Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-02-12
HER BOY.

The long-looked-fo and much
dreaded day had come at lasti VIII
lie Knight was going to see his moth
er for the first time in FIVE years. and
he was but nine now. Colonel and
Mrs. Knight lived in India at the
time of Willie's birth. She was the
acknowledged beauty of the station,
and could give no time from the
whirl and excitement Of army life to
care about the baby boy who had
come to her, and 1t was a great re-
lief when sister had offered to take
the baby and his ayah back to Eng
land with her. When he was 6 years
old Willie was sent to boarding
SCHOOL, only leaving it occasionally to
pay visit to his aunt.
Mrs. Knight had met with a very
serious accident while out riding one
day, and as she lay for weeks on her
sick bed her thoughts turned to her
long forgotten boy, and an intense
desire to see him came over her. As
she grew stronger the doctors advised
her husband to take her home Will
lie knew very little OF his mother ex-
cept that she was yer, beautiful and
great society leader. and in his
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 2eing the lasl day of the
| -
work were to be awarded, and par
ents and friends OF the boys were in
| vited to attend the exercises. After
the pr.ze-giving the affair would be-
come purely social, buildings and
grounds would be inspected, cbums
Juld be introduced and feasts and
fun ad infnitum.
For the first time il his life Willie
displayed some anxiety as to his per-
Fonal appearance. and as he gazed in
10 his mirror he came to the pitiful
conclusion that even an ordinary
mother could not possibly feel proud
" him. His hair had a knack OF
standing up in little tufts. his nose
vas a very funny little aftair. his
creeks we're smothered with freckles
and he never had Noticed before that
his feet and hands we're altogether
out of proportion TO the rest of his
body. II wish she was just an ordi-
nary mother ard not such great
lady," he thought, and the tears were
pretty hard to keep back
But the gong had sounded and the
boys gathered ready to march into
the great hall. Here the visitors
we're assembled and the eyes of the
boys eagerly sought out their loved
ones. That beautiful tall lady must
be mother," thought Willie, but mo-
Size was smiling at boy the othel
side of the room. The opening ex
{. cises had started. and stlll Willie's
eyes we're searching the throng oi
happy faces. and his heart began tC
sink as he realized that after all sht
was not there. "She doesn't care" he
thought. while the tears OF disap
| Iointment welled up Into his eyes
''and she never las cared"
Bu- Ihe was suddenly brought bach
to the present by a vigorous nudge
from his neighhor. See that tai
man. 6-foot-4 sure" he whispered
~and soldier. too. bet.
Isn't he a danny2" replied Willie
with genuine admiration. Il won
der who he belongs to; wish he was
my dad" said the neighhor. $50 dc
l." came the answer. and with a Gu
rious thrill Willie began to realize
that he had father, too, soldier
and he wondered how 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 chan
In which sat 4 sweet-faeed lady
I'm just wat and see who they be
long to" he thought, with an en-
Fious grip at his heart, then I'll e
OF and hide somewhere. / cam
bear 20 zee them all SO happy. Ii Il
karder to have a mother that doesni
care than to have none at ali-"
"Well, Mary, it looks as though We
shall have to get some one TO help ui
find our boy" the tall man was say
ing. Can / find anyone for you
sir2" sad Willie, stepping forward.
Yes. ! want-why. surely thil
is--" Bur before Ae could hRizh hli
words Willis felt himself draw
aovP into tas s5Pg Of the lsay y ~