The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-03
Our Daily $bcrt Story

1 so satisfactory to himself that the exclamation of Mrs. Lawrence start led him, and the soup ladle rattled
 against the tureen
 | Why. ther's Johnnie!" and that
 individual, followed by a lady who
 recognized Richard with genial | smile passed the table. o. | Johnnie" din't hear. but something
 in the voice and the name arrested
 the girls attention. She stopped.
 turned. and went back
 "sD--n the boys stupidity" mutt | tered the man as he followed. | Your mother, Mir. Lawrence?" she
 questioned. and waiting for no fur
 ther introduction. she took the toll
 marked hands in hers. saying. I'm very glad to meet you. May we sit hereT
 A look from Lawrence must have | anninilated Richard, for when Helen was seated, space of smooth. white linen table cloth and a vacant chair marked the place where luncheon and boy had been.
 Did you see the man. Johnnie?' his mother inquired solicitously.
 Yes" muttered her son. studious- ly avoiding the brown eyes of the girl
 Mrs. Lawrence had never been called conversatfonalist, but under the i'm fluence of the girls bright smile, with its silent sympathy and the pleasant surroundings, the little country moth CT became eloquent on the one subject dearest to her fond old heart Her lips once opened. they never closed until she had recounted the story of her early widowhood, the struggle with poverty and diversity, and often despair, but always sustained by her mother love and hope for the boys future. She wanted him to be a gen. tleman, the mother dispelled the boast ed. self-made care os her son, for proud alike of her sacrifices and her suc- cesses, she told 1t all. She detailed It, tie incidents of his childhood that brought tears and smiles simultaneous ly to the woman favored by fortune. who wondered why. during a six months courtship she had heard but once of his mother, and how 1t hap pened on this, her first visit to the city. she was dining with the office boy. Could 1t be possible that he was ashamed of his motherp
 The sweet old voice rambled on: He was such a cunnin' lfttle chap You ought to have seen him in his first trousers" She lowered her voice discreetly. They were made out of his pas old blue. flannel shirt His little fat legs just hung over the tops of his shoes and he used to trot along beside me when I went to take home the clean clothes, and once I bought him a little red cart and he would draw some of the bundles He wanted to help mother. didn't you. my boy?" beaming at the sphinx-like face across the table.
 Yes. yes. Mother. and now 1t is getting late. Shall take you to your train?'
 "oh. but surely. che Is not going back so soon. She must see some. thing of the city. Suppose we post pone our drive today turning tow ards him with a visible effort. 'Tu take your mother to drive. Then she will dine with me, and spend the night" said Helen. As he handed her into the carriage beside his moth CT. We dine at seven. you know; I shall expect you"
 Lifting his hand. Lawrence strode down the street, glad to escape on any terms.
 He Is ashamed of her" The words kept running through the girls mind. keping mournful accompaniment to the chatter of the horses noofs. as they sped over the boulevards and through the parks
 AS the happy little mother stretched her weary limbs between the perfumed linen sheets of the Morton's guest bed that night. her peaceful sleep was undisturbed by the knowledge that he