The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-01-25
MY MOTHERS SECRET.
ny MARY SILE I L

Mother and father had been nothing
but names to mesince I could remember
anything, i had been educated at DIR.
Sartain's school and from thence had
gone to college. There had never been
any lack of money and good clothes, but
V went home for the holidays,
and no one ver came to see me. On my
18th birthday a watch was SEMI to me,
with From your loving Mother" en-.
graved i'll the case, and then | said to
DR.. Sartain:
when am ] to see my parents? This
seems rs though my mother loved me?
Does she never care to see me?"
Or. Sartain answered:
"Youf mother is very fond of you,
aud an excelltut mother, but your faith.
er is compelled to Cemain absent from
home"
supposed from this both 10Y parents
were abroad, and asked no moe ques-
tions.
-Four years after this the news was
sent to me that my father was dead,
but there was no alteration in m posi-
ton. went to college, chose my pro-
f~ession-the law-and finally entered
into the Office of Gay & Brothers, with
every prospect of success in my career.
] had but one a~nxiety-my strange 10.
"
sitloii,
My parents, it appeared to inc, must
be wealthy. If they were also respect
able, why had my father never sent for
1913 WIZ, AL ~, ,,otlnc ~ osy1 n,
any token of her desire to see her SON?
/ was a man now. / had a right TO ask
the question and to be answered. But
| feared the answer, aud | delayed. My
a~cduafntances were many; nv nfehds
four-thc doctor, his wife. my old fellow
pupil at his school, Roger Wharton, and
my l%aundress.
Yes, the laNndfess, Aunt Betsy, as
every one catlcd her, humble though
she was, was One of my friends, ayld moi
the least Ne.ued of them.
She wa,. a good" old WOMAN, straight
ana tfp.i, but strong and hearty. She
had ,ken "the boys things to wash
y since l can remember. Aboy drove
y little donkey cart to the door with tht
great baskets on it, but she came once Z
week to bring her bills and get he
-ulyiitv, J. SlpIDSC AIN tiiS NOSIpl . Na'
made much of her, and told her phou
the children's doings, and the boys wer'
pleased to see her round little faccA Sh
had taken a special fancy te Eose
Wharton and to me. ard II linen al
WAYS came home mended ana I'LL stock
ines darned. OF course, she took m
washing home, now TINT I lived indie
rser,dentlv, and the moderation Of he
prices was n novelty in the laundr
world.
"You ask too Sittle," I sometimes sait
But che always answered:
II charge qulte'enough-quitc enoug
Mr.. Arthur"
She kept up her interest in my st,
dies still, admired my law books, an
wondered at my knowledge. l was NOR
pleased to see Aunt Betsy come into N
room than / was to see many q fine a.
,%ounintance whose recognition was q
honor. I shall always be glad to temen
lbertthat.
I confided in her a little, and n da
she looked at me solemnly, shook b;
head, and said:
"Ah. bows need a mother. Do yc
ever think ofyours. lad?"
"More than she does of me, said l..
.sDon't say that, lad" answered tt
old woman. "Your mother is sor
hearted to be parted from you like this
elbow do you know" Icried, startli
"Do you know my mother, Aunt Be
-sey?" -:
at me askance. ,
"WbateyerI know / keep to myself
she said; "but remember your moth
loves YOU, always has, II always WI
Remember that And she went h.
way.
That evening I thought her wore
over until | could bear it no longer, al
putting on my rat, | went to DR.. 81
tain's house, determined to ask him VI
and what my parents we're.
M doctor and Mrs. Sartain sat |
sether in his study, and l took his chs
which was offered me, a.
drew it between them.
~ have come to ask you some qut
tions.n I said--"questions that l have
right to ask. Will you promise to a
swer them"
at will decide when ] have heard q
questions, !" replied the Doctor.
.'They are simple answere
.yyho was my father? Who is my II
ther? Wlv have l seen my p;
ents? WhereAees my mother liyeT'
/ paused for q reply. The doctor (
his tjngertips together, and repliedth,
Your father was named, like yol
self. Arthur Marley. Your mother y
his lawfully welded wife, Elizabeth
now his widow. When you were f
Years old your father was obliged
leave the country, and your mother c.
: fided YOU to our care. She has since,
YOU know, amply supplied your war
She is one OF the most excellent won,
I know. There has never been Q /
upon her character. She has Forbid
me to tell o. where to find her"
"For some reason she hates n,e,
said.
nsThen why will she not see me2?n
"For your " good,s' said the doct
sit is 4 mistaken idea" cried the d
tors wife.
pone on so long, nothing can nov
done replied the doctor. II is y
mothers dxed determination that I,