The Lamar register. [volume], February 11, 1914, Image 3

About The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952

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KNOWN AS “BIDDY” M'REE
By MAURICE SMILEY.
About the only reason for calling
him ‘ Biddy’’ waa that he was such a
“mother boy,” M most of the folks
in the neighborhood called him.
Not that they looked down on him
for being so devoted to his mother.
That is. those whose opinion really
amounted to anything. Of course
some of the light-heads made fun of
a man of twenty-five still “tied to
his mother’s apron strings.” as they
rang the change* on the old cheap
witticism. Tom didn’t care for that.
Perhaps, however, he really did care
after Millie Lee took the district
school. He didn’t want her to make
fun of him.
After Tom’s father had worn him
self out on the old place and had
been gathered to his fathers, Tom’s
two brothers and sisters had “married
off” one by one. But he stayed on,
wringing by unremitting industry a
scanty living from the rocky soil.
If Tom had ever given any thought
to setting up a home of his own. he
had resolutely banished it. '
“It’s a shame, Tom.” said his moth
er. wistfully, “that you should be tied
down here on this old place to an old
woman, when you ought to be setting
up a home of your own.”
“All right, then,” he replied, with a
smile. “I’ll bundle you off to the poor
house and strike out for the city.”
Then he caught his mother up in
his arms and said, tenderly:
“Never you mind, mother. I’m not
worrying about It and why need you?"
But all the same Tom did a good
deal of worrying. For one thing. Mil
lie Lee. while she seemed to like him
more than any of the other young
men in the neighborhood, was yet a
little too fond, apparently, of Bud
Brighton to preserve Toms enure
peace of mind.
Then there was the matter of that
black streak down in the pasture
Tom hardly dared to hope that there
was coal down there. Secretly hf
was sinking a rude shaft, though he
told his mother he was only digging a
well to Increase the supply of water
for the stock.
Then came the day when he “struck
It." He could hardly realise all that
It meant when his drill hit the hard,
black substance which proved to he
an excellent quality of eoel.
When he went home that night two
surprises awaited him. His mother
was seriously 111 and Millie Lee was
waiting on her.
For reasons of his own, he did not
say anything about finding coal In
paying quantities. He would stake
his chance with Millie on the merits
of the case and If she cared for him
at all. she would accept a hard-work
ing. poor man.
He watched her as she prepared
the evening meal and a sudden re
solve took possession of him.
“It looks awful homelike to see you
around the old place, Millie." he said.
“I've got something on my mind that
I have had there for a long time."
She paused In the act of taking the
biscuits from the oven and possibly
the heat from the stove made her
face flush.
“I know I ain’t good enough for
you.” he went on, bluntly. “I haven’t
had any education. I’ve just been
taking care of mother ever since I
was a boy and I halnt had the chance
that lots of young men have had
You know what the old place is.
There ain’t much to be made out of It.
It wouldn’t support three people very
well, specially when one of ’em has
been used to better things.”
Millie was nervously setting the
table by this time. She nodded as he
paused but neither of them noticed
the disheveled figure peering in the
doorway, the eyes wild with fever.
“I don’t mind telling yon. Tom. that
I would marry you if it was not for
your mother. There Isn't enough for
us all. You will have to do something
about her.”
Perhaps she put the test badly, for
Tom thought she really meant that he
must give up his mother and let her
shift for herself. The thought cut
him like a knife and he stared out
Into the night too pained to say any
thing for a time.
“I can’t do that, Millie,” he said
slowly. “I can’t leave my old mother
—not even for yon. I didn’t think you
was that kind. I thought you was dif
ferent."
Before she eonld explain Tom had
passed into the bedroom, to give s
cry of alarm a moment later and
rush out into the darkness.
He found her wandering aimlessly
along the road to the town, babbling
Incoherently In her delirium about
"getting out of the way.”
Strong and tender arms bore her
hack to her home and beside the bed
where Tom was kneeling Millie Lee
put her hands on his shoulder and
paid:
*1 didn’t mean It the way yon
thought, dear. I was only trying you.
I only meant—that—I— M
"That you love me too much to be
a burden to mef” asked Tom In a
whisper of fierce joy as bis mother
dropped off Into a calm sleep.
Millie nodded aa she put her head
where her hands had been
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ow ” L, j :
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COOVER THE TAILOR
US 1-2 South Main St.
CHAS. W. COLBY WM. F. MILLER
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WHOLESALE A RETAIL
GROCERS
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I. ! 'OWN, PRES. A. M. IOME VMM ME
w e. oould. oaara
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
Capital Stock - $50,000.
Surplus ... $40,000.
$lOO,OOO. To Loan on Farms
7. Per Cant.
Liberal terms, optkmel prepayment. Am also la the market lor
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1. H.IMYEHS.
O, M. DBS E T. Mao lAVH JL E <l**ll
CAPITAL SSS.SOO
THE LAMAR NATIONAL BANK
m,uw ■**» nan or siiui
LAMAS, COLORADO
“ M. tom, a rn. A. Pi
W. wut pour baMM, IMS* or nUi, tod .Ok «»kj
MU, aritad 1 and iXurMw b—Mr,
Hardware, Furniture,
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THE LAMAR HARDWARE GO.
Register and Globe-Democrat $?