“What can be her object. Can it be she thinks she is not good enough for me financially?” thus murmured Paul until he reached home.
He found his mother sitting up. She had been having a serious spell of heart disease and dared not lie down. As he entered the room she was sitting in she said, “My son, why did you come so soon? I did not expect you for some time yet.”
“It is nearly twelve, mother, and I am sorry I stayed so long. You have been sick, and are now, only wishing to keep me in ignorance of how bad you really are. You look very ill mother. Why do you sit up so long?” asked her son, bending over her and pressing a kiss on her fair brow.
“My son,” answered his mother, “I have the heart disease, and I fear you will soon have no mother. I see it is growing worse with me with every attack, as I cannot lie down after one now.”
“Oh! mother, do not speak so sadly. Shall I go for a doctor tonight?”
“It would do me no good. I have tried the best-skilled physicians there are on the continent and they unite in saying I must be kept quiet or I will some day be no more. I have prayed that I might live to see you grown to manhood, and that prayer is answered and now I am willing to go when God sees fit to call me.”
His mother was speaking in a sorrowful tone. Paul sat like a statue, pale as death.
“Oh! mother, it cannot be,” he spoke at last. “I can not part with you; you who are all the companion I have on earth,” answered Paul in frightened tones.
“My son you will not miss me much when you catch that ‘little human fish’ you spoke of the other day. Oh! if you should marry her I pray she may prove a true, honest wife to you. Then you will lead a happy life.”
“Oh, mother, may your last few words be true! Time works wonders in this world sometimes. I hope you may live long with me, then you will see what a dutiful son you have,” answered Paul, the tears falling thick and fast.