“Alice Sturdy.”
CHAPTER II
Like a Voice from the Grave
“From mother!” shouted Don. “She’s alive! A cablegram from mother!”
He kissed the precious message and pressed it to his heart. Happy tears were in his eyes. The captain was scarcely less stirred.
The commotion brought the professor hurrying to the porch, as well as Don’s sister Ruth, who, not yet fully recovered from her long illness, stood like a frail lily, framed in the doorway.
“What is it, Don?” she asked, clasping her hands beseechingly. “I heard you say something about mother? What has happened?”
Don sprang to her side and led her to a chair, where he seated her tenderly.
“Good news, Ruth, glorious news!” he cried. “We have a message from mother. She’s alive! Think of it, Ruth! Mother’s alive and we’re going to see her soon!”
Ruth’s head drooped on his breast and she fell into a passion of weeping. They let her cry to her heart’s content, knowing they were tears that could bring balm and blessing. The captain turned away, and the professor, to conceal his emotion, blew his nose vigorously.
The paroxysm passed, and Ruth, her eyes shining through her tears, looked at Don.