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The Man Thou Gavest by Harriet T. (Harriet Theresa) Comstock
page 36 of 328 (10%)
heart....

"Lynda--are you there, dear?"

It had been a frequent, pathetic question during the month of illness.
Lynda had been summoned from school. Brace was still at his studies.

"Yes, mother, right here!"

"You are always--right here! Lyn, once I thought I could not stand it,
and I was going to run away--going in the night. As I passed your door
you awoke and asked for a drink of water. I gave it, trembling lest you
might notice my hat and coat; but you did not--you only said: 'What
would I do if I woke up some night and didn't have a mother?' Lyn, dear,
I went back and--stayed!"

Lynda had thought her mother's mind wandering so she patted the seeking
hands and murmured gently to her. Then, suddenly:

"Lyn, when I married your father I thought I loved him--but I loved
another! I've done the best I could for you all; I never let any one
know; I dared not give a sign, but I want you--by and by--to go
to--William Truedale! You need not explain--just go; you will be my gift
to him--my last and only gift."

Startled and horrified, Lynda had listened, understood, and grown old
while her mother spoke....

Then came the night when she awoke--and found no mother! She was never
the same. She returned to school but gave up the idea of going to
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