The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-25
HER BOY.


time of Wi,l:e's birth. She was the
acknowledges! beauty OF the station
and could give no time from the
whirl and excitement Of army life tt
care about the baby boy who had
come to her, and it was great re
lief when a sister had offered to TAX,
the oaby and his ayah back to Eng
land with her. When he was 6 year.
old Willie was sent to boardinE
school, only leaving it occasionally tt
LAY a visit to his aunt.
Mrs. Knight had met with very
serious accident while out rldine ON
Cay. ana as she lay for week: on hei
sick bed her thoughts turned TO he'
long forgotten boy. and an inteps'
ces re to see him came over her. A.
sEe grew stronger the doctcrs adv:seH
her husband to take her hoG'e. "
7le knew very little ol his n other q
cept that che was yer, beautiful al
E great society leader. aad IL, hi
heart he worshipped this unknown
mother with something akin to awe
She was coming on the day that was
The great event in the school life
Besides eing the last day Of tho
srnool terra, prizes for the year.
work we're to be awarded. and ral
ents and friends of the boys were in
vited to attend the exercises. After
the pr'ze-giving the affair would be
come purely socia., buildings ant
grounds would be Inspected. chum
,uld be introduced and feasts ant
fun ad infinitum.
For the first. time II his l.fe Willi'
displayed some anxiet" as to his per
sonal appearance. and as he gazed in I
to his mirror ne came to the pitfu
CT Inclusion that even an ordinar!
mother could not possibly feel prout
:. him. His hair had knack OF
standing up in little tufts. MS nose
vas a very funny little affair, his
Il eeks were smothe-ed with freekles.
and be never had :,oticed before that
his feet andS hands were altogether
out of p1 ,portion to the rest OF his
'Lody. II wish She was just an ocd'-
nary mother and not such l great
,ady." he thought. and the fears were
pretty hard to kee> back.
But the gong had sounded and the
boys gathered ready to march into
the great hall. Here the visitors
--ere assembled and the eyes Of the
pCys eagerly sought ont tier .ovco
ones. That beaul tul tall lady musl
lie mother" thought Willie, but no
81. was smiling al "a hoy the cthe,
SIDE of the room. rhe opening eT-
G. discs had started. and still W.llie's
eyes were searching the throEg OF
Lappy faces. and his heart began t.
sink as he realized that after all she
was not there. She doesn't care, he
thought. while the tears Of disap-
1oin. r!ent welled up in,o bis eyes
land she never Las cared"
Blu. he was suddenly brought back
to the present by Vigorous nudge
from his neightor. See that tall
man. 6.foot-4 sure" he whispered,
land soldier, too, | bet"
Isn't he a danoy?" replied willie
with genuine admiration. II won
der who he pa.ongs to; wish he was
nv dad" said rhe neighbor. so do
l." came the answer. and with Gu
rious thrill Willie regan to realize
that he had a father. too. a soldier.
and be wondered low he would look.
AT last the exercises were over. The
ranks broken and the boys eagerly
greeting their friends.
Willie observed now that the tai.
mai. had his hand on an invalid cnalr
In which sat sweet-faced lady
"Ill Just wat aEa see who they be-
long to" he thought, with an en-.
yious grip at his heart. then Ill go
Of. and hide somewhere. | CAM
bear to see them all so happy. [. Is
harder to have a mother that doeSn I
care than to have none at all.
We'll. Mary. 1t looks as though We
shall have to get some one to EeLp US
knd our boy" the tall man was say
ing. Can | fnL anyone for you.
sir?" sa d Willie. stepping forward.
Yes. wani-why. surely TINS
IS" Blu. before ne cou d finish his
words Willie ite.t himself drawn
GOWN into the arms of the lady In the
c.a r. and he was locked in sucn an
embrace as made up to him tor al
the motherless years gone oy. II
seemed too good TO be true! no"
rroud he was to introduce the sol
der father to his admi-ing friends.
and 10 hold the hand Of his lovely
mother as she told him OF her plans
for the future, III which she meant tC
rold tight onto the little lad so sad
" neg ected. II thee was one hi
more VIII. ch could be added to his hap
o.ness it was supplied when. in an
swer to his fathers question tc his
mother as to how she knew Willie.
she replied: He looks just as you
must have looked at his age"
Diamonds Burn Like GOAL.