Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1912-08-17

full sadness. Strange he had never no
ticed II before. He wondered II she
had not often been lonely when he was
gone all day. or many times too weary
to give her the many little atten-
lions SO dear to every wife. He sat
a long time in reverie, and with a real
pain In his heart. He wondered II any
possible neglect OF the happiness In
this little woman's life could account
for the Boys serious, pensive express
sion. He glanced from the photograph
in his hand to the larger one In its gilt
frame that stood on his desk-the pho
tograph OF another woman. 1t was
a youthful face, although she was past
thirty years of age. There was some
thing In her that would grow old
slowly and gracefully; her glance con-
fided; the pose of her brown head
leaned. Could he do It? Could he
take this young life and keep 1t un-
changed?
few days later the father called
the Boy to him as he passed the IL
brary door. Robert" he said, II want
you to tell me what you think of this
picture" He took from the top of his
desk the framed photograph and
placed 1t in the hands of the Boy. The
large beautiful eyes were radiant with
fun. They seemed to laugh into his
own eyes, which were far too sad for
so small boy. After a moments
thoughtful study of her girlish beauty.
the Boys face frightened, and he
smiled into his fathers face as he said.
Il like her berry much, father, cause
she's happy"
Impulsively the father Rugged the
boy to him, laying his cheek against
his upturned face. so do |, my son!
he said. she is happy and beautiful,
and sweet, and-she likes me, too"
The Boy closed his eyes, almost
overcome with this sudden display or
affection from his father. 1t was new
experience, this unexpected food for
his hungry soul He began to think
that father might be almost as won
derful as a mother.
1t was the month of June. Every
HtW lIcSn 6lccH Ilih6iCu VIII
the varying shades of color and the
faint perfume of flowers. The day had
been one of springs triumphs. The
evening was more perfect still; flooded
with moonlight, with only the drowsy
note of the insects to break the still
ness of the quiet night. A carriage
came up the graveled driveway lead
H. oln cl
ly under the spreading trees and
stopped before the broad, deep veran-
da A gentleman and lady alighted.
They went quickly into the house,
where a welcome awaited them from
Ellen, the housekeeper and nurse,
who had been in the boys home since
the time the father brought there his
first bride. ten years before.
Upstairs, in his little bed, the Boy
lay watching the fine tracery OF slight
ly moving leaves in the moonlight on
his bedroom floor. Presently he heard
footsteps on the stairs, the rustic of
womans skirts, and the light laughter
just outside his door. and then
The Boy raised his head. for there in
the doorway stood his father and
beautiful lady, who looked at him with
the same laughing eyes he had seen
in the picture that memorable after
noon. The same sensation of having
two warm arms about him and real
kisses on his brow, his cheek and
mouth. seemed too wonderful to be
true. His little heart was full to over
flowing; thin arms were clasped tight
ly around her neck while he whis-
pered: IL love my new mother. He
seemed to divine that she was indeed
his new mother. the kind he had asked
for in his prayers ever since he had
been old enough to say them at the
faithful Ellen's knee. The faint odor
of jasmine fingered caressingly long
after they had left the room. Sleep
had been temporarily banished; he lay
in kind of dream, blissfully happy
for didn't he. too, have mother like
the other boys?"
The next morning, on his way to
school, he called for Jack. He carried
himself very straight indeed when he
walked proudly into where Jack and
his mother were busy with the final
preparations for school. His thin lit
tie face fairly shone as he announced:
I've got q mother, too"
Jacks mother laughed. She had
kept the secret from the Boy, and now
affected innocence when she said:
Have you, dear? And how do you
like her? Is she pretty?"
In his quaint little way he replied:
81 like her berry much, and think
she is just lovely"
Jacks mother laughed again. you
dear. foolish little Boy!" she said, and
then. much to Jacks disapproval, she
stopped and gathered the Boy into her
arms as she impulsively kissed his
happy little face, TRANSPORTED by the
thought that he was no longer moth
erless.