The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-19
The Silent
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Pleader

He went straight to her and sat on
the ottoman at her feet, as he had
often done when he had come to her
with childhood petty troubles. The
mother drew his head down on her
lap, smoothing his hair with a gentle
hand.
What is troubling you, Richard?
Can | help your"
Il don't know, mother. I hardly
know how to begin to tell you" He
paused a moment, then went on
There is girl, mother-a little
brown-eyed, brown-haired, soft-voiced
girl, and love her."
Yes, Richard?"
She is of good family, but, oh! so
poor She thinks | am but a poverty
stricken mechanic, and loves me be-
cause of it. l am going to marry her.
You had best tell your father"
81 have, and he informed me l was
crazy. He had arranged marriage for
me with Miss Lincoln so that our joint
| fortunes would enable me to further
my railroad interests. l told him he
| might be general manager of the con-
| Germ he owned and which employed
me, but he was not director of my
heart. That l would marry Anna, and
| if he disowned me | had skill enough
as mechanic to support her."
Richard"
Mother, love her! and so will you
| when you see her. | do not want to
antagonize father, but l will not give
in to his will"
Il will try to win him over, for l
know you would select none but a
worthy girl to be your wife,
Thank you. l know you will not re-
greet it." He kissed her tenderly, and
as he walked out of the room his
mother watched, with teardimmed
eyes, till he was out of sight, then
turned to the task set before her.
Her husband sat in his study, the
! papers scattered on his desk unheeded,
his brow drawn into frown as he
gazed into space. The soft rustic of
his wife's gown broke his meditation.
THAT young fool" he began, testify,
spelling his chances because a baby
face has infatuated him. Ignoring my
wishes and actually running his entire
| life"
Come, William, have ordered the
carriage and we can talk it over as we
drive"
He followed her passively enough to
the waiting carriage. He was surprised
to find it the simplest in his stable.
Il wished to drive myself" explained
his wife.
So engrossed was he in dilating upon
the enormity of his sons foolishness
that he did not notice where his wife
was driving to until they turned into a
pretty country lane.
This road seems familiar" he re-
marked, then sat up straight as his
wife stopped in front of a tiny house
set back from the street. why, this
is the house we lived in when we were
first married"
He followed her down the lilac-bor-
dered walk into the house.
"Madge, it looks as it did the day
we left it. What does it mean? How
is it you have the keys?"
do you remember that first check
|. you gave me?"
Yes, to buy jewels with"
William, this was the jewel |
bought" With a sudden change of hui
NOR she laughed merrily. William.
let us stay here for tea and | will cook
it myself. You go down and carry up
some wood. Here, hang your coat on
its old hook. 1t will seem like old times
to see you in your shirt sleeves"
He. falling into her humor did as
she babe. A few minutes later he came
upstairs to find his wife preparing a
simple meal, her silken gown shielded
by a calico apron.
"Madge," he called to her eagerly,
my old workable is still down there.
Do you remember how pleased we
were the day I finished it?"
Yes, indeed | do, Billy" using UNI
consciously the name the dignified Will
liam had long ago replaced.
AS she set the table in the little
kitchen, she watched her husband bus
lily building the fire and whistling a
song he was wont TO sing in the old
days.
When she placed the dainty, simple
meal on the table Mr.. Raynold drew
up his chair with sigh of satisfac-
ton.
Il can't remember a meal | have
enjoyed as much as this in a great
many years; not since we left the lit
tie house. We were happy those days,
Madge. More happy than we have been
| since. You look just as you did then,
except your hair is gray. we'll re-
member how proud was of my pretty
bride and the tiny home my two dol.
lars day was supporting. Here,
Madge, dear, let me dry those dishes"
Towel in hand, he painstakingly
dried each dish, and as he set the last
cup in the closet slipped his arms
about his wife and stole kiss, Just as
he had done in the first happy days of
their married life.
Billy, dear, let our boy taste OF the