The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-19

schOOlmates aud companions for years.
and il seems 10 mo as if ] know every
man. woman and child in this Cmmun-
ity and ! thinl, that every man. woman
and child knows me. and ! avn sure that
there is bond of affection between us
which nothing can change. and yet this
impression that a. gulf underlined and
yet sometimes distinct. has come be-
tween No. VIII not down, and shore are
moments when it affects me unpleasant
ly.
NEVER FELT HER HUSBAND NEG
LECTED HER.
"There is little about my life" contin-
ued Mrs. Mckinley more cheorfu!lv.
which would interest you. IL has not
been like the lives Of most OF the wives
OF public men, owing 90 the feeble state
OF my health. 1 have not been able 10
participate IN social functions in Wash
ingt0n as other women have. but / can
tell you one thing. that 1 have had The
truest and most devoted of husbands.
and no matter how busy he was or how
urgent have been the public claim upon
his attention DE has never for a single
second allowed me 10 feel that / was
neglected or that 1 was other than the
first ia his thoughts. the first. In his love
and had the first claim 10 an that was
his"
IL would DO impossible 10 describe the
effect which these words. so teuderly
spoken. had upon ne. They brought
back 10 me that CHEEKY confidence in
good things. ! had when glrl. and drove
all the pesslmism out Of my heart.
wiped my eyes for a moment in silence.
Tier talk WAS SO simple SO candid and
her cheeks flushed SO prettiy and her
eyes grew soft So quickly that you could
see ia an instant how completely wrap
ped up in this man was this frail little
woman and how in the midst OF AL his
manifold aud arduous duties he had
found time 10 straighten out the crooked
pathway CT physical suffering and bring
comfort to q soul that but for this deVO-
ton would have been tortured and wrumg
by a pain more bitter than can ever be
impaired TO the body.
ARRIVAL OF THE MAJORS MOTHER.
And as we sat thus in her ccsy little
parlor conversing on one thing and an-
other. a carriage drawn by one old horse
drew slowly up TO the front gate and
with Il little exclamation Cf pleasure
Mrs. Mckinley cried out. ION. there is
mcthor. l am so glad, l want 10 have
You meet her" Then shoit man. bare
brows Jumped down the piazza steps and
ran along the path leading TO the gate
with "A lack OF dignity which one hardly
expects in a Presidential candidate. but
when l saw the sombre black-robcd Zig
ure step slowly from the carriage and
saw this man tendcrly kiss the wrlnklcd
old face that was held up TO him. and
then saw him take one OF the old lady's
arms within his own and lead her 10 the
house ! instantly fOrgave the lack OF
dignity. for ! knew that IL was a son
greeting his mother. The dear old lady
was Mother Mckinley. elghty-six years
Old with silvery white hair which mir
rOrs the suns OF many winters. surpris-
incly vigorous and active for such an
age. with eyes dimmed. 10 be sure. but
which smile at you with kndliness and
good cheer This old lady seemed 10
have but one thought In life and that
thought cen,ered about her distinguished
sen. She beams upon him at an times.
When he is near it seems impossible for
her to refrain from reaching out one Of
her withercd old hands 10 take one Of his
firm cnes within her grasp, and II he is
not near enough for her To- make this
manifestation OF pride and love- the old
eyes follow hin, as he moves about the
room and seem to say. This IS my boy
ALWAYS PROUD or WILLIE"
She-this fond old mo,hor-still calls
him her boy: In fact when she thinks no
one hears. she calls him willie"
Strange and homogeneous II seems to the
stranger 10 hear this man laden with
honors called by the nursery name OF
willie" And yet he smiles and seems
pleased when she so addresses him. On