The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-09
A Woman's Sacrifice.

news told to her by her only son was not
pleasant for her to hear.
''Better, motherl"
What d ringing clear voice it was.
SO strong and hearty, az If to match the
tall, stalwart figure the bright brown eyes
and handsome, sunny face of John Viii
liams.
'Better!" And now hearty laugh rang
out. AS if there lived better woman than
Hannah Coylel"
''But John, she ls only shop girl"
She won't be shop girl when she Is my
wife. am not rich man, but my salary
will make 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 a
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
hoy, that she felt only rude shock of dis
l.
gagement.
Surely" she mused, after John had left
her for his daily routine of duty, s'surely
John might aspire to something higher than
Il mere shop girl.
He was we'll educated, we'll connected,
and occupied a responsible position.
Just one week later Hannah Coyle came
to the house, where she was to have had
grudging welcome Us its mistress, and en-
ering softly went to the crippled womans
chair.
Crouched down among the cushions
seeming TO have shrunk to less than her act
ual size in her misery, was the fond, proud
m1ther, her frame shivering in convulsive
agony, her words always the same.
ooh, John, my son, my good son! Oh,
Heavenly Father, let me dle!"
She had been all one long night 80 moan
ing, 30 sobblng, utterly desolate, utterly
alone.
The son she idolized, the trusted clerk,
the fond, proud lover, was lying iu cell,
waiting'a trial for forgery.
lie had been arrested for passing forged
check, taken in the very act of attempting
To cash it at the bank.
Tho story he told of its possession was 80
improbable that it still further injured him,
and gave personal revenge an additional
motive for his punishment. He said that
Gerald Somcrs, the son of one of the part
ners of the firm, had sent hlm 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 1r during thut trying inter
view, but once she was alone, she crouched
In the cushions of her chair and moaned
ont in the utter misery of her heart.
There was no strong arm to hit her to her
own room that night.
There was no hearty, ripging voice to bid
her good morning.
Still the feeble voice, freighted with it's
burden OF anguish, moancd 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
the columns of the daily paper
1t was not In one hour. Or two, that she
could conquer ber own grief 30 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 90.
So when, faint with her long night Of
misery, the mother lay moaning, a kind
hand was placed upon her shoulder, and a
voice clear and strong, but sweet with wo-
manly tenderness, spoke the dearest word
on earth:
''Mothcr!'
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
name.
"Oh, Hannahl" she said, ''you do not
believe John is guilty2"
John guilty2" the girl cried, her voice
ringing like trumpet call, her eyes flash
ing, and her checks growing CRIMSON,
"Mother, how can you put tho words to-
gethcr9 You know know that he Is in
nocent."
''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
pisat AolAo"Cu WAC ol buuClIuR hlltl BOT
row, that would have torn the heart of the
lnan whom they loved and trusted during
hfs 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 s not In the power of our pen to de-
scribe the desolatc home to which this news
was carried.
They never doubted hun. even in the
face Of all the overwhelming evidence tha
Lad contlcmncd him, but Heaven seemed
to have deserted them when they knew the
result of the trial.
Hannah Coylo was not pretty. Her fca-
lures were plain, her eyes soft brown, and
she had sweet mouth, that could smile
bravely snd light her face for the invalid'a
eyes In their darkest hours. But slc had
one great beauty In long, heavy masses of
hair, of rich dark brown, and Of which
she was fond and proud because John adj
mlred 1t.