The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-15
BILLS MOTHER
BY ALICIA RANN.

The girl sat very erect among tn,
cushions Of the window seat in the su,
parlor Of Eagles Nest, the newly.buil
abode OF Mr. Barchester, head OF tn,
gigantic business corporation of which
BIZ Pogue was proud to be considered
one OF the promising younger mem
bers.
That's why didn't want to say
that l would marry you; because YOU
couldn't marry me. Of course, when
you knew that / was Just an orphan
The Bsrchesters adopted me.
Bill. please don't hate me for beius
ashamed Of 1t. for It wasn't quite that
But Mr. and Mrs. Barchester have been
90 good to me, and they made me
promise never to tell anyone that |
was not their truly really daughter.
When you began to come to see me-
and when you told me that you want.
cd me to marry you l knew mat
Daddy Barchester wanted me to like
you. For he lie very proud Of you, BIZ,
and always calls you his boy.
"Oh, have tried SO hard TO tell
you. Bill. but just couldn't. Bill, your
mother would hate me II 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
fortins 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, it 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 II
thinking deeply and then turned and
faced the girl, watch in hand His
voice was entirely changed when he
said, We'll, let's start now for that
Compromised 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 the crowded streets and on
beyond to the older section, where sag.
ging pavements and ill-kept green
squares proclaimed the neighborhood
10 have outlived once-fashionable
era.
At one such corner Bill signaled for
he car to stop.
Wen get out here and walk to the
house." he said.
Perhaps" she thought, the street
where Bills mother lives Is being re-
,aved."
But In minute more she found this
on3ecture to be wrong. Il was an I'M
sually large and imposing mansion.
ut Of date and in not too good re-
air. to which Bill turned their steps.
What perfectly lovely old home"
he said as they neared the massive
lack walnut entrance door. Secretly
he felt disappointed. II Bill had led
er to some simple little cottage or
ven up flights of stairs to a humble \
at she would have felt that the lit q
9 Maggie she had confessed herself b
be would find warmer welcome ]
1T Is fine old home, isn't it?" an |,
vered Bill, with evident satisfaction. {,
Ind some twenty-five years ago It 2
rs the scene of great festivities. II
retty good times still go on within its "
alls." =,
Just then stout, middle-aged woru- n
! came to the door. d
The mother, please" said Tom, and
en-: She expects us. Shall we 10 "
raight to her study?" Il
He turned to the little room on ths o,
int OF the imposing though meageriy "a
hall and entered, unan. of
unced, what was apparently HIS
'ther's study. Margaret first caught al
. brilliance of the stand OF red ge-
NUNS that stood in the sunlight Of pl
} window to the south, then the i'm al
sssion Of immaculate cleanliness and 10
IN the little mother came toward wi
I'M from her low rocking chair with Sc
D outstretched hands. Margaret took an
, and Bill the other. co
So you have brought herl" smiled tn,
mother, with tone that gavu hi
rgaret all the reinsurance she had col
ged for. And then she found her sit
seated cozily in a low rush-bot- Inv
chair at the mothers side and Bill ed
another. puI
II is wonderful thing to me-" the hal
Their was saying In her kind voice. the
at not one boy who has left US che
made good has been ashamed ant
IN the time came, to bring the girl pic
has chosen for his wife back TO pla
old home. And not one has beer die
AIMED to introduce me as his moth ticI
The old lady paused and laughed dou
then wiped tear from her kindly wa
eyes. And some twenty of them The
e made good and married. But BIZ smi
always my boy especially. How and
do ] remember the day started pok
of on his first days work at Bar new
sters. He was such a shy. com spr'
lovable little chap in those DAYS. mel
argaret looked at the man she We
d in open-eyed amazement. and
orphan Maggie End Orphan Bill to
laid. rather sheepishly. we
wright, 1916. by the Mcclure Nswspa quito
per Syndicate3