Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1919-04-16

socations of tho past
Silence, scowls, much drumming OH
table tops with finger tips. Richard
bit the tip off Il cigar savagely.
"My God, fellows" cried Tom, g.
mothers fifty-seven; ffty-seven only
and she's old! She looks seventy.
We're bunch of cads, the whole
kiboodlc of US. Dammit"
The brothers took the ccnsurc
without protest.
"What's her life bccn!' demand
ed Tom. "She came off the farm and
married dad. And they were poorer
than scrub whites and had to furnish
their homes on installments. She
had this holy-rolling bunch of rough
necks one by one that tied her down
and took away her looks and her wo-
manhood and made her old even be-
fore dad died. And then she lost
him. We're old enough now to rea-
lie what she faced, the morning she
returned to her place in the news
paper Office to fight the battle of life
for thoughtless scum like ourselves.
And think of the stunt she's put over
since! Boys, does it strike you that
this is the first time to our knowledge
that mothers been to New York in
her life?"
"Go on!-rub it in!' prompted
Ted.
Fellows" concluded Tom quickly
because he could not 60 on, its
up to us to see that she spends the
rest of her days in joy-riding. It's
up to us to help her make up for
lost time"
"How?"
Heres my share: A week ago the
paper wanted to send me to Europe
to get line on international politics.
turned it down because Lily could
MT leave her crippled sister. I had
no heart to go alone. The papers
sending Saunders. But here's where
gets disappointment. Pm
going to Europe-and by God, moth
cr's going with mc!'
"At her age?"
"What about her age? She's only
All mother wants is a
resting spell and chance to
come back"
"Go in and tell her so," ordered
George. "Maybc it'll help her to
recover"
Tom left the room to talk it OYER
with his mother. AS he closed tho
door behind him, he came face to
face with strange woman. She was
dressed in long heavy coat and
hat of gorgeous red plush. Her fea-
lures were burned out and old, her
eyes tired. Something allied her lips
She could not speak distinctly.
T'm looking for two-ffty scven,"
she said.
"What do you want with two-fifty-
scvcnw
Il just heard story up in Man.
hatten Tabernacle that Tom Purses
mother was in the crowd there the
other night and tainted. A police
man told me she was brought here"
"Shc was. But you can't sec her."
"But | must see her."
"Who are you?"
She told him but the name made
little or no impression on him. 81
new your mother when we were girls
lp in Vermont together. We were
chumS, she and l." said the woman.
"What do you want with my moth
er just now"
81 FAINT to visit her. l want to
ell her somethin'."
"You can't do it; she's il" said tho
ION dctcrmincdly.
BADLY ill.,"
ayes"
"She's--liablc-to--dic"
eyes"
The woman's eyes stared at him
,lankly for a moment. Her crippled
Ups formed small round O. "Shc'd
oughtn't to die without knowing"
knowing WHAT"
81 couldn't explain so you'd ap-
oreciate. Listen!-will she live
through The night?"
"Wc-hopc-so"
The woman backed away, turned,
started swiftly for the elevator. "I'll
be back! she called. 81 must 20 to
ny apartment.
Tom went in to his mother.
Half an hour. later came a tap at
Inc door. The nurse answered the
summons.
"There's Il women out here says
she must see you, MI. Purse"
Tom went out. The woman with
Inc rcd plush hat was there again.
"ls she any better, MI Purse"
ga bit-yes."
"But | can't sec herr"
"No."
"lf she wakes up and recognizes
things, will you give her this notc?,,
"Pcrhaps. 1t depends on her con-
lition. What's in it,"
81 heard your speech. It's sort of
4 surrender"
"My spccch?"
"No; that note"
The nurse called to him. "You're