rose garden, to carry to my mother, and
then I hurried away. If the wages of disobedience be death, then fate
reversed the mandate, and obedience exacts my life as a forfeit. Think
of it: I had ample time to reach the station before seven o'clock, and
if I had gone straight on, all would have been well. I should have
taken the 7.15 train, and left forever this horrible place. If I had
not loitered, I should have seen once more my mother's face, have
escaped shame, despair, ruin--oh! the blessedness of what 'might have
been!'

"Listen, my twelve judges, and pity the child who obeyed at all
hazards. Poor though I was, I bought a small bouquet for my sick mother
the day that I left her, and the last thing she did was to arrange the
flowers, tie them with a wisp of faded blue ribbon, and putting them in
my hand, she desired me to be sure to stop at the cemetery, find her
mother's grave in the Darrington lot, and lay the bunch of blossoms for
her upon her mother's monument. Mother's last words were: 'Don't forget
to kneel down and pray for me, at mother's grave.'"

The voice so clear, so steady hitherto, quivered, ceased; and the heavy
lashes drooped to hide the tears that gathered; but it was only for a
few seconds, and she resumed in the same cold, distinct tone:

"So I went on, and fate tied the last millstone around my neck. After
some search I found the place, and left the bunch of flowers with a few
of the chrysanthemums; then I hastened toward town, and reached the
station too late; the 7.15 train had gone. Too late!--only a half hour
lost, but it carried down everything that this world held for me. I
used to wonder and puzzle over that passage in the Bible, 'The stars in
their courses fought against Sisera!' I have solved that mystery, for
the stars in their courses' have fought against me; heaven, earth, man,
time, circumstances, coincidences, all spun the web that snared my
innocent feet. When I paid for the telegram to relieve my mother's
suspense, I had not sufficient money (without using the gold) to enable
me to incur hotel bills; and I asked permission to remain in the
waiting-room until the next train, which was due at 3.05. The room was
so close and warm I walked out, and the fresh air tempted me to remain.
The moon was up, full and bright, and knowing no other street, I
unconsciously followed the one I had taken in the afternoon. Very soon
I reached the point near the old church where the road crosses, a