Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-05-18

friends it was such a precious poor
one
They're full up here, miss, ".says l,
going back to the cab I'd told her to
sit still till saw what sort of place
it was. They say they can't possibly
take you in; but if you don't mind
crossing the water l think I know a
decent body that would put you up for a
uight or two
You're very good" says she; "but ]
must owe you lot of money already,
and I've only few shillings"-
Never mind that, MISS" l inter
rupted. "My fare can wait: and the
party have in my mind won't over
charge you--in fact, it's my mother"
"YoIr mother!" she cried.
Eyes, miss" said l. IF you'll be
good enough to trust me that far,
think it's the best thing we can do"
''Of course l trust you," says she with
little smile. You've been so kind
to me already But Pm afraid I'll be
imposing on your good nature"
Not bit Of it." said l; and to avoid
more words, clambered up and drove
off down the Chelsea embankment near
Vauxhall bridge to Roscoe's, to leave
the cab The yardmen stared when |
handed the young woman out and Shout
dered her box.
blessed if B i'll Taylor amt been and
got marriedv heard one of them say;
and I'M be back for my second horse
about nine" l called out, to prevent
the report from spreading among my
mates. | thought even a yardman
would have sense enough to know a
chap wouldn't want second horse on
his wedding day.
We lived close to the yard; and my
mother stared harder than the men
had done when came in with the box.
That's queer thing to be left in a
cab, Bill" says she.
faint been left, mother" said l;
and then l explained things to her as
quickly as could, for the girl was
waiting on the landing-we had two
rooms in a block of model dwellings.
you amt angry, mother?' l asked,
for she didn't speak when I'd finished,
only looked at me with a queer light
in her eyes.
Angry! No." says she. "Only proud
of my son. Come in, you poor dear
come in. You must excuse Bill for
leaving you out there He never did
have grain of sense"
Then they threw their arms about
each other and had good cry, while ]
scratched my head and wondered al
the contradictoriness Of women. When
they'd done, mother hustled about and
got tea, making the girl help, just tc
set her at ease.
She told us her name was Jessie Nor
ris and that she'd been an orphan
earning her own living ever since She
was fourteen-I set her down as two
and-twenty that night but knocked of
couple of years when | saw her after
she'd had a good rest-and lot moro
about herself needn't repeat | lef
her as cheerful as cricket chatting
away to my mother as If she'd known
her for years. Mother must have
taken pretty quickly to her. too; for
after brought that second horse back
about three in the morning, she put hel
head out of their room just to whisper
to me: "Jessie's fast asleep. thought
you'd like to know. God bless you my
boy, for bringing her to mel"
Well, don't think there's much more
to be said. Jessie staid on with us fol
week or so, and fairly earned he,
keep by helping mother give the rooms
a thorough cleaning; and then mothe
found her place with family a
Rrixton. We didn't lose sight of her
When I'd time I'd look her up; and whel
she'd her evening ont she'd come dow
to see mother, who wasn't as active as
I'd have liked her to be. OF course
fell in love with her, No one seeing
her homely ways with the old lad,
could help it; but | didn't speak 70
nearly year, partly because l didn'
think she'd have me, and partly be
cause l couldn't see my way to provid
ing a comfortable home for the two o
them.
After my Uncle Thomas died. though
we were much better off. He left IN
a nice little legacy; and set up han
som and a couple of horses of my own
that thoroughbred being one of them
Then I'd felt I'd got decent position
and chance of putting by something
for rainy day; SO, one Sunday even
ing, when | was seeing her home t
BriXton, said: Jessie, poor mother
getting feeble, don't you think?"
Eyes, Bill, do" says Jessie, looltin
down and blushing as if she guesse
what | had in mind.
Shed be better for daughter
care, wouldn't she?" | asked, hopin
the hint might be enough
'Of course she would It's pity yo
haven't sister," says she, SO shar
that | was sure she didn't care for INT
and said no more that night. When
got home | must have looked as glur
as felt, for mother would have i
there was something the matter, an
after a bit she wormed the whole stor
out of me.
"Oh, you Donkey" says she 9Th
young men in my day didn't ask girl
to marry them for their mothers sake;
Tell her straight out you love her,
ever she gives you the chance agair
which is more than you deserve.
took mothers advice, and thing
came right the next time; but wha
was said can't exactly remember, an
wouldn't put it down if l could Il
the by, that policeman he never mad
any inquiries about 1O,4l4; but a'tC
we'd been married about year cam
across him again.
"Hullo, sergeant says |, pulling "
81 think owe you a shilling"
He looked sour at first, thinking