El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-08
= One WOman's Story :
By Virginia Terhune Van de water
CHAPTER XXXIII.

| - RADUAl4LI Mary Fletcher
strength returned and she was
~ able to dispense with her nurse
and busy herself with her household
! duties. The baby was not robust, but
he was not a fretful child. To care for
/ him was the young mothers delight
/ and she loved to have his cradle in the
room where she sat sewing or busy
at occupations that did not make his
presence fnexpedient. But when she
mad 70 be IN the kitchen, or sweeping
or busting, Mrs. DanfOrth would beg
to be allowed to look out for the child, %
and would watch the little fellow with
an expression of such happiness that
Mary would smile to see it. Yet some
times she wOuldifeeI the tears rise to
her eyes as she noted her mothers
absorption in the tiny baby.
Mrs DanfOrth was growing paler
and thinner with each passing month
So fragile was she that her daughter
tried to keep from her al matters that
might distress her. IS the elderly
woman went to bed early she did not
often see her sOninlaW when he had
been drinking heavily. In fact, he sell
dom came home when he was actually
drunk. Once, when his breath reeked
with whisky, Mary had suggested
that he should not see her mother lest
she suspect that he had had some
thing to drink
idly
He tried to laugh her fear away.
NOnsense!" he retOrted. Your moth
er IS so innocent that she would never
suspect that a man had taken a glass
OF anything unless he hic-coughed and
staggered She has read that those are
the Things that DRINKS do, and unless
a fellow showed those Jolly symptoms
she would put him down as sober If
asked to classify him Besides" with
sudden gravity, I never take too much
liquor anyhow It's all your magma
ton"
His wife did not dispute his state
ment She had found herself inca
paDle of carrying out her motherin-
laws instructions for managing Bert
Sne had tried to tell him how unhappy
MS habits were making his mother, but
ne silenced her appeal by a violent out
burst
III thank you and ma to mind your
own business" he exploded. And If
ever hear Of her talking to you about
your husband, and your letting her do
II be h TO pay-dO you IN
derstand2"
That was Mary's last protest. She
could not run the risk of a repetition
OF such scenes as this, she said to her
sell Perhaps when the baby grew
oider-old enough to notice-Bert
would do better. Surely when he saw
MS child's clear eyes fixed upon him
ne would be ashamed to drink
Meanwhile Fletcher grew daily more
proud OF his small son Strangely
enough, when the man had been drink
ing he never touched the chiId-and his
W1e noted this hopefully. As she saw
ner big husband look with q tenderness !
thaL was almost reYerential at the baby /
VINO pore his name she was sure that
ne chl1d would yet be an influence !
LOI good IN the life of the father That /
was her encoura cement, her comfort /
as the months wore themselves away /
me summer was hot one, and the 4
| OuseWork was not easy during the /
burning days Of July and August Vet
so long as the baby kent well the
young mother bore it braveIv. When.
IS was often the case, her husband /
Ola her IN the morning that he would
loI De home that night-as he and a /,
-rlend had decided to 20 down to the
'edsnore Tor dip in the Ocean-sne
lno her mother would dispense with
hearty evening meal, and would have !
'ucn simple and cool Tiands as they
'OIn lked- On such occasions Mary I
lad the cheering assurance thar she I
vas ecOnOmizing-for when Rer+ rs I
. nome he must have meat and meat
: dS expensive Yet, in spite of all her
al e she found that they could NOT Z
az their bills promptly. Bert was mt
inS Dlt OF cash into business" he
4pldIneu, and Mary tried 10 believe !
I'M ct there were times when there
30 q 50 niue money in the house that
LIS Dan1orth would discover the con
ltlon OF affairs and would press upon
er daughter few dollars taken from
Il,s small insurance sum that was her
Lei me help you a little. darling"
ne would urge when Mary would pro-
est WI en am gone it will be vo11rs
hyWay-lf there Is anything left after !
am buried"
ne young woman shuddered at the {
oTus- surely she thought. she might {
e spared this sorrow for years to
Dut ner baby was only eight months +
Ia Wnen the daughter knew that the ( I
readed grief was coming into her life
was only few DAYS after Christmas i
lat Bert returned from the citv one
eh!hs' MS manner showing that he
az oeen drinking. and went to town :
le. IoIIoWlng morning with the ex- .
ght. away over
"A matter Of business he said sui
MY His wife asked no ouestione P
lI the FAMILIAR fear assailed her
Inc next evening. after a dav in
men Mrs. Danforth was $50 rira5-s u
TAT she admitted that she ..1vo,I5 =
Ne to lie still if it would not 51co1- \
.nIence anybody the lonely widow b
osed her eyes forever in this world
TO be continUed) a