The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1921-10-28

they quit by the 'undreds an went |
over to the rebel side. leavin' Don |
Ricardo an Emery an m'ybe fifty O.
the gentry In the palace. In course
they fought to a finish; 'ristocrats. all
OF them. they 'ad to die Hghtin' or
facin' firin' squad"
Billy nodded. He had heard the |
tale before. including the recital Of the |
sainted 'EDery's gallant dash from the |
blazing palace In an effort to save Don
Ricardo's only child. girl OF seven.
and Of his capture and subsequent |
execution.
'aThat ended the revolution" Moth |
err jerks continued. "But 'ere's some
think I've never told Twin soul.
Shortly before Emery was hexecuted.
e told me where ed i'd the y0ungster
lin culvert out on the MalecOn; so
I 'ired a f0ur-wheeler an went out an
rescued the pore lamb. i'd 'er until
the harrival o. the next fruit steamer,
wen shipped 'er to New Orleans in
care o. the stewardess. Hi 'ad 'er
put In the Catholic convent there, for
as Emery said ''Enrietta. keep an
eye on the little nipper, an do yer
damndest to see she's raised iydy.
-'Er father was gentleman, an you
never want to forget e made you Mrs.
Colonel jerks So Hive made lydy
out o her. Willie: education. pianner
lessons. paintin'. singin', an deport-
mint. After she graduated from the
convent. 'ad her take course in the
University o. Callfornia-New Or
leans wasn't 'ealthy for 'er, an she
needed chynge o. climate-an' for
the last two years she's been teachin'
in the Ugh school in Los Angeles"
sand you haven't seen her In all
these years?" Geary demanded.
~Not look. Willie. She's been aft
er me ever since she graduated from
the convent to let her come 'ome an
visit ME. but Hive told 'er to wyte--
that I'd be comm soon to visit her.
An now, s'help me, she won't wait no
longer; she's comm to visit me! Cor.
Willie. she's on her w'y!"
$50 this cablegram would indicate"
Geary observed. Nevertheless. Moth
err. I'm at loss to know why you
should Feel SO cut up over the Inn
pending visit"
There was real fear in Mother
Jenks' tear-dimmed eyes. II cawnt
let 'er see me-" she walled. II wasn't
this wy wen my sainted Emery hen
trusted the lamb to me 1t wasn't until
awfter they hexecuted Emery that I
commenced to slip-an' now look at
me. Look at me, Willie Geary; look
at me, s'y. Wot do yer see? Aw.
don't tell me Tn young an 'andsOme.
for know wot I am. I'm frOwsy.
drunken. disreputable baggage, with
no heducation or nOthink. All along.
hever since she learned to write me
letter, I've been 'Enrietta wilkins to
'er, an Mother jerks to every beach
combin' beggar In the Caribbean
tropics. I've lied to 'er, Willie. I've
wrote 'er az 'ow 'er fawther. before .
died. give me enough money to hedu-
cate 'er like lydy-"
Again Mother jerks grief overcame
her. "Gor', Willie, I amt respectable.
She's. comm to see mean I cawn't
let 'er. She mustn't know 'Ow got
the money for 'er heducation-sellin'
'ell-fire to a pack Of rotten dOrgs an
consortin' with the scum Of this stink
in ole! Oh. Willie. you've got to 'elp
me. cawn't ave 'er comm to Ell
Buen Amigo to see me. an ! cawn't
ruin 'er reputation by CALM on 'er in
public at the 'Otel Mateo. Oh, Cor.
Willie. Mothers come. q cropper.
Willie agreed with her. He patted
the sinful gray head of his landlady
and waited for her to regain her COM
posture. the while he racked his agile
brain for a feasible plan &c fit the
| emergency.
"She been picturin' me in 'er mind
| all these years. Willie-picturin' a
! fraud" walled Mother jerks. IF she
sees me now, wo. shock she'll get,
pore sweetheart-an' 'er the spittin'
himage of a hangel. And oh, Willie,
while sbe don't remember wOt ]
lscked like. think o. the shock If she
meets me! In 'er lawst letter she said
rs 'ow was the only hanchOr she had
In life. Flo, yes. A sweet-lOOkin'
hsnchor am-an' Hi was 'Opin' to die
before she found bout. I've got q
hanuerism in my cart, Willie so the
surgeon on the mail boat tells me, an
wen I go. Til go like-that!" Mother
jerks snapped her cigarette-stained
| fingers. I'm fifty-seven. Willie. an
since my sainted Emery passed away,
/ 'aven't been no blOOmin' hangel."
She wrung her hands. "Oh. wy In ell
couldn't them harteries ave busted In
time to save my lamb the 'umiliatin'
knowledge that she's be'oldin' to the
likes o. me for wOt she's got-an' 'ow
got it for 'er."
Billy Geary had bright idea.
"Well.' he said, "why not die-tefn-
pOrarily-if you feel that way about
Il? You could come back from the
grave after she's gone"
But Mother jerks shook her head
NO" she declared. "While Dolores is
self-supportin' now, still. II anythink
!