El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-15

saw her motherinlaw' home and
the street into which the elderly WON
an had moved. For Mrs. Fletcher sen
7 ior's new quarters were in building
/ of very cheap flats, or tSnements- This
building was on an avenue through
which an elevated road runs and the
proximity to Twenty-third street made
the place easy of access, a fact Tor
which Mary was grateful when she,
with her baby and large suit case, LETT
the ferry on the afternoon OF her ar
rival in New York Her motherlnlaW
was on the watch fer her and met her
at the foot of the stairs leading TO the
third floor on which were the humble
rooms.
Il guess you're surprised to see me
in this common part of town, amt
you2" she queried when she had de-
posted the baby on her bed, having IN
sisted on carrying him upstairs herself
But while I don't think I ever had
much pride, the little I did have has
had a fall III tell you all about It
later First of all, let me help you and
the child off with your things"
This she proceeded to do. talking all
the time. Mary observed that that ED
erly woman had lost much Of her sharp
ness, and when she saw the lines Of
care in her face she pitied her and de-
termined to be very gentle with her.
Berts mothers bed was in the only
bedroom in the small flat, but in the
parlor was a couch on which Mary was
TO sleep, and by that was a small camp
cot that the grandmother had bought
expressly for the baby
1T was real cheap" she said, only
q dollar. But we can make it soft by
folding cOmforters and putin them
on it, and he amt such an active child
as to roll off easy One side Of the cot
can be against your couch. and Wen
fence him in on the other side with
chairs I amt got a very fine place
here, Mary, but there's room in it for
you"
For the first time since she had met
her husbands mother, Mary kissed her.
Thank you" she said sincerely, you
are very kind. and baby and I appreci-
ate it,
In spite of what his mother had
written, Berts wife had not suspected
until that night in what straits he had
put his mother Now that he had gone
away Che had started on his journey
that mornlnS) his mother spoke freely
OF him and his recent conduct She told
Mary how he had come to her, his
mother, time and again with a hard
luck story asking her to help him
out.
Il suppose you'll think I've been a
foolish old woman" she said. ito do all
I've done know I told you once I
knew how TO manage men, and 1 al
ways thought I'd hold out against any
attempt that Bert might make to get
money out of me. But, Lord 1 guess
mothers is all alike when the pinch
comes And when he told me- that a
few thousand would Just tide him over
a bad place in his business. and that
the lack OF II would ruin him, let him
have the money. And then he come
and told me that he found he'd need
another thousand to make the matter
sure 1 got mad at first and asked
him If he wasn't sendin' good money
after pad but he said that it was all
right he she faltered and her voice
Droke-'he actually took his oath that
IL was all on the square. And now the
moneys gone, and he tells me that I
business amt any better, that every
oody done him, but that he'll make I
good yet"
She paused and tried to look like her /
and arrogant self.
On, she exclaimed. i've learned my !
lesson and its cost me about all ia
land aside against old agei But I've
got a little left to keep me yet II i've
m a tenement like I thought I'd never
i've IN. If I've the good luck to d-e
oeiore long, / may not have TO 80 10
The pOorhouse."
She tried to luagh. but the younger
woman saw the misery back OF the
sorry effort.
AS long as there is a roof over our
reads, it viii always be your roof too,
she said surely "-she hesitated-
your son VIII never see you want for