The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-06
Daily Short Story
n E r w o Nj E

I think IL Was a shame. declared
me other Gracious, II she bad
written that she was coming he
neednt have had any n at his apart.
nent. but TO walk right In among his
friends and humiliats him Most
mothers would have had more consit,
eration,T
Mrs Bentley craned her head
around TIL she could see the speaker.
a slim. cold-eyed girl ~Hussy.~ said
MIS-. Bentley with swapping eyes. Not
aloud. though.
And then she was surprised by a
LOUD hearty voice from the aisle. A
paused. Why. how dive DO, Mrs
said.
mo. ! Amt. Mr.. Rowland. even II II
is twenty years since you was our
nelghbori And she returned his
hand pressure with warmth.
\ long time z he and his pretty
young wife had lived across the
road But he had sold his land and
a struck for buster fields. lie want
ed TO know where she was going. lis.
tened interestedly while she told him
with pardonable prlde-how we'll
Ward was doing.
We'll" he said heartily. I'm glad or
that ! was Just going 70 say that IN re
vas IN the market ia be mighty glad to
ave MIN In my employ. ] need clever
young chaps. and the son OF Jim and you
~ bound 10 be clever" he finished gen
lallN. Then he went to the smoker. after
tellng That he would put her on the
right street car. and she leaned back 70
digest the plain illusion dispeiiing tax
not listened.
"He nearly cried. and I don't wonder
You know he always appeared so VOL
dressed and immaculate: and then 10
ave NAV shabby old woman rush In 20
embrace him on. here's our sta
wonder" thought Wards mother.
WIN grim courage. II Ward will have
some friends there She vent back over
MS letters Cheerful letters. fun OF cav
reports OF his progress. Now Sic MAS
sure that under the gayety ran a formal
note. And he never mentioned coming
nome. except vaguely-quite as n he
either her OF his father coming to see
him- Although I s'pose he never
thought we'd have the money" she tried
70 excuse his omission. And s'p9se
ne Is too busy TO come himself" She sat
very stlll with the sleeping baby In her
arms and thought. And gradually she
We're at home. %straining the milk thot
pa. would now be bringing in.
Amt you tired" the children's tired
mother asked presently. You look fag-
No absentIy. 4 Amt tired. Yes /
guess ! am. amt used to travelling o
woman and children got on two statiens
this side Of the city. Mr.. Howiand
Sane from the smoker and chatted with
her. then insisted upon putting her and
her many bundles into "a cab. AND
Mrs Rowland and 7 will look FOR you
and Ward tomorrow evening he cried
She was tempted to get out and make
her way back to the depot. But she was
very tired. and. perhaps. Ward Wouldn'
nave company. She thought with relief
mat she could ask the landiady. and n
he had she could wait tin thev had
gone She wouldn't like TO humiliate
him. The cab stopped in. front Of a tai
nrlck house that seemed imposing In
me glimmer % the arc light near. she
ana rang the bell. \ slovenly maid let
asked. "
The maid stared-then grinned. Lord
no. he never has any here"
Wards mother went stinly M -four
niEhts. Her heart beat fast as the maid
fduped on tic door. Perhaps ne would he
eShamed before the maid. She pictured
nlln. smiling. handsome. vel dressed
And she shrank from her own appear
ance. She half-tu-ned to 20 back And
then the door opened. Ward. sullen
tired-eyed. stood there. Then. with .
whoop. he grabbed her.
IF YOU hadn't come that very hour
he told her later. ia have kicked IN.
bucket. ! had been out OF work so long
] guess lost my grip. And then
couldn't bear TO write TO YOU and father
lie swallowed IN two bites hts eight
dough nut. Before him lay q heap Of
chicken bones. BELIEVE me. when YOU
stretch six meals over six days. YOU cei
a dogcoUe empty feeling. wow throw.
ing M his chest. Il feel like Looking foi
a loh t4l ] md one-if it's a year
1t won't be a year said his mother
ahsently, and told him OF meeting hei
Old u~etgihor. And then when she hnd
finished and both had relnpsed into q
s~on'ented silence Wards hand fondleo
ner old one. she. clicked her teeth sharp.
] - together "Hussv" she L.
herself. To think 1 nearly turned
back