Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-09-09
A Woman's Sacrifice.

'Better, mother!
What ringing clear voice it was
So strong and hearty, rs if to match the
tall, stalwart figure; the bright brown eyes
and handsome, sunny face of John Viii
liams.
"Better!" And now a hearty laugh rang
out. AS if there lived better woman than
Hannah Coyle!"
"But John, she Is only shop girl.
She won't be a shop girl when she is my
wife. am not a rich man, but my salary
will make a comfortable home for all Of
us.
''She will turn me out of doors like en-
ough"
Mother" cried John with quiver of
anger running through the surprised re-
proach of his voice, 'you should know Han
nah Coyle better than that"
Mrs Williams conscience gave her a
sharp twinge, for she did know Hannah
better than TO think she would deprive q
crippled old woman of her only home.
But Mrs. Williams, like many fond
mother, had nursed such high hopes for
the future matrimonial prospects of her
boy, that she felt only rude shock of DIS
appointment when he told her of his en-
gagement.
Surely" she unused, after John had left
her for his daily routine of duty, ''surely
John might aspire TO something higher than
mere shop girl.
He was well educated, well connected,
and occupied responsible position.
Just one week later Hannah Coyle came
to the house, where she was 10 have had
grudging welcome as its mistress, and en-
teriug softly went TO the crippled woman's
chair.
Crouched down among the cushions
seeming to have shrunk to less than her act
ual size in her misery, was the fond, proud
IN other, her frame shivering in convulsive
agony, her words always the same.
''Oh, John, my son, my good son. Oh,
Heavenly Father, let me dIel'
She had been all one long night so moan
! ing, so sobblng, utterly desolate, utterly
alone.
The son she idolzed, the trusted clerk,
the fond, proud lover, was lying in cell,
waiting trial for forgery.
He had been arrested for passing forged
check, taken in the very act of attempting
to cash it at the bank.
The story he told of its possession was so
improbable that it still further injured him,
! and gave personal revenge an additional
motive for his punishment. He said that
Gerald Somers the son of one of the part
ners of the firm, had sent HIM to the bank
with the check.
! 1t scarcely needed the young mans in
dignant denial to contradict this story.
A friend in the same employ had gone to
the mother and told the news as kindly and
| gently as possible.
A fierce anger and stout pride had kept
the old lady up during that trying inter-
view, but once she was alone, she crouched
/ in the cushions of her chair and moaned
out in the utter misery of her heart.
There was no strong arm to lift her to her
| own room that night.
There was no hearty, ringing voice to bid
her good-morning.
Still the feeble voice, freighted with its
burden OF anguish, mOaned its sad refrain,
when the door opened and Hannah Coyle
came in.
No friend had broken the news gently to
the young girl.
! But the shock came rudely on her from
! LLlC VI IUG udll1 paper.
1t was not in one hour, or two, that she
could conquer her own grief so as to leave
the house. But when the first battle was
over in her heart, she went at once where
she knew John would have her go.
So when, faint with her long night of
misery, the mother lay moaning, a kind
hand was placed upon her shoulder and q
/ voice clear and strong, but sweet with wo-
manly tenderness, spoke the dearest word
on earth:
"Mother!"
She looked up with haggard, bloodshot
eyes, and saw bending over her face that
love, pity, and deep, mutterable tenderness
had transformed into positive beauty.
Mother" the sweet, clear voice said,
''this is not what John would wish"
The mothers tears, the first she had
shed, flowed fast at the sound of her sons
name.
''Oh, Hannah" she said, ''you do not
believe John is guilty2"
John guilty?" the girl cried, her voice
ringing like trumpet call, her eyes fash
ing, and her cheeks growing crimson,
"Mother, how can you put the words to-
gether2 You know know that he is in
Pocent."
but he is in prison. He will be tried"
This was the first conversation that drew
the hearts of the two women together, bu
the bond that knit them during the months
that followed was that of suffering and sor-
row, that would have torn the heart of the
man whom they loved and trusted during
his darkest hours.
For the trial only separated them more
surely and terribly.
Twelve intelligent men, after hearing all
the evidence, pronounced verdict Of gull
ty, and John Williams was sentenced for
ten years.
1t is not in the power of our pen to de-
scribe the desolate home to which This news
was carried.
They never doubted him, even in the
face of all the overwhelming evidence tina.
had condemned him, but Heaven seemed
to have deserted them when they knew the
result of the trial.
Hannah Coyle was not pretty. Her fea-
lures were plain, her eyes soft brown, and
she had a sweet mouth, that could smile
bravely snd light her face for the invalids
eyes in their darkest hours. But she had
one great beauty in long, heavy masses of
| hair. of q rich dark brown, and of which