Then, rising, she said:
"I have done a simple duty, Mrs. Birtwell. How hard the task has
been you can never know, for through a trial like mine you will
never have to pass. It now remains for you to do the best to save
your child from the great peril that lies before her. I wish that I
could say, 'Tell Blanche of our interview and of my solemn warning.'
But I cannot, I dare not do so, for it would be to cast up a wall
between me and my son and to throw him beyond the circle of my
influence. It would turn his heart against his mother, and that is a
calamity from the very thought of which I shrink with a sickening
fear."
The two women, sad partners in a grief that time might intensify,
instead of making less, stood each leaning her face down upon the
other's shoulder and wept silently, then raised their eyes and
looked wistfully at each other.
"The path of duty is very rough sometimes; but if we must walk it to
save another, we cannot stay our feet and be guiltless before God,"
said Mrs. Whitford. "It has taken many days since I saw this path of
suffering and humiliation open its dreary course for me to gather up
the strength required to walk in it with steady feet. Every day for
more than a week I have started out resolved to see you, but every
day my heart has failed. Twice I stood at your door with my hand on
the bell, then turned, and went away. But the task is over, the duty
done, and I pray that it may not be in vain.
Pages:
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278