The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-11-14
ExROvs AS nglDDY" MREE;
g MAURICE SMILEY.

llm hlcdT VAS mat be Vas SUB
mother 10y. as most Of The folks
in the neiehborhood called him
Not that fhey looked down On him
for being 50 devoted 70 his mother.
That is those whose opinion really
amounted 70 anythins. OF course
some OF the liehf-heads made TN OF
a man OF twenty-five stiA tiled e
his mothers apron strings" as they
rang the changes Oh the old cheap
witficism. Tom didn't care for that
Perhaps. however. he really did care
after alIlle Lee took the district
school. He didn't want her 70 make
fun Of him.
After Toms father had worn him
sels our On the old place and had
been gathered - his fathers. Toms
two brothers and sisters had married
oh1 one ~ one. Put be stayed on,
wringipe by unremiiting industry
scanty living from tie rocky soil.
Il Tom had ever given any THOUGHT
10 setting np q home Of bis own. he
had resoiHfely haulsbed 1t
ITS n shame. Tom" said his moth
e. nistfuily. that you should be tied
down here on this ola place 70 an old
woman when you ought TO be setting
mp n home Of your own"
"Ail riqht then be replied. with
smife. 'fIn bundle you OF 70 the poor
house and strike out for the city"
Then he caught his mother up in
bis arms and said tenderly;
'NcVer YOU mind mother. I'm not
Worrying about it and Why need you p"
Pint an the saEe Tom did 2 good
deal o. worrying. Fcr one thing, Nil
lie Lee. while she seemst to like him
more than any Of the otter young
men IN The neighborhood. was yet q
little TOO fond. apparently. Of Bud
Briahton 10 preserve Toms enrlre
peace Of mind
Then there was the matter of that
black streak down IN the pasture.
Tom hardly dared 10 hope that 'here
was coal down there. Secretly he
was sinking a rude shaft. though he
told his mother he was only digging a
wen to increase the supply Of water
for The stoch
Then came the day when he struck
IT," lie could hardly realize ell that
It meant when his drill hit the hard,
black substance which proved to be
an excellent quality Of coal
When he went home that night two
surprises awaited him His mother
was seriously III and Millie Lee was
waiting on her.
For reasons OF his own. he did not
say anything about finding coal in
paying quantities He would stake
his chance with Mile on the merits
OF the case and If she cared for him
at all. she would accept hard-work-
ing. poor man
He watched her as she prepared
the evening meal and a sudden re-
solve took possession Of him
III looks awful homelike to see you
around the old place. Millie." he said.
1--WE got something on my mind that
| have had there for a long time"
She paused in the act OF taking the
biscuits from the oven and possibly
tho beat from the stove made her
face flush
u know ain't good enough for
you" he went on. bluntly Il haven't
had any education. I've just been
taking care Of mother ever since
was a boy and haint had the chance
that lots Of young men have had
You know what the old place is
There amt much TO be made out Of it.
II wouldn't support three people very
well specially when one OF 'em has
been used 10 better things"
Mile was nervonsly setting the
table by this time She nodded as he
paused. but neither OF them noticed
the disheveled figure peerlng in the
doorway. the ewes wild with fever.
Il don't mind telling you, Tom. that
would marry you if It was not fol
your mother There isn't enough for
Us all You win have to do something
about her"
Perhaps she put the test badly, foi
Tom thought she really meant that he
must give up his mother and let hel
shift for herself The thought cut
him like a knife and he stared oui
into the night too panied to say any
thing for a time.
y can't do that. Miliie," he said
slowly y can't leave my old mother
mot even for you didn't think you
was that kind I thought you was diff
ferent"
Before she could exrlain Tom had
passed into the bedroom, to give a
crv or alarm a moment later and
russ out into fhe darkness
he found her wandering aimiessis
along the road to the town. babbline
incoherently in her delirium about
getting out Of the way
Strong and tender arms bore her
back to her home and beside the bed
where Tom was kneeling Miliie Lee
put her hands on his shoulder and
said.
II didn't mean It the way you
thought dear ! was only trying you.