The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-09-11

ASO0h0 Mt INV hAot UOytN AFUlUItdA
Of Chester he would spoil his life ny
Gliding him A nature like that Df
Chester, CALLED by suppression aid
censure, would revolt. She had begged
of Mr.. Storm to become his guardian,
and gave him money to see that the
boy did not feel like a beggar.
MY mother!" breathed Chester in
tensely. How | have misiudged her
oh, where is she?"
she will soon come to see YOU"
pronounced the subtutor. my dear
boy, it has been a labor of love to help
you. | am proud of youl"
He led the talk into other channels.
He spoke of Miss Erna Winsted, whom
Chester loved, and wondered how his
stern ~exacting father would take the
announcement of their engagement.
Miss Erna Winsted, dainty, petite
and lovely, trembled with suspense
and her thrilled with delight when
the graduation exercises began the
next day. She had selected a shad-
owed corner of the great auditorium,
to be alone and shielded from obser-
walton. so she could enjoy the rapture
of seeing her brave lover receive the
first prize.
Near to her was seated a lady we'll
dressed and deeply yelled. She, too,
seemed to be intensely interested in
the main orator of the occasion. Erna
could not fail to observe evidences of
the deepest emotion.
The stranger breathed TREMENDOUSLY,
once she seemed to sob and weep.
Then some incoherent words, appar-
emily of joy, left her lips.
And then, with a slight moan she
swayed to n side, and, her head sink
ing directly into the lap of the aston
ished Erna, she lay there insensible.
Miss Winsted did not wish to create
any commotion, for just then the pre-
sentation of the oratorical prize was
being made. She t~actfully brushed
aside the veil and pressed a phial OF
smelling salts to the nostrils of the
unconscious lady.
Slowly the latter revived. She stared
wonderingly at her gentle nurse. Just
then Chester Burridge, radiant with
the excitement and triumph of the
occasion, sought out his fair fiancee.
He was all smiles as he extended to
the girl he loved the jeweled recogni-
ton of his ability. Then his eyes fell
upon the face of her companion. In a
vast gasp the word left his lips;
Mother"
She lifted two pleading hands to-
wards him. They nestled in his 10y
ing. welcoming grasp. Erna sat spell
bound at the unusual enc
Il am weak" murmured Mrs. Bur
ridge. Get me to my hotel. l am
sorry l disturbed you, young lady"
Your mother?"o murmured Erna
softly. Dear madam, become u care
till we see you comfortable.
Hayden Storm saw them as they
went away in an automobile. His lips
puckered queerly. He forgot his dig
nifty sufficiently to utter a low whistle
of wonder and amazement
What has ~transpired?" he reflected.
Mother and son and fiancee-to-
gether! The direction given to the
chauffeur was the hotel. Shall | act
on my own initiative? Yes!"
Half an hour later ne was closeted
with Godfrey Burridge in his own
room. He had a story to tell, and he
told it well.
1t made the authenticated old
mule vince to learn that to the lost
wife and her auxiliary, Storm, was
due the making of his son.
But, perverse as he was, his heart
recognized the true merits of the devo-
ton of the wife he had misjudged.
"You-you are a good man" he said
humbly. Il admit my fault. AS to
Mrs. Burridge-"
gently intimated the subtutor.
Then both went to the hotel Storm
was first to present himself to the
happy trio in the room of Mrs. Bur.
ridge.
A fortunate youth. truly, Chester Bur.
ridge adjudged himself in that signal
hour of youths victory He saw the
e~stranged reconciled, he knew that
hone would dispute him his bride
now.
And Hayden Storm smiled, satisfied
supremacy. Then. noble man that he
was, he went back to his lonely toll,
his life sweetened by the good he had
done.