The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-08

| Robert Etheridge met his mother at
the train. He was a handsome young
| fellow. No wonder she was proud OF
him.
They walked up to his boarding place.
T. was but a step and she wanted to
see the town. Such a queer-lookng
place! 1t lay in canyon, the walls OF
which were the sloping sides of the
mountains. The canyon stream ran
through the town and the main street
was beside it. Other streets We're dug
out from the mountain side, and the
houses ranged in tiers one above the
other.
How I shall enjoy thisr Mrs. Eth
eridge exclaimed. stopping to survey
the town.
How did you happen to give up your
place, mother?" her son asked as they
started on.
II couldn't stay away from you any
longer, laddie! But 1 did not give it up
permanently could go back next year
If l wanted TO. Do you disapprove of
ft?"
ooh, no. Only the times are so hard
cut here that we feel when one has a
good place ned better stick to it. But
you can go back next year, you say?"
Yes 1 can go back-next year"
She did not herself notice the change
of tense. They walked on a little dis
lance and then Mrs. Etheridge stopped.
How different the effect upon one
of being right in the mountains" she
said. "At a distance they are so in
spring. But here-they seem to shut
enc in. Do you notice it, Roberto"
Its the altitude. You are a little
short of breath"
Il think that must be it." she said
slowly. 'Yes-Tm sure that is it,
At the door of his boarding house
Robert EJheridge stopped.
You mustn't expect TO find things
here as they are back home, mother, -
he said uneasily. Mrs. Skidmore is a
plain woman, but they have been kind
to me-"
IF they have been kind to You, lad
die, that is enough" And Robert
hopefully ushered her in.
Mrs. Skidmore was sitting in a red
and gold plush rocker, in agitated con-
sideration of blue album of the same
material. She ran to plush. Her red
hands we're just from the dishWater.
and her conscious manner belied the
studied leisure of her attitude
Robert Etheridge presented his
mother.
PLEASED to know you" observed
Mrs. Skidmore, with some stiffness.
Mrs. Etheridge shook hands cordial
~. MY son has told me of your kind
ness TO him, Mrs. Skidmore, and 1 feel
that 1 know you already
She could not help seeing in one COM
prehensive glance the tawdry furnish
ings, the staring family photographs
(enlarged) in cheap white frames, and
the Appropriateness of Mrs. Skid
mOre's dress-but gratitude is like
charity-it covers a multitude of in
harmonious colors. and kindness to
ones son in a strange land is more to
be desired than immaculate taste.
Mrs Skidmore looked more at ease.
Thanks" she said. We've tried TO
make him feel to home, and guess
Wee succeeded pretty middlin' well,
hain't we, ROBE"
Mrs. Etheridge drew within herself
as swiftly and silently as turtle whose
oUtstretehed head discovers. within I'M
comfortable distance, an alien to his
kind She felt convinced of over ef-
fusiveness. He had probably paid his
board, Rob" indeed
In her room she took herself to task.
What did she expect? Robert had told
her they were plain. In her heart she
was protesting. "She is not lust plain
Plainness can be forgiven. She is vuI-
gar and-familiar."
At supper she met the daughter, who
came in after they were seated. She
wore sweeping tea gown trimmed
with cheap lace. Mrs. Etheridge had
seldom seen more radiantly beautiful
face.
Miss Skidmore, Mis- Etheridge."
pronounced the mother, and Miss Skid
more responded in the family formula,
Pleased to know you adding sue
cinctly In an aside to Robert, who
greeted the smart gown with a low
whistle, "Oh, shut upr
Mrs. Ethsridges spirits dropped to
zero during that meal. Was this the
atmosphere that Robert had been in
for four years?
What do you think of the girl?" he
asked when they We're upstairs.
She is beautiful his mother ex-
claimed, enthusiastically. "The most
perfect features and coloring I ever
sawP'
His face glowed.
But, Robert, her manners are afro
clousl Why, she talked in an under
tone 10 you half the time"
or course, she hasn't had MANY adj
vantages," he said, apologeticaIlv'
Il should think noty' Then she nro-
ceeded to unpack.
We Drought some OF the new books
with me, Rob. I'm looking forward to
our reading together this winter"
1T will be nice" he said But he did
not ask what the books were
And here are the chess men. DO
you enjoy chess as much as ever?"
Haven't had game since I've been
here"
you haven't? Well, we'll have one
tonightP'
He looked uneasy. I'm afraid I
can't tonight. 7 promised 10 go to a
party before ] knew you were coming.