The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-06-18
Our Daily Short Story

~ was a BOOu ScNeH years later En
happened to get he'd OF an old news
paper and to run across an item tellinI
OF the graduation of Robert Nam
from a medical school and stating tina
no would take up practice with tn,
| celebrated DR.. whose protege h.
was. 49, - a good ten years ago
Robert was now in his early thirtiel
and she wondered wistfuIly how ma,
~Ae me battle with her boy. Life wa.
| SO dreary with her. She cared so littl,
for the petty gossip and the little In.
trigues of the great sordid institution
In fact, she felt very tired and yer,
| Odd an dvery hopeless. But she wa,
| also very patient and 1t was with al.
most a triumphant CLEAN in her faded
| eye that she comforted herself for the
! millionth time with the thought that
| she had won the fight and given Rob-
| eri the chance.
AS she sat there, filled with these
thoughts. q newspaper fiuttered from
tho hands of one sitting near her, as
the other hobbled out of the ward. 1t
dropped at her feet and mechanically
she picked 1t up. She slarced at 1t with
dull-almost unseeing eyes. A familiar
name caught her attention-his name,
Robert Mann, right at the head of the
glasses and eagerly read the piece over
which the name was. It told of a
grand wedding about to occur between
DIR. Robert Mann, the distinguished
surgeon, lecturer at the medical uni
vel sity, on the consulting STATS of a
dozen hospitals, etc, etc." and Miss
Eunice Rogers. the beautiful daughter
% Senator Rogers, great heiress in
her own right, as well as a favorite
in exclusive society circles because of
her great beauty and wit ETC.. etc.
The paper fell from the hands of the
old woman at the poorhouse. In her
heart welled up a great yearning to
see her boy once more before she died
and also to see the woman he was to
marry-to look in her eyes and deter
mine for herself If the bride was good
enough for him. The audacity of the
idea startled her, but 1t grew in her
mind until it became an irresistible
purpose.
The place and date of the wedding
had burned itself into her mind, st.
Paurs at o'clock in the evening of
June 8. 1t ran in her mind all day
and all that sleepless night. Then she
decided to do it.
Yes. she would go. She would slip
away from the poorhouse in the morn
ing and she would quietly step into the
church in the evening and see her boy
1t was a great undertaking.
she knew, and she did not underesti-
mate the obstacles, but she would be
so cunning, and she
would be self-controlled. Then she
would return to the poorhouSe. They
would punish her, she knew. and she
would go hungry, but what cared she
for that.
On the morning of Juno 3, when the
driver of a big truck with high sides
had unloaded his wagon and driven
away toward the city, he turned and
looked into his wagon and was startled
to see an old woman all hud He'd up in
a heap. He was a frank-faced young
fellow and when she told him with her
soul in her eyes that she was going to
see her son for the last time. he became
and let her go on, even
going many blocks out of his way to
land her where she wanted to go.
At the church she bided her time and
while the ushers were busiest slipped
IN and shrank into rear seat, I'M
observed.
The brightness of the scene and the
inc dresses abashed her, but she for
got it all when the wedding party en-
cred She leaned forward and gazed |
lpon the groom. Her face lighted up |
lie had not changed so much as she |
lad feared. She would have known |
lin anywhere. despite his beard oh, |
What a fine gentleman he was-the |
cry picture of his father, only better
Sroomed and more confident in his
manner. OF all the fine folk present
10 was easily king. Her old heart
eat unanimously. Yes, 1t was worth
II the years of self-abnegationA This.
erlly, was her reward
The ceremony was over and they
'ere coming down the aisle together,
nee more she leaned forward, this
me to look into the face of his bride.
uch a sweet, fine face she saw, under
ne bridal veil, that she leaned back
ontent.
Then the reaction overcame her and
18th sudden gasp she tainted. There
as slight commotion. the groom
irned and asked WHAT the mat
,r?'
AN old woman tainted. that's ALL"
as the reply.
Bring her back into the ante-room,"
2 commanded the ushers. I'll see IL
s anything serious"
When she opened her eyes she was
ing on a lounge Robert was bend
g over her. The bride was kneeling
sstde her. There were tears in both
eir eyes. Robert was saying:
Yes, 1T is surely mother 1 knew I
as not mistaken. The locket proves
:"
NO, no." she said. feebly. You are
lstaken. Il am nobody. Let me go
lck to the poorhouse"
But there was to be no more poor
'use for her. Hers was to be the
ggest and sunniest room in the man
on on the boulevard, where she sat
the daintiest of white cans and
lifted away the rest of her DAYS with
happiness that passeth understand
g.