“I shall get the money,” he repeated quietly. “I shall go for it at once.”
“You are so good!” she cried. “You were always my comfort. I can rely upon you more than on the others.”
She reached up and kissed him again and again. “Though no one ever knows of the sacrifice you make, Anson and I will, and we will honor you for it. Do not think that we undervalue it.” He kissed her softly. No amount of praise could have wrung the money from him, but her tears had been more potent.
“You don't care,” she questioned, “that the girls are not to be told of what you do for Anson?”
“No, dear. Glory of that sort does not in the least appeal to me. I have no objections to being deprived of it. What I do I do quite willingly. I am satisfied with your thanks and the consciousness that I have in a measure eased this burden for you.” He smiled sadly down upon her. “Now I will go,” and unclasping her arms from about his neck, he turned and left the room.
After a few moments' waiting to regain her composure, Mrs. Southard went down to the parlor where Anson and Hale sat, the former crestfallen and not over-confident of Philip's generosity.
To Hale she said: “My son will be back in a few moments with the sum you require. He has just gone for it.”
Anson's face lit up with joy. He was safe! How lucky it was that Philip had kept his money instead of spending it!
They did not have to wait long for Philip's return. His mother, who had been watching from the window, saw him as he came into the yard, and quitting the room, joined him in the hall.
“You have it? You were in time?” she asked anxiously.
“Yes,” he said, placing a bundle of bills in her hand. “It is a thousand dollars you need, is it not?”
“Yes. It is so good of you. How can I ever tell you what it means to me!”
With a heavy step, as if all the vigor had left him, Philip slowly mounted the stairs leading up to the floor above.
“Won't you come in and see Mr. Hale?” his mother called.
He walked as one in a dream, mechanically closing the door behind him as he entered the room. Then he dropped wearily into his chair beside the table.
He was overwhelmed by the catastrophe. A comprehension of it all, and the probable results, began to come to him. He threw the few hundred dollars remaining of his little fortune on the table. They were worthless, so far as the purpose for which they had been saved was concerned.