The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-30
Acshans's Mother.

When I look back and think Of her
Ny very heart-strings seem to stir;
How Kind, how fair she was-how
good
/ cannot tell you. II could
You, too. would love her!
ADELAIDE Proctor.
Mother! Where did you get herr"
Maurice McShane was looking after
the elfsh little creature hobbling from
the room.
She was pOor-and homeless. She
wanted to work badly So told her
she mighty stay"
STAY What earthly use viii she be
to you? Old? She's a feminine Ne
thuselahl And stupid"
Deaf. dear!" Mrs. McShane correct
ed gently. 4 think It is a common
mistake to consider one stupid who is
only 30 unfortunate as to be deaf
We'll, there are grades Of deafness.
You'll have 10 buy a megaphone to
giver her orders. And ugly-phew!
She looks like a galvanized corpse.
Mother. you are too soft-heartedl"
Every one," smiling back at the
handsome young face opposite her,
can't be beautiful, dearl"
He took his coffee from her hand.
Like my mother!" he said
20. you iatterer!" she cried, but a
girl might envy the soft rose-bloom
in her cheek, which deepened at sound
Of her sons praise.
Simple truth" he declared, and
looked at her admiringly.
McShane was proud OF his mother.
Her graceful figure, her sweet repose
OF manner. the quiet adequacy which
she brought to the discharge Of daily
duties. her gentle consideration, her
unaffected courtesy, possessed for him
unfailing charm. He liked to think
that she came naturally by her per-
feet f-poise-her air OF exquisite dis
tinction. Could she not trace her fam
fly back to the days when Henry II.
granted ARA to Theobald Fitzwalter
after the Saxon invasion? And those
fair hands Of hers always brought to
mind Meredith's description Of those
Of Lucille de Nevers:
A hand,
White, delicate. dimpled warm. Ian
guild and bland!
She had kept her youth wonderfully.
The dark brown hair was still abund-
ant and glossy. Her complexion was
clear pink and white. Her teeth were
perfect. Maurice thought looking at
her that he had never seen eyes
brighter nor more sympathetic. Sym
pathetiel That was the trouble. She
was too sympathetic.
Mother mine," he said, you will
have to make a fight against the di-
vine impulse Of compassion. This
house is becoming the refuge for all
unhappy creatures-brute and human.
Those dogs"
The poor thingsl" she cried, laugh
ing She had heard about the dogs
before. "One could not stone them
away. he first had a broken leg. The
second was famishing."
Maybe. Anyhow. they've adopted
Us. Then there are the stray cats
whose preference for our residence en-
riches the milkman. Then, the cross
eyed orphan"
"Maurlcel You must not speak so
OF the poor child No one else was
willing to take her"
And now this deaf old hag! Well.
willful woman will have her wayl" He
rose and sauntered to her side. How
l wish" he said, bending to kiss her
good-by, that you were out OF mourn
ingl l want to take you around with
me to the theaters and clubs. Every
one will suppose you are my sister
You're always being taken for my
sister. you know. There are some men
want to introduce to you-Stanley
Richmond for one. Not that one may
steal you from mel"
II was his boyish jest to be jealous
OF attentions paid his pretty mother.
Il shall not marry again" she said,
smiling up at him. you have no en-
gagement for this EVENING" You will
be home to dinner?"
AT sharp. But ] hope / shall find
no more delightful additions to our
household on my returnl"
He laughed. blew her an airy kiss,
and was gone. She sat gazing at the
closed door-that tender smile still
upon her face.
My dear-dear boyl" she whis-
pered.
They were close to each other
those two. The similarity Of their
tastes, the congeniality Of their pref
erences, their years Of intimate com
panionship-for she had never sent
him away from her to school-had
kept their affection for each other
fresh, fragrant, and spontaneous. To
those who had urged her to send her
son among strangers she had replied
much in the vein Of the author Of
'Reveries Of a Bachelor" For it was
he who wrote LET the father or the
mother think long before they send
away their boy-before they break the
home ties that make a web Of infinite