The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-02-15

|
uoh DelleVe any woman ever watched
over her coy more careful than dit
over mine; but hp got led of by bs,
associates and way a source Of grea
trouble to me OnCS Pm so thankfn
he's finally turned {out so well. WHY
ne tells me Les Quite prorl!nclt il
poilttca In his towa{ an they talk 0
ruhnln, him Ion the Assem- bly,, or some
thing" and her eyeAglstened bshint
the spectacles.
don't mind tellih' YOU. as long a,
you don't know him ind probably vii
never hear Of him al Ayway," she pur
sueu, that he madNAa dreadful baC
start. His father wnsiAgood man, anG
kind to his family bu EAhe drank wher
| married MIN, andyA,lways woulI
drink, though not muc IN [ never sec
20 harm in it myself aVSrst. Not til
| see what sort OF socie#A it was lead
lng my boy into did IA understand
! Ills father was dead the F1and | didn't
| Know how to manage d great buy ike
him he was most man,"
She wiped her eyes furtively and
lie was spirited boy And liked
gay company. His dripking habits
and his friends led him 30; the gam.
, bling table. And uhGn-and Ntt en- he
| forged his employers pame-hot for a
| large sum, hut it Was just as wicked
We we saved the moncY aud paid the
| note, but OF course he couldn't tay at
nome any longer nobody wOult trust
hlm' so he came West, and Il was
years before heard from LimA He
had a hard struggle, but don't know
but twas as hard for ne, w. women
do the waiting, an waiting is Sitter
hard sometimes.
But It's al over nov" She sSpilad
Though her checks were wet. :" He's
doing fine. Once-twc years sEo-he
came homo to see me. He's as Hig and
han'some as his father WAS. hut he
couldn't stay in our little town. Things
was too dull and slow; and then, h.
was doing so well out mere. l couldn't
think OF breaking up and coming' with
him then, cithcr. But he's been SO ur
gent that here be at last"
S1e laughed happy little la augh
III girls. In truth She was renSsw.
ing her youth, and was as happy as a
young bride on her way to the waiting
groom. Malcolm enyied this man his
possession OF such a mother, aud he
WIS interested in the boy who hand
gone wrong in his youth, but who had
re formed.
The conductor came to the old LADY,,
just then. :" The next stop is yonf
place, ma'an," he said. The porter
III see to your luggage"
She began to gather up her several
packages with nurvous haste. Nal
COIN got out of the seat that she might
have room, and the Obsequious porter
appeared. The newspaper man knew
by his manner that somebody has paid
him well for his attentions to the OLD
lady The boy" she was going to
had made the way plain before her,
and Malcolm wondered who he was.
Tne train slowed down at Hapsburg
and stopped. The young man was
Kept back for moment by more eager
passengers. When he reacted the
platform he saw his seat-mate stand
ing in the midst OF her possessions
looking eagerly about at the hurrying
throng. Suddenly she espied tall
figure In the crowd she uttered a. little
cry OF delight, and dropping her par.
cells, met him with outstrected arms.
My boy v'
Mother ~
Malcolm turned away, feeling, some
how, as If he had received a blow in
the face. The man was Arad Files.
The editor OF the Argus" walked
moodily up the street to the office.
His assistant, Dahlinger, met him with
bread smile. you've stirred up
the enemy's camp at last, old man, he
said.
What's up ?"
Files himself was in here late Iast
night and has Just ca led again
What about ?"
Wants to see you. Was very
anxious to know II you'd be back be-
fore the.paper won't to press this after
noon. | tell you he's q scared coOn.",
Malcolm tapped his pencil 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 a
great coup-no doubt OF that. With
that record before the public the opl
position would not be left leg to stand
on.
And then between Malcolm and the
printed lines rose the sweet old face
OF that mother who had come so far
to join her boy. She had come to see
his triumph she would behold his de-
feat. Suppose that black record should
reach her eyes? The triumph To
which Malcolm had looked forward
had already turned to ashes.
There was knock at the door.
MIR. Files to see you, sir" said the
boy,
Let him come in"
mes was lDSlQe Tue once almost I'm.
mediately. He stood hestatingly
near the door In q quite inexplicable
manner.
The man who was noted for remain.
Ing cool and unrut1l sd under all cir
cumstance was very palpably nervous.
Malcolm waved him to 8 chsir.
What can do for you," he asked.
reckon, Mr. Malcolm, you believe
you've already done for me-" said the
big man uneasily. He removed his
broad nat and passed his hand through
his long hair.
You think too highly OF my ability"
said the editor, politely. Without
seeing my article, too ~
| 80, know about what's in IT," said
Files calmly. AN spose you've got
it all there. Ordinarily / wouldn't
care a hang what you could say about
me, but -er-now I'd give good deal
rather than have that story appear"
| Malcolm's face hardened. you've
come to the wrong shop to buy any IA
vors, Mr.. Files" he said.
g. didn't have no Int nton OF offer.
ing you money, SIR" said Files. But
III agree to bout anything you say to
keep that thing out OF the paper. I'll
agree to step out Of the whole business
I'll throw up my place as leader of the
ward-Ill refuse the nomination Pm