Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-04-01
CHAPTER vIn-continued.

CHAPTER VIlI-Continued.
There was silence for a minute, and
then the man spoke again.
Il tell you there's no use talking
any more. I've begun the thing, and
I'm going through with It"
But the danger, Willy, the dan
ger!"
I'm used to danger"
aye, worse luck, that you are! And
me like to breake me cart wi thinkin'
Of you o nights"
Then don't think"
"Ah, low can / 'elp it? Me that
carried you in me arms when you was
a little babby!"
We'll, now, will you do what | ask,
or won't you?"
Don't ask it of me, Willy-don't
now"
Il do ask it."
| forgot all honorable scruples
against eavesdropping, and listened
with all my ears. | can only add in
%self-defense that | believe any one
else in my place would have done the
same.
He muttered something I could not
hear, however, and Mary Anne gave a
stiaed sob.
ooh, you didn't use to be SO 'ard!"
she exclaimed. tits she as changed
you. It's 'er fault-with 'er soft 'ands
and 'er ard, crool cart"
Don't you say anything against
Nell. | won't have it."
"Oh, it's allus Nell nowadays. And
what does she care what 'appens to
you, so long as she's safe 'erself? II
only you'd took to the fishing trade
Willy, and lived respectable 'ow Apply
we might ave been, and Sarah Cush
ley ready to marry you If you'd said
the word"
Sarah Cushley indeed"
Its the books-that's what done it
Many's the time I've been sorry | eve
let you go to school. Many's the time
I've wished I'd listened to yer uncle
when e wanted to take you on Ii
sloop afore the mast. Fur e said goot
ard work, with a ropes end now ant
then, would make a man O. you. Blu
you'd a look O. yer father, and yo1
lad lis fine ways"
He interrupted her with an unpleas
ant laugh.
Fine ways, indeed! That's all h
ever gave his son. Don't blame m
for anything, MOTHERHOOD neare
home. I'm not saying 1t was all you
fault. You thought you were maj
ried."
God knows did, Willy!"
"You brought me into the world, an
found you were deceived, like man
another fool of a girl-and serve
them right, too, for thinking a gentle
man would marry them"
"Oh, my boy!"
There was real tragedy in the excl;
nation, and I found myself wipin
away a tear, but the mans voice wa
as cold as ever.
$50 | started life underla handica
"a thoroughbred mongrel, made up {
the worst of you and the worst of hin
And / turned out a bad lot, didn't ]
But whose fault was it?"
Mine, Willy, mine"
Eyes, yours. Branded from the b
ginning with the bar sinister-diffe
emit from other children. Don't | r
member it all? Growing up with h
aristocratic tastes and your enviro,
ment; born with the instincts OF h
class, which make Injuries necess
ties, and no money to crafty ther
And then the cold shoulder ever
Observation-Disclosures pity from b
class, open ridicule from yours"
II sent you away, Willy. took Il
bit of money he gave me and sent W
to the states to school, where W
could be a gentleman and no question
asked. And ! loved you, darlin'; | /;
lus loved you"
"You gave me what you could, l su
pose. I'm not blaming you for thf
But you turned me loose with a lit
learning and nc aloney--a dangero'
combination, mother. So / went
the bad, preferring a short life and
merry one. Then ! met Nell, and W
happy, for she loved me. Don't 81
she didn't-she did, ! tell you; s.
does"
"And so do I, my boy. Who cou
love you like your mother?'
"Then, mother, do al | tell yc
without any more fuss. Come aw
from this place-it gets on my merry
--and give me something to drink, !
. was w ali night, and have mo
work ahead Of me-
Their voices died away, and sat 1
ONE time longer meditating up