The Argosy — page 313: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

204 In the Past. Mr. Dewar delayed for some minutes before taking his candle. Perhaps he felt no great inclination to meet his wife just then, or perhaps the events of the evening had opened up a train of thought which was not conducive to sleep. He found several trivial excuses for delay, such as winding up his watch—a task he always performed in his bedroom—replacing “‘ Barnes ” on the bookshelves, and raking | the already cold embers from the grate. At last he extinguished the hghts of the room, took his candle, and walked slowly upstairs. Mrs. Dewar was in bed, her eyes closed, and breathing slowly and regularly. Was she asleep? No. Her husband knew that she was not—he knew that under such circumstances sleep was impossible to her. Sleeplessness was no new burden to her. She had often lain awake till long after midnight, listening anxiously for the tap of her errant boy at the hall door, to creep out of bed when she heard it at last, and down the stairs to admit him. “Are you awake, Mary?” asked Mr. Dewar, after remaining silent for some time. ‘Yes, John,” replied a low, weary voice. ‘Then perhaps you will tell me if that boy has gone.” Of course he knew the boy had gone; but his humour was too bad to admit of silence. It must find some vent before he slept. ‘Ves, he has gone,” replied Mrs. Dewar, mechanically. _ ‘ And was it by your connivance that he went away like a thief, without coming to see me first ?” ‘He did not know that you wished to see him,” protested the wife, wearily. “Oh! of course you will defend him. You always have, in opposition to me. I have always been last in your consideration. Is it to be wondered at that a son plunges headlong on the road to destruction when he is protected and encouraged by his mother in disobedience to his father ?” ‘‘T have never done that, John.” “The very fact that Frank has left this house without attempting to say good-bye to me proves that he is thoroughly hardened and base, and that I have pursued the proper course with respect to him.” Very badly in need of proofs was John Dewar. ‘ To you hear ?” he asked, after a pause, as there was no reply. “Yes, I hear, John. But my head is splitting.” Then Mr. Dewar was silent ; and after awhile he slept. And all through the long watches of the night the wife and mother lay, with aching head and aching heart, hopelessly awake. Her brain burned with its overload of thought; her heart bowed with its over- load of woe. But she was not all forsaken. She had her faith, simple as that of a child; and she clung to it. In silent prayer her burden was lightened, and the welcome tears wet her pillow. CORNIELIOOKS EO