The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-10-30
TN NOT YOUR MOTHER AT ALL"

you up Just the same as II you was
child to both OF us. Nobody knows
but Reddy. told him the day We
started up here"
The girls mind ran swiftly over the
past as she listened. The truth Of the
revelation reached her instantly. ex-
planning a hundred strange things
which had puzzled her all her life.
The absence Of deep affection between
herself and Lie was explained. Their
difference In habit, temperament.
thought-ali became plain. But my
mother" she said at last-"who O0s
my mOther?'
IL never saw her. You zee. Ed came
into the country. bringing you. a little.
motherless babe. He always said your
mother was a fine woman. but ] never
90 much as saw a picture of her. She
was an educated woman. he said-a
southern woman-and her name was
Virginia. but that's about all can
tell you Of her. Now am going to
let Ross know all Of this as soon as I
can 1t will make a whole lot Of off.
ference In what he thinks Of you"
She uttered all this much as a man
would have done. with steady voice
and with bright eyes. but Lee vir.
ginia could feel beneath her harsh in
6ections the deep emotion which Vi.
bFated there. and her heart went on
toward the lonely woman in q new
rush Of tenderness. Now that she was
released from the necessity Of excusing
her mothers faults-faults she could
now ignore-now that she could look
upon her as a loyal friend. she was
moved to pity and to love, and. rising.
she went to her and put her arms
about her neck and said: This won't
make any difference. am going to
stay with you and help you Just the
same"
The tears came to the old woman's
eyes, and her voice broke as she ~
piled: Il knew you would say that.
Lee Virginia. but all the same don't
intend. to have you do any such thing.
You've got to cut loose from me alto
gether. because some fine chap Ia 60
ing to come along one of these days.
and he won't want me even as a step
No; have decided that
you and me had better live apart. III
get you a place to live up In Sulphur.
where can visit you now and again.
but guess I am elected to stay right
here In the Fork. They don't like me.
and ! don't like them, but I have kind
Of got used to their ways Of looking at
me sidewise. They don't matter as
much as II would up there In the city"
Lee turned back wistfully toward
the story Of her mother. where did
my mother meet my father? Do you
know thatY'
mo. | don't II was a runaway
I'd said. l never did know
who her folks were, only know they
thought she was marrying the wrong
man"
The girl sighed as her mind took In
the significance Of her mothers com.
Ing TO this wild country. leaving all
that she knew and loved behind.
'Poor little mother! II must have
been very hard for her."
am afraid she did have a hard
tim, for Ed admitted to me that he
hadn't so much as a saddle when he
landed In the state. He hadn't much
when I met him trst but everybody
liked him. He was one OF the hand
somest men that ever jumped a sad
Ole. But he was close mouthed. You
never could get anything out Of him
That he didn't want to tell. and ] was
never able TO discover what he had
been doing In the southern part Of the
state"
As she pondered on her changed re-
Iationship to Lie. Lees heart light
sned. IL would make a difference TO
Ross. II would make a difference 70
the Rednelds. Traitorous as Il seem
ID. Il was q great relief. q Joy. TO
know that her own mother-her real