The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-02-15

even when they are 1T home
Mothers don't know what their boys
are doing, por who they 60 with.
don't believe any woman ever watched
over her boy more careful than | die
over mine but he got led off by bad
assOciatss and was u source of grea,
trouble tome once. Pm SO thank fu
he's finally turned out 80 we'll: Why
he tells me he's quite prominent In
politics In his town, an they talk OF
ruhnln' him for the assembly, or some
thing," and her eyes glistened b.hind
the spectacles.
:" l don't mind telln' you. rs long as
you don't know him and probably will
never hear OF him anyway" she pur-
sued, that he made dreadful bad
start. His father WAS good man, and
kind to his family; but he drank when
married iim, and always would
drink, though not much. l never see
see what sort Of society 1t was lead
ing. my boy into did understand. Z.
HIS father was dead then, and l didn't
know how to manage great boy like
him he was most q man."
con tinued.
"He was spirited boy and liked
gay company. His drinking habits
and his friends led him to, the gam.
bling table. And then-and tt en- he
forged his employers name-not for q
large sum, but 1t was just as wicked
We've saved the money and paid the
note, but Of course he couldn't stay at
home any longer nobody would trust
him. 80 he cams West, and it was
years before | heard from him. He
had hard struggle, but don't know
but twas as hard for mo, We women
do the waiting, an waiting Is bitter
hard sometimes.
"But it's all over now" She smiled,
though her checks were wet. He's
doing fine. OnceT-two years ago-he
came home to see me. He's as big and
couldn't stay in our little town. Things
was too dull and slow; and then, h,
was doing so we'll out here. l couldn't
think OF breaking up and coming with
him then, either. But he's been so ur.
gent that here be at last"
She laughed happy littl. laugh
ing her youth, and was as happy as q
young bride on her way to the waiting
groom. Malcolm envied this man his
possession Of such a mother, and he
WIS interested in the boy: who had
gone wrong IN his youth, but who had
reformed. .''a.
The conductor came to the old lady,
j lst then. The next stop is yonr
place, mA'an," he said. 1.-The porter
y! sec to your luggage"
She began to gathor up her several
packages with nurvous haste. NAL
colm got out OF the seat that she might
have room, and the obseq uious porter
appeared. The newspaper man knew
Dy his manner that somebody has paid
him well for his attentions to the old
lady. The hoy" she was going to
had made the way plain before her,
and Malcolm wondered who he was.
The train slowed down at Hapsburg
and stopped. The young man was
kept back for moment by more eager
passengers. When he reached the
platform he saw his seat-mate stand
ing tn, the :imidst, or berc possessions
looking eagerly about at the hurrying
throng. Suddenly she espied tall
figure in pthe'crowd she uttered q little
cry OF delight, and dropping her par
GELS, met him with optstrected arms.
" Mother W.''-| =, ::
Malcolm turned away, feeling, some
how, as If he had received q blow in
the face. The man was Arad Files. .
The editor. Of ,the :" Argus" walked
noodlly up the street to the office.
His: assistant, Dahlinger. met him with
q broad smile. you've stirred up
the enemy's camp at last, old man." he.
said. ;
What's up r., . ..,.. -
Files himself was in here late.last
night and has 4jast ca led again" s.
What about ?'
Wants to see you. Was verv
anxious to know If you'd be back be-
fore thospaper went to press this after
noor;iS = toll you 'he's,R scared COON"
Malcolm tappedFhis psnefl reflective.
ly on the desk. Bring me the proofs
Of that Files article" he said.
Left alone with the crumpled slips
he read the story through. 1t was q
great conp--nQ ,doubt:of that. With
that re cord before the: public the op-
posi- ton would not be left leg to stand
on.
And then between Malcolm and the
printed lines rose the sweet old face
OF thstm9 9ther;who had come 30 far
to joia< <RefsBoy$. She Eaa :come to see
his triumph She would behold his de-
feat. Suppose that black record should
reach her ,eyeB?. The triumph to
Witch Malcolm had looked forward
bad already turned to ashes. s..,ts"'t
There was q knock at the door. =,
"Mr. Files to see you; sir" said the
iySS'i, Let him: him: toasf fn.' '''..' ,<'*
Files was inside the office almQsdiih.
mediately. He. STOOD hesitatingly
near the door. in q quite iheKplieable
manner.
The man who was noted for remain.
Ing cool and unrufil I'd under all cir.
eumstance war very palpably nervous.
Malcolm waved him to chSir.. s.
What can do for you," he asked.
" reckon, Mr.. Malcolm, you believe
you've already dono for me-" said the
big man uneastly. He removed his
broad hat and passed his hand through
his long hair.
You think too highly Of my ability"
said the editor, politely. Without
seeing my article, too !"
20, | know about what's In it," said
Files calmly. can s'pose you've got
1t all there. Ordinarily I wouldn't
care. q hang what you could say about
mo, but -er--now I'd give good deal
rather than have that story appear"
Malcolm's face hardened. "Youve