The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1915-06-11

husband. Al the first boyish outbreak
Of Chester he would spoil his life by
Gliding him A nature like that Of
Chester, CALLED by suppression and
eensure, 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 motherl" breathed Chester in
tensely. How have m~isIudged her
oh, where is she?"
"She win soon come to see YOU"
pronounced the subtutor. my dear
boy, it has been a labor Of love to help
you. l am proud OF you'll"
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 then 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 "a 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 wal
being made. She tactfully brushes
aside the veil and pressed a phial o
smelling salts to the nostrils Of tn
unconscious lady
Slowly the latter revived. She starel
wonderingly at her gentle nurse. Jus
then Chester Burridge, radiant will
the excitement and triumph OF tn
occasion, sought out his fair fancee.
He was all smiles as he extended t
the girl he loved the jeweled recogn.
ton of his ability. Then his eyes fel
upon the face Of her companion. In
vast gasp the word left his lips;
"Mother!"
She lifted two pleading hands t
wards him. They nestled in his io'
ing, welcoming grasp. Erna sat spell
bound at the unusual scene.
81 am weak" murmured Mrs. Blu
ridge. Get me to my hotel. al
sorry | disturbed you, young lady"
Your mother?" murmured Err
softly. Dear madam, become our car
till we see you comfortable.
Hayden Storm saw them as the
went away in an automobile. His iii
puckered queerly He forgot his di
nifty sufficiently to utter a low whist
Of wonder and amazement. x
What has transpired?" he reflecte
Mother and son and lancet
gether! The direction given to Il
chauffeur vas the hotel. Shall l a.
on my own initiative? Yesl"
Half an hour later he was closett
with Godfrey Burridge in his ON
room. He had a story to tell, and
told 1t well.
1t made the authenticated o.
mule vince to learn that to the 10
wife and her auxiliary. Storm, WI
due the making Of his son.
But, perverse as he was. his hea
recognized the true merits Of the dev
ton Of the wife he had mis!udged.
"You-you are a good man." he sa
humbly. q admit my fault. AS
Mrs. Burridge-"
"Is she not worth retaining
gently intimated the subtutor.
Then both went to the hotel. Stor
was first to present himself to d
happy trio in the room OF Mrs. BIZ
ridge.
A fortunate youth, truly, Chester BIZ
ridge adjudged himself In that sign
q hour Of youths victory. He saw Il
estranged %reconciled, he knew Ii
none would dispute him his brit
now.
n And Hayden Storm smiled, satishy
q supremacy. Then, noble man that
d was. he went back to his lonely to
y his life sweetened by the good he h
g done.
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