I looked back into her eyes for a moment--I remember yet that they were bright blue, with a lighter band about the edge of the sight, instead of the dark edging that most of us have; and as I understood her meaning I took my hands from Rucker's throat, and threw him from me.

He lay on the floor for a minute, and as he scrambled to his feet I sank down on the nearest chair and buried my face in my hands.
It was all over, then; my long lone quest for my mother--a quest I had carried on since I was a little, scared, downtrodden child.

I should never have the chance to serve her in my way as she had served me in hers--my way that would never have been anything but a very small and easy one at the most; while hers had been a way full of torment and servitude.

All my strength was gone; and the girl seemed to know it; for she came over to me and patted me on the shoulder in a motherly sort of way.
"Poor boy!" she said.

"Poor boy! To-morrow, come to me and I'll show you your mother's grave.