El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-14
The Herald's
Daily Short Story
THE DOCTORS MOTHER

her hand she held a big cotton UNI
breIla and a voluminous carpetbag
with her best clothes
Madam" he began
But the old woman went SLOWLY TO-
wards a door that was ajar through
which fell q ray of light
The doctor had recovered after his
bad night and was to go to his
fiancee's house, when the door opened.
Was it an Authorization or was it real
ly his old mother standing in the door
way in front of the stupefied butler?
No. it was really she and with an eX-
preston of joy he ran towards her, but
when the surprise was over he began
to feel rather annoyed. Why did she
come here? He had given her all she
needed at home and here she would
only be in the way. And Henriette.
He dared not even think of the ex-
preston that would come into her
face when he introduced her to his
mother.
why didn't you send me word.
mother, that you were comingT
Because 1 wanted to surprise you,
my boy. You are not Segry?"
mo, mother, dear, but now you must
eat some dinner and go to bed.
For hours after the old woman had
fallen asleep, he sat thinking. Surely
his mother had come to stay with him
now. If. he told her that was impos-
sible she would return home, but could
he let her do that? He might say that
city air was not good for her, and
then Henriette would never know any
thing about the plain old woman, who
had worked for him until her back
was bent and her fingers gnarled with
rheumatism.
No he could not do such a thing
70
matter how she took it, he was strong
enough to do it now. His mother must
stay with him now 1t was the only
manly way.
Poor old motherl"
He opened the door of her room,
went over to her bed and kissed her
tenderly on the forehead. She awoke
, with start.
"Oh, my boy, My own dear boy, SO
you are really glad to see me-
He kissed her again and remained
at her bedside until she fell asleep.
You did not come last night" said
Henriette when he called on her the
next forenoon.
No. Henrietta" he said, and have
come to tell you the reason why. Last
night my mother arrived. / have never
spoken to you of her before How
foolish I have been. She is poor old
woman -WhQ almost worked herSelf TO
death that / might get ahead. When
I did, 1 gave her home and thought
I had done my duty by her. / fed her
body, but starved her soul and heart
by never visiting her. Yesterday she
came to me. At first / felt annoyed
and ashamed, ashamed of the woman
who gave me life. I thought of you
and the education you had had, and
was afraid you two would not be able
to live under one roof. And now
have come to ask you to forget me
Henriette. My home and my heart be-
long to my mother as long as she is
alive"
If he had had faint hope, Hen
riette would hold him back, he was
disappointed. She just laid her lind in
his as If she wanted to say goodbye.
1t was late in the afternoon when
he returned from his sick calls and
though he was downhearted and tired
he tried to put on a pleasant smile
that his mother might not notice any
thing.
He knew he would find her in his
study, so he opened the door expecting
tc hear her old voice: ooh. .kere you
are my boy" as he entered. But he
was not prepared for the sight that
met his eyes. His mother was sitting
her feet was Henriette. Her head was
resting in the lap of the old woman
who was stroking her hair tenderiy
! When he entered both jumped up
"Oh, Holger. 1 lost my mother wncn