you could go get me a pitcher of

ed face, her eyes looked as if they had been burned almost out by suffering. He saw she was drawn and quivering with pain, even now as she tried to speak

reet. He took the doubtful-looking pitcher and st

The deuce!" (He didn't allow himself any stronger words these days.) Was

you wouldn't mind jest stirrin' up the fire an' makin' me a sup o' tea it would be real heartenin'. I 'ain't et nothin' all

r laid eyes on anything so primitive as that stove in all his life. Presently, by using c

ast three drawings left, and it would be a long time, perhaps, before she g

t-but I guess it's pretty dry. You don't know h

g quite fresh and original in the whole experience. It would have been interesting to have told the boys, if there weren't some features about it that were almost sacred. He wondered what the gang would say when he told them abou

ual accessories. "Now," he said, with a long breath, "is there anything

nurse, she ain't the prayin' kind; an' Mr. Widymer he says he don't pray no more since he's come to college. He said it so kind of ashamed-like I didn't like to bother him again; and there ain't anybody else come my way for three months b

"Why,-I-" he began, growing red enough to be

nd to the call. Before his alarmed vision there came the memory of that wall of smoke which had shut him in, and that Voice calling him by name and saying, "You sha

hrough her eyes to see what he would do. Something leaped up in his heart in respon

as he saw her folding her hands with delight. She smiled with serene assurance, a

never rise again; "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John" was more appropriate, but there was that unc

seemed that with the words the Presence had drawn near, was standing close by the chair. His mind leaped forth with the consciousness that he might talk with this in

mber afterward what else he said. Something about his own longing, and the old woman's pa

everence, and down whose withered cheeks the tears were coursing. The smoky walls, the cracked stove, the stack of discouraged dishes, seemed to fade away, and the room was somehow full of glory. He was choking

t was such a beautiful prayer! I'll not forget the words all the night through an

le upon his face at the thought, as

urely goin' to be

ion struck him curiously as one who hears for the first time that there is

, anyhow, and this is a great night fer this poor litt

d to be moving beside him, touching his soul, breathing upon him! He was so engrossed with this thought that it never occurred to him that he had given the old woman every cent he had in his pocket. He had forgotten entirely

eighborhood a shade less poverty-stricken, and stood upon the corner of a busy thoroughfar

ng a ragged sweater about his small shoulders, and stood upon the curbstone, breathlessly watching

ld called in a clear, bird-like voice, and darted fr

ed up like a lily and the relentless car speeding onward, its chauffeur darting frightened, cowardly glances behind him as he plunged his machine forward over the track, almost in the teeth of the up-trolley. When the trolley was passed there was no sign

ropping all her parcels; gathering him into her s

ing! My litt

, and she tottered as she tried to rise

man, stooping and gathering him ge