e kissed her pale, thin cheek repeatedly.

"Mother, it is not like you to repine in this way; you who have suffered
and endured so much must not despond when, after a long, starless night,
the day begins to dawn."

"I fear 'it dawns in clouds, and heralds only storms.' For myself I care
not, but for you, Russell--my pride, my only hope, my brave boy? it is for
you that I suffer. I have been thinking to-night that this is a doomed
place for you, and that if we could only save money enough to go to
California, you might take the position you merit; for there none would
know of the blight which fell upon you; none could look on your brow and
dream it seemed sullied. Here you have such bitter prejudice to combat;
such gross injustice heaped upon you."

He lifted his mother's head from his bosom, and rose, with a haughty,
defiant smile on his lip.

"Not so; I will stay here, and live down their hate. Mark me, mother, I
will live it down, so surely as I am Russell Aubrey, the despised son of a
----! Go to California! not I! not I! In this state will I work and
conquer; here, right here, I will plant my feet upon the necks of those
that now strive to grind me to the dust. I swore it over my father's
coffin!"

"Hush, Russell, you must subdue your fierce temper; you must! you must!
Remember it was this ungovernable rage which brought disgrace upon your
young, innocent head. Oh! it grieves me, my son, to see how bitter you have
grown. Once you were gentle and forgiving; now scorn and defiance rule
you."

"I am not fierce, I am not in a rage. If I should meet the judge and jury
who doomed my father to the gallows, I think I would serve them if they
needed aid. But I am proud; I inherited my nature; I writhe, yes, mother,
writhe under the treatment I constantly receive."

"We have trouble enough, my son, without dwelling upon what is past and
irremediable. So long as you seem cheerful I am content. I know that God
will not lay more on me than I can bear; 'As my day so shall my strength
be.' Thy will be done, oh! my God."

There was a brief pause, and Russell Aubrey passed his hand over his eyes,
and dashed off a tear. His mother watched him, and said cautiously--

"Have you noticed that my eyes are rapidly growing worse?"

"Yes, mother, I have been anxious for some weeks."

"You know it all then?"

"Yes, mother."

"I shall not murmur; I have become resigned at last; though for many weeks
I have wrestled for strength