The Red Cloud chief., 1916-12-14
Bills MOTHER
BY ALICIA RANN.

THE worst of it is--tho secret that
have dreaded so to tell you--the
secret is that am not Margaret Bar
chester. am just Orphan Maggie"
The girl sat very erect among the
cushions Of the window seat I'm the sun
parlor Of Eagles Nest, the newly-built
abode Of Mr.. Barchester, head of tho
gigantic business corporation of which
Bill Pogue was proud to be considered
one Of the promising younger men,
bers.
That's why didn't want to say
that I would marry you; because you
couldn't marry me, OF course, when
you know that was Just an orphan.
Tho Barchesters adopted me.
"Blll. please don't hate me for being
ashamed Of 1t, for It wasn't quite that.
But Mr.. and Mrs. Barchester have been
SO good to mo, and they made mo
promise never to tell anyone that I
was not their truly really daughter
When you began to como to see mo
and when you told mo that you want
ed me to marry you knew that
Daddy Barchester wanted me to like
you. For he is very proud OF you, Bill,
and always calls you his boy.
"Oh. | have tried 80 hard to tell
you, Bill, but just couldn't. Bill, your
mother would hate me IL she thought
l had made you think was really and
truly Mr.. Barchester's daughter"
For the first time. Margaret paused
in her talk, but Bill forgot all the COM
forting and reassuring things he had
intended to say.
She held out two imploring hands
and, now that her little speech was
over, her eyes were filled with the
tears that she had been keeping back
so bravely.
But Bill did not yield to the tempta.
tion to comfort her.
I'm glad you have told me, Mar
garet. OF course, 1t was the only
thing to do" he said, still avoiding
her entreating eyes. I'm glad, too, to
know your reason for not giving me
your answer" He paused again as IL
thinking deeply and then turned and
faced the girl, watch in hand. His
voice was entirely changed when he
said, well, let's start now for that
long-promised visit to my old home.
It's in the other end Of town."
Once or twice as Bills car bore them
swiftly onward, Margaret tried to get
back to the question uppermost in her
mind. Why didn't he tell her that the
fact OF her humble origin made no
difference to him?
They moved less rapidly through the
outskirts Of the city, dropped down
through tho crowded streets and on
beyond to the older section, where Gag.
ging pavements and ill-kept green
squares proclaimed the neighborhood
to have outlived a once-fashionable
era.
At one such corner Bill signaled for
the car to stop.
well get out here and walk to the
house." he said.
Perhaps" she thought. "the street
where Bills mother lives Is being ro
paved"
But In minute more she found this
conjecture to be wrong. It was an un
usually large and imposing mansion
out Of date and In not too good re-
pair, to which Bill turned their steps.
What q perfectly lovely old home,
black walnut entrance door. Secretly
she felt disappointed. II Bill had led
her to some simple little cottage OF
even up flights of stairs to humble
fiat she would have felt that the lit
tie Maggie she had confessed herself
ut Is a fine old home, isn't ,t?" an
swered Bill, with evident satisfaction
"And some twenty-five years ago Il
was the scene of great festivities
Pretty good times still go on within its
walls"
Just then a stout, middle-aged won
an came to the door.
"The mother, please" said Tom, ant
then: "She expects us. Shall we gt
straight to her study?"
He turned to the little room on th'
right OF the imposing though meagerl,
furnished hall and entered, unan
nounced, what was apparently hi
mothers study. Margaret first caugh
the brilliance of the stand Of red &c
raniums that stood in the sunlight o
the window to the south, then the i'm
preston of immaculate cleanliness ant
then the little mother came towart
them from her low rocking chair will
two outstretched hands. Margaret tool
one and Bill the other.
$50 you have brought her!" smilet