The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1909-08-20
The Silent
Pleader

with childhood petty troubles. me
mother drew his head down on her
lap, smoothing his hair with a gentle
hand.
What is troubling you, Richard
Can | help you?"
81 don't know, mother. | 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, softNoiced
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. am going to marry her.
lyon had best tell your father"
81 have and he informed me / was
crazy He had arranged a marriage for
me with Miss Lincoln, so that our Joint
fortunes would enable me to further
my railroad interests. / 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 | would marry Anna, and
if he disowned me | had skill enough
az a mechanic to support her"
Richard"
Mother, | love her and so will you
when you see her. l do not want to
antagonize father, but l will not give
in to his will"
81 will try TO win him over, for |
know you would select none but
worthy girl to be your wife"
Thank you. | know you will not re-
greet it, He kissed her tendery, and
as he walked out of the room his
mother watched, with tear-dimmed
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 UNDECIDED
his brow drawn into a 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, l have ordered the
carriage ard we can talk it over as we
drive"
He followed her passively enough to
the waiting carriage. He was surprised
10 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 fooIishness
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.
M Gge, 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 l Will cook
it myself You go down and carry up
some wood. Here, hang your coat on
its old hook. It viii 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 calico apron.
"Madge,' he called to her eagerly,
my old workable is still down there.
Do you remember how pleased we
were the day | finished it?"
Yes, indeed | do, Billy" using un-
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 a 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. | well re-
member how proud was of my pretty
bride and the tiny home my two dol.
lars a 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 a kiss, just as
he had done in the first happy days of
their married life.
BILLY, dear, let our boy taste of the |
joys we shared in that almost forgot /
ten past. He loves a girl, who must be
worthy of that love, just as you loved 1
me- You would brook no interference
and you must not blame him for not
wishing TO obey your demand Let