Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-01

~ )NAHUE had made the most OF
his scoop for the Star and,
IL t it was needless TO-. to say 81 the the
to Mr. Harmon. He had not even for
moment suspected his son. To be
sure, he had never credited Charley
with much business ability, but the
knowledge that he had stolen the
bonds from the. safe and allowed an
innocent man to go to prison was
almost more than he could bear.
At first his anger was so great
that he determined to prosecute to
the full extent of the law, but Mrs.
Harmon Frustrated with grief, per-
suaded him to be lenient. He finally
compromised by sending Charley out
west to his uncle,s ranch, where he
was to work hard for small wages
until he had made good.
Charley was too weak in his make
up to protest. He knew that his abil-
1ty would never bring him in any of
the good things of life; he was too
easy-going to work his way out of
difficulties himself, and he comforted
himself with the knowledge that in
a few years the excitement would
have blown over and he could come
back to New York again.
Alone with his mother in the big
house on Madison avenue, his head
buried in her lap, her fingers strok-
ing his crisp, fair hair, he told more
Of his inner feelings in a few words
his life. She loved him, she would
stand by him, for in spite of what
he had done he was still her boy.
There were tears in mis- blue eyes
when he finally raised his head to
look at her, but his glance did not
falter.
"They all think I'm bad clean
81, -
never forgive me and I've disgraced
you all, but I'm sorry, mother. want
you to know that"
Mrs. Harmon was crying softly and
Charley went on speaking as though
he had to tell her what was in his
heart. !
IT got into a tight hole gambling,
and I was desperate. For the time I
didn't think, and then was sure they
would let Neil off because of his good
standing. But dad was hard; he in
tended to prosecute. Then she came
her. She was different from anyone
| had ever known. At first liked
her because she was beautiful, but
afterwards I loved her for what she
was. 1 had never met anyone like
her before. She made me fight for
when I held her in my arms against
her will she cried. I felt that If the
time ever came when she would come
to me willingly, I'd ask nothing more
of life. I know I'm weak,I know I'm
rotten, outside the pale. but If could
nave had a woman like that things
might have been different. Ever since
that day when learned who she wa )
I've tortured myself with the fact
that she belonged to Barry Neil al:
along: that she only endured me be-
cause of him. It's been hell moth
err; all the rest has been nothing in
comparison with that"
And Mrs. Harmon looked at her son
and suffered and understood in spite
of herself. She had come to the place
where she was forced to realize that
her own love was not enough; that
her own loving care and tender
watching and understanding heart
were not sufficient to hold her boys
heart. She was learning the lesson
that all mothers learn sooner or later,
that her boy was man and his
heart cried out for a mate to whom
he would give love far stronger
than any filial devotion he might feel
for the woman who had brought him
into the world.
But he was telling her about 1t,
that was something: and some day
when all this had blown over he
might meet another woman who
would mean as much to him. But
she did not tell him that. She sim
plv sat there listening with all her
heart to what he had to tell her. She
was a wise mother