The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-04-22

AHhidhNs tNpSNNout anu liappNs Eolu- 10
the club, and sure OF the old camera.
derie, when Ingham. seeking for D
topic. said:
by the way. Miss Marie"
Just Marie will do" she corrected
"All right, Marie; but talking OF
Hughes-you said he was on to-nighta
programme you remember the medal
he got for that essay junior year?'
Yes. indeed; it was about woman,
wasn't it,"
We'll, yes; about mothers-the title
was The Christian Mother How did
you like that?"
1T was grand Don't you remember
how everybody carried on over IT.
Why. 1 never did take any interest in
Char-Mr. Hughes till he delivered
that Grafton. Don't you know how
mamma cried over it? 1t was a Glor
ious thing! 1 never suspected he had
so much soul. did you?"
"Well. he never had. as matter Of
fact" whispered Joe Ingham. handing
the conductor a dime. Fact Is. l wrote
that Grafton myself, wrote 1t for him
because he was eaten up with n desire
to get n medal. You know he never
had much ability. and his father was
everlastlngly nagging him to dlStin-
guish himself. He did distinguish him.
self that night-with my grafton.
don't begrudge him the honor. but he
never showed me any gratitude. on
the contrary, he always boosted that
no man OF 90 could have written such
masterpiece"
"Why. Joe" said Marie. coming
closer, aud with her face drawn and
her eyes abroad. Joe, you don't mean
1t? Why. it wasn't honest; 1t was
fraud; surely Charley Hughes wouldn't
have stopped"
"Oh! 1t was all right to palm off the
grafton, Marie, but it was the way he
acted afterward that hurt me- You
know the last time he was at Creston
he never so much as called to see me-"
And little Marie. wondering and tiut-
tered, waited till they were off the car
before she said:
Joe, I'm sorry 1 didn't know you
and Mr. Hughes were on bad terms
I've promised to let him escort me
home tonight, and"
''Why didn't he take you to the en-
tertainment also?" Mr.. Ingham was
nettled.
"He said he'd be too busy-a lawsuit
or something. oh. he's dreadfully
busy, Joe. But 1 told him I'd go TO
supper with him afterward and-and-
l hope you'll not be offended"
"Not at all, Marie" he said coldly.
go ahead. I'm accustomed to getting
left"
And poor Marie was most unhappy
when they entered the crowded hall.
The usher could not find two chairs to.
gether for them, so Marie sat in the
front row and Joe Ingham. in n sullen
mood, sat three rows behind her When
the time came for Charles Hughes to
appear the chairman OF the meeting
stepped forward and said:
THE next number on the program is
a paper by Mr. Charles Hughes. the
eminent young lawyer. Is Mr.. Hughes
in the house,"
There was hustle about the doors
and directly Mr.. Hughes Stupidity"
Hughes, as the college boys used to
call him, entered and rushed forward
with n great show of hustle He
mounted the stage took a sip of water
and said:
Ladies and gentlemen Of the Brown
ing Club, friends and fellow citizens:
l have been SO busy with numerous
new and old law cases within the past
few days that I've been unable to pre-
pare a set address However. in few
moments of leisure this afternoon I
dashed off little paper, entitled The
christina Mother"
At the words Marie Franz looked
around and her blue eyes blazed when
Joe Ingham smiled a knowing smile.
Then Mr.. Hughes. "the eminent young
lawyer" launched into the resonant
and rounded periods of his dashed on
address.
Joe and Marie met i'm the crush at
the door when the show was over. Mr..
Hughes was yet the lion of the dissolv-
ing audience. Women were weeping
as they shook his hand.
well, goodnight, Marie" said Joe
| with Il quizZical look i'm his eyes.
Was 1t your orItion?' she wills.
Dered. looking rescntfully at the crowd
about Hughes.
Word for word" answered Joe.
Lets go home, Joe, dear" she muir.
INJURED.
And when the orator of the evening
came for the praise that was to be the
breath of his nostrlls the hall was
very empty. John H. Raftcry. i'm the
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