The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-01-30

but tell me who did it.
" / can't, don't ask me, don't ask,
he said, with such look of pain on
his face that I shall never forget.
Only believe me innocent, and here,
mother, is little gold cross got for
your birthday, keep it always, and
perhaps some day you II know. And
he kissed me ood-bye." And the
voice of the little woman broke in a
sob and the eyes of the young mother
were wet with the quick dew of
sympathy.
"On the same day the prison gates
closed upon our boy and the gates of
heaven opened to his father, and
Teddy and were left alone in the
world.
Though I grieved for Tom and
father we lived happily and comfort
ably till one day Teddy brought home
a wife; cold, proud, ill-tempered wo-
man. She never liked me, l was too
plain and old fashioned for her, though
1 gave her the reins and tried my best
to feel cheerful in being driven this
way aud then that, though sometimes
it was hard. But ever since Tom
went away he seemed so troubled and
anxious that I hadn't the heart to
trouble him.
Zone evening he came home COM
pletely worn out. The moment the
doctor saw him he looked pretty seri-
Gus. Before he left he said to Alice,
Teddy's wife: 4 hope your hus-
bands affairs are in good order, the
disease is malignant type, and l can
give no hope for his recovery
"Teddy heard him and gave me
one frightened glance, then turning
to his wife said: Would you leave
mother and I alone for little while,
there's something I want to tell her,
and as the door closed upon her, and
I knelt down and clasped him in my
arms, all the months and years he
seemed to be growing from me, was
bridged over-Teddy was still my
boy.
"For little time he held me close,
neither spoke, and was almost be-
ginning to think that he had forgot
ten what he wanted to tell me, when
he said: Mother, ! can't go out of
the world with my crime On another
mans head. took the money they
accused Tom of taking. 1 should be
where he is now. Tom knew it, he
wouldn' tell once thought would
be brave and confess all, but Tom
said No, I've always been the black
sheep and another black mark to the
score won't hurt like one against your
name-father couldn't stand that,
and, like a coward, I let him go. He's
been punished for my crime, but if
he has suffered one-hundredth of
what have suffered all these years I
pity him. I pity him. Oh! mother,
speak to me; say you forgive me, for
l was crying. My poor Tom my
poor Tom 7 And then I kissed Teddy
and said: I do forgive you, dear,
and God will, too, for He has seen
your suffering and then Teddy fell
back on his pillow and smiled and I
was left alone.
"After the funeral l took the train
for the town where Tom was, with a
heart half sad, half glad. 1t was
hard to lose Teddy, to know that he
had not been the boy I had always
believed him but to have Tom home
again-well, l couldn't be his mother
and not feel glad. So went to the
prison and asked for Tom. Isn't he
with you?' the superintendent said, he
was pardoned some time ago. Par
doned, answered he never should
have been sentenced but where is
hep I suppose he'd gone home.
Henry he said to a young man at
the desk, tell the warden to send No.
II to me-. And in few minutes
No. II came in, and, as I saw him, 1
couldn't keep the tears back for pity,
and the thought of Tom looking just
like him. And the superintendent
said: There, there, my dear lady,
we'll find your boy if we can. Rus
sell, you and Tom Hainet were friends,
can you tell US of his whereabouts p
No, sir; all he said to me was !:
Good bye old man, Pm going to
change my name and start in again.
Did he ever say to you he was guiltyP
No, sir he stuck to it he wasn't,
and it's my belief he knew who was,
and wouldn't tell, for he was fine
fellow, even if he was a Jail bird
No, madam, l wish I could, but
if you ever find him, tell him how
glad old Russell was that he always
believed him innocent.
"For years I've looked and waited
for him. l go from town to town.
BY selling my small wares manage
to keep soul and body together.
Every night I pray for my boys re-
turn ; every morning 1 awake with
the hope that today I may find him.
And now must go. You have heard
my story and I thank you. Perhaps
my boy nay be waiting for me now,
perhaps-and this is the cross Tom
gave me-" she said, holding out the
small emblem in trembling hands.
mo, mother, he's. found you"
and she turned to be clasped in the
arms of the man who had entered un-
seen, while the twins circled round
them crying and shouting: ''Is she
our really grandma, papa, our really
grandma. Louise Holland in Wo-
mans World.
"IT is true,'' said a friend, "that
you have amassed a great fortune.
But your grammar" "Never mind
the grammar, said Mr.. Dustin Stax.
"This is an era of Specifications. ]
may be weak in some branches, but
I'm an authority on the possessive
case"
''YoU say that local option has been
of great benefit to this section of the
country ?" eyes, sir" answered
Colonel Stillwell. GAS soon as lot
of us citizens realized how far any
| hOdv would have RI Oo for n dri41lr we