Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 36, Number 290, 26 August 1911 — Page 2
MOTMEIR
By Jules Eckert Goodman
rRt. .WETHERILL. the little mother, has been living a life of labor
and lev alnea tha death of her husband, bringing up six children. Her husband left her a email estate which had sufficed to eupply
neccseltlss and to educate Leonoreone of the two daughters. Leonore. Ardath, the other daughter! Walter, a boy of twenty-one, and the two twin boys of twelve, are with their mother, but WIlLhe oldest boy, has not eeen her or aet foot Inside the house since hie marriage to a chorus girl, four year before. . 1 " '';.' Hla wlf turned him against hla mother and led htm Into auch -travagancee that he haa been driven to embezzle from hie employers to meat hla debta. Finally the thefts, aggregating 11,000, are discovered, and Will geea to hla mother and asks for a loan of that amount, not giving any reason therefor. She explains to him In a kindly way that he haa already over-borrowed on hla share of the estate and that she hasn't the monsy
to land.'' The next dav. to prevent prosecution. Will gives the firm a note
$10,000, forged with hla mother'a name. His mother hears of It andynd. for him to come to her. John Chase, the family attorney, .xcutor of
the estate, la asked by the firm it tne toW. eurml.ee the reason . for It, 1 mmImi tnrouan. . " c- - MRS. WETHERILL: Oood erealnz, John, i re been expcang yon all day. CHASE: I wanted to be sure eiorej"x came. MRS. WBTKErilL: tor of what? CHASE: Of myseVfor one thing. My course r anotnei MRS. WETHERILL: ly, but you're ecowllng to-night, John. rm a atrt tmnm her a oiece J l I believe you've aen that note before? tflta WETHERILL (ttarU at the receives t peper, l recover. Why. yes-of course. 1 gave it to .Will last CHASE: That tart m. Kit-it lsnt true, and yt Sow It tan't That signature la forged. HRB. WETHERILL: That signature Is mine. .... , . . .. .w CHASE: Oueaa I know your handwriting, MAS. WETHERILL: ; ttdossnH-S wr oUrerencewhat ?ou know. It's mine. I say. 1 CHASE: , Wt. look at mo! Doat make mjtg.tr.ni.r.: Now. now, iUt-don t Just your Uwyar-Plew-, MRS. WETHERILL: I swore X wouldn't confess U to sout . - CHASE: ; : . How .re wa to get out of J ftmi MRS? WETHERILL: ; Tho not mutt b mad food. CHASE: i It can t be without the consent of the chttv dean. They at least must know. - MRS- WETHERILL: .', t No-no. they but t all I could, netef: .boar that;.' ii-.v ' i: , v f - ,; : CHASE: ' nt tbe, must. If only fair to them. It SaISt mean, a loa. of pretty near everything to them. W MRS. WETHERILL: int there any other way? CHASE: ! , Yea-Just on: It's the way I advise, too strongly advise. i ,,,;i' ,, MRS- WETHERILL: . sw : ' 1 . CHASE: - Repudiate the note. Let the' law take Its -oJrse. Oh. I know It sounds brutal. MRS. WETHERILL: It do It's mor man oruwu n ur nMtt- CHASE My aolaobjaet la to, protect you. This Is It will happen again only the .beginning. MRS. WBTHKULLj e'o , CHASE: n wllL It you give in this time. He did S test If U works, he'll try at Zgtln. and nnally hell end up In the same Sac. Forgive me. Kit for speaking thle i -way. but ,, -,-. MRS. WETHERILL: ' ' To make It rather hard, John. No other iaa would dare speak that way about my boy my pretence. He's coming home
Seme Facts Abmi My FsnmHy
- By James J. Bertoa. 1 MX brother waa a rising young man. First thing he did after he got a Job waa to raise a check. ' Later in lite be was raised to a tree. He didn't like It at first, but he got the hang of It after a while. One time he ran for office down In Kentucky, but be couldn't shoot straight enough to win. . ' My wife's father was the latieat man I crer knew. Hla name was John Hole, and be waa to laty that when he tlgned his -same he simply pat down the letter "J" tad then punched a hole In the paper. My father waa a policeman by trade he waa a carpenter alao. He was one of the beat carpenters on the force. He'd nail anything. One day a sergeant asked him It be knew bow to make a Venetian blind. "Why. sure," said father; Td jab him in the eye with a club." My father was also a Judge the finest )udge of liquor I ever saw. He was a great lover of wine. Be tell down our cellar cttpa once with five bottles ot wine and tttal break; one of them. . Ton tee, he Crank them before he fell down the steps. But bard drink anally killed him a. piece C le bit him on the bead. V My brother wan a very clever fellow. Everything bo touched teemed to turn Into
note is an ngny He kn to preJln?
does. to-nlgbt. CHASE: What for? To beg off? MRS. WETHERILL: Mr. Lake Is aendlng him. : CHASE: , Well, you Just give me ' .ten mlnutea with him. ' - " " . i MRS. WETHERILL: Look here, John. Will.s my boy t can't get around that and I -can't, and It tells blood tells. There'll be no bard worda oo accusations. ' CHASE: ' ' Thar won't, eh? MRS. WETHERILL: No not one word. CHASE: Well, you Just wait . nd see. MRS. WETHERILL: Tou mean you will call him to account? CHASE: Tou can Just bet I'll do that, and aom more. MRS. WETHERILL: N Then for the first time in my lire rm afraid, John, I must ask you to go. -. "That isn't true, Kit, and you know it isn't. That signature is forged." CHASE: . iati :A -" ' ' MRS. WETHERILL: 1 claim the right of managing my own ' affairs. - - , CHASE: Kit Kittle you' don't meaa that?' , MRS. WETHERILL: I. Col - ' CHASE: Ton mean I'm to keep my hands off? : MRS. WETHERILL: . Exactly that. .-"- ; CHASE: So I'm Just your lawyer, afur all. MRS. WETHERILL: in a matter like this, yea. CHASE: All right. Kit ' mV whole life. It 'seems to me It's been I loved you long before ycc ever met Billy WetberilL There money. He ! vi oqr TOuCnea Ajgbtrcan-J ounjal-lraaiiBem. (W . H mt .4. me once, but I dldnt turn. He was bead push-and-pull In big bank he pushed open the door and pulled out . the dirt My x father drove a cab once in Chi- , caga A passenger whom he had one night complained that he waan't driving fast enough. "Hey, there, get a Wake up the biped." BicbU RcMnwLf Mr. Morton, move on your horse. Sure, I ha vent the heart to beat hla." taid my father. "What's the matter with him," aaked the . passenger, "la he slckf "No, he Isn't sick; he's unlucky, that's all. Tou see, every morning before I put him in harness I toss him to see whether bell have a teed of oats or I'll have a drink ot whiskey, and the pooK beast has lost five mornings running." Business war so bad In Chicago that father went broke. And- he wanted to get out of . Chicago. He went to a railway
life iilif a
'My boy! I've got my boy back! I've got him back again!'
never been another woman like you. Seems to me from the very sart I unconsciously dedicated my whole life to youTou reemed the one thing that kept me alive gave me some purpose In the " world to protect you, watch over you a' little comer In your lL'e. (Ooea totcerd the door.) Good-bye, Kittle. MRS. WETHERILL: John! CHASE: I'll send your papers around to-morrow when you give me the name of your new lawyer. . MRS. WETHERILL: x . ' Tou mustn't mind an old woman who la retting nerroui In her old age. CHASE No. you're right. Kit. I badn't realized what a proprietary interest I've beea taking in you. i MRS. WETHERILL; And I appreciate it deeply. Ill try to do fust' as you say, for, after all. I've noibead on me only one thing my boy mustn't have this disgrace my fam: .- must be kept clean. . i', - 'V " .,., CHASE: V MRS. WETHERILL: Tea.'. CHASE: , - v Then as I take It the girls most know. It fsa't fair they shouldn't it isn't even fair to Will. MRS. WETHERILL: Couldn't you say that I wanted the loan? CHASE: That wouldn't be square. Do you have , any Idea what it's going to mean to them? Poverty that's Just what it is. - -- MRS. WETHERILL: Does It does tt really meaa the wnole estate? Walter's share, too? And th girla', too? CHASE: I'm sorry Kittle- . MRS. WETHERILL: So. yon'r right they should know then. Walter's not home, so well have to act without him. 1 think this is the hardest thing I ever had to do. , . ' CHASE: A whole family ruined to make good one scapegoat God, It doesn t seem square! Guess I'd better go before he comes. Will enCera. When he first appear there 1m a alight pauee, punctuated by exclamations from the girls, who have entered in response to their mother summon, lirs. Wetherilt. shocked by hit ticket office and asked them if they would give him a pass. They refused. And then he asked if they would give blm a haf rate ticket, and they refused him even that "Well, then," he said, "win you give me a quarter and tell me where the nearest drug store is?" "What do you want," asked the agent, "whiskey?" ; No," answered father..! want some strychnnine. I'm going to leave Chicago somehow." . After- a while he came back home and got his old Job on the police force again. He was on the force about two months when another Copper named Flannlgan borrowed a hundred dollars from blm. which he .was to pay the following month. The day before tt waa due Flannlgan didn't have the money to settle. The thought - weighed heavily on him and he couldn't- sleep. So he got up and dressed. and came around to our house and woke father up. , , "It's me," says Flannlgan.' "I ome to tell you that I cant pay you what I owe you to-morrow. The thought of It worried me so much I couldn't Bleep." "Why dldnt you wait until to-morrow T, yelled father. "Mow I can't Bleep, either."
appearance, stand stupefied for (A inThen the note must'be made good. stant. Will, after looking at one after, the other, finally gazes at Chase.) WILL: ' ' .' Well? MRS. WETHERILL;' My poor boy! . WILL: v I Cut ItToiU! None of that maudlin sent!nient WILL addressing the girls)'. You two seem mighty glad to see your brother after four years! Gee, you've grown up, haven't you? You're Quite a lady MRS. WETHERILL: Will! WILL: Well, why don't you all say what you've got to say? What did you make me come jiere to say? - MRS. WETHERILL: Made you come. Will? WILL: You knew all right the man who could fetch me-you knew Lake bw: a halfel,on on me. Well, here I am-and here you are. and here's your family attorney. lttt him set busy. ' ..... MRS. WETHERILL: 1 don't think you quite understand. WILL: Understand, eh? ins to Chase.) : f Why "Don't you do i that don't touch me ' I can't stand it, I tell -you." don't yon begia? Here's the biggest chance of your life for a nice long text Deginmng with, "I told you so," and endZ Now, go to the deviL" . , . ... . CHASE: think, ff you haven't any need for me lH Jus: go. Kit WILL: What, without a single text, a sbgle leason? You're not going to miss a chance lik this! CHASE: God, but I wish I had the right to do what I'd like to do. WILL: And what would taat be preach? CHASE: Beat the hide off you. Exit Chase.) WILL: That old codger how he hatas'me! I MRS. WETHERILL: .. ' Will, 'dear, do sit down and let's have a talk. ' " WILL: ' What's fir use of beating around the bush? Lefs have it out get the worst over first ..-. J t -1 y - ARDATH: : . ' Do yon think It fair. Will, to treat mother this, way when she's trying so hard to do her beatT -r1 WILLS . v Trying -so .hard to do her best? I have the ring1 of the words! I tried to do my best and. .what the devfl I beg your par. v . don good did It do? I've been associating with my wife so long 1 forgot how to talk to a lady. My, but you've grown upend so pretty! I can't seem to get It
The Big Seem from the Powerful i Drama of Mother Love Now Playing at the Hackett Theatre (PabUsbed by aVnalasle f WOllaai A. Ktmir4
through nt bead. a,no . yow i ; older than 1 remember yon MRS. WETHERILL: four years makes a big difference In girt.-' - ------ -v WILL: And the twins they muat be quite big boys now. MRS. WETHERILL: They've just gone to bed. or WILL: No, doa't call .them. I Just can't somehow get used to you you girls, you look so grown. Don't you do that don't touch me I can't stand it If you've got any ' thing to say. for God's sake say tt. Dont sit around trying to be kind. I can't stand It, I tell you. I cant stand it (He drops in a chair, burying his face his hands. Mr. WetheriU tooks at him ndY thai she motions to Leonora and Ardath to leave. They go out quietly. Mrs WetheriU goes up to Will end puts her ' hand on his shoulder. He Jerk bee quickly.) , WtT.T. Don't do that, I tell you! Oh, you! are the girls? MRS. WETHERILL: They'll be back in a few minutes, think Leonora's grown.? Wher So you . WILL: I can't get used to It somehow. 1 cant get used to Leonora being grown, Wby she waa such a young thing. - MRS. WETHERILL: You'd hardly know the twin J" so big now and so clever Really , tbey r. getting almost too much tor me. What I it, boy? v WILL: It my head-there'. -222 ,th it Don't touch me. I m not orurlten't touched a drop Guess It mu,t De because I haven't elept in o.t a veek or more. MRS. Yes. that's it WETHERILL: WILL: That'a what's the matter I haven't had anything to Yes. that's It. with my head. eat since yesterday moralng. X iorov about it Where are you going? MRS. WETHERILL: - Why, to get you something to eat WILL: You came back here. Now. I want to know and know right now what you la- ' tend to do. : "v . MRS. WETHERILL: Do about what. Will? WILL: There's no nee beating about the bush. But I want you to know first I won't go to jail get thatT ' ' MS. WETHERILL: x Win , WILL: . 1 won't I tell you. 1 dont care now. 1 haven't anything to live for, anyway nor any one. Did you know Sadie's left . me? . . MRS. WETHERILL: Yes, no, no has she? WILL: As she put It: "Don't catch me going to sea in a rotten ship the shore for mine." After all I did for her, too! You dont begin to know how I worked for her. I did more than that, too, for her. and now Just when I need her she's left me, thrown me away like you'd throw away an old shoe. She's done with me got all she could out of me. What does she care whether I go to the devil or not whether 1 loved her. like a crazy fool that I was .what does she car if I want to know what yon are going to do why yon sent tor mr . MRS. WETHERILL: I'm aot going to do anything. -WILL: Nothing, eh? MRS. WETHERILL: At least nothing about yon. '.- WILL: What. then?. MRS. WETHERILL: I thought maybe you could Ull me some thing about Walt:r. - WILL: . What's the matter with him? MBS. WETHERILL: - - -Ha went awayjast night I thought maybe you'd know where be was.
fV
"-:,
How should I? MRS. WETHERILL: It was It was Sadie's sister. WILL: What? MRS. WETHERILL? He brought her hero to see xa WILL: He brought that woman to see yen 1 and Leonora here in this house? And yoat MRS. WETHERILL: I only had to tell her that Walter that w had nothing v WILL: . . Oh, she's Ilk her sister, all right. She'd go then. And he's followed her?, MRS. WETHERILL: I dont know. I dont know where be la. WILL: Well, can find out easy enough. Just let- me catch him. rm only waiting for a chanc to get even with that crowd. I should think he'd have learned something from me. If he's In town IH bring hixa ; back. He aha'n't disgrac the family he eha-nt wuij MRS. WETHERILL: WILL: I'm a great on to be talking about die. gracing the family, ain't L though? It's no use. Thr's Just on reason why yew brought me here let'a have it " MRS. WETHJSRILLji I've told you. WILL: ' That's a lie a pretext Both Chase) and Lake told you about Ihe note. They said so to me. Now, come, cards dowa on the table. Now, let's make it a showdown. MRS. WETHERILL;, Very welL WILL: Now, I warn you, - ' MRS. WETHER ILL:' ' Tou needn't warn me, WllL My mtaers quite mad up and has been tor aoss time. r WILL: WelL - " . , MRS. WETHERILL? when I when I ataa my nan to a i the not Is usually mad good. . WILL: When ycmslpi your aas? MR8. WETHESULL: Ton spoke Just now about the family or. WelL this Is my honor to maks'i my notes MY notes you anderstaad.' WILL: ' Chase said -'. MRS. WETHETllLLr . " Th girls are going to help mev , : WILL: , "" The girla Leonora, too?. MRS. WETHERILLr Yes we all stand together the family. WlL.l (breaking down): The family the family that I'vdtsgraee4,. ruined! Chase was right the family the I've beggared! Ton sha'n't do IV Tom aha'n't! I'll kill myself first Ton sha'at rm not worth It! - ' ' MRS. WETHERILL: - My boy my boy! WILL trying to move from her freejh but she holds him): Take your hands off me, I tofl yoav ,1 can't stand it! Take 'eta ' away please. For God's sake, mother. I cant stand It mother, mother! (U aVoee on hi knees, clasping her around thm waist and crying.) - MRS. WETHERILL: My boy! I've got my boy back! Tv got him hack again! . iCurtatn.) ''- - "Why do yen watch the baseball banstins so carefully r asked one woman. "My husband is an enthusiast over the game," replied the other. "I make ft a rule never to discuss household or nulU--nry iiimim with hla except s day . when the hoots tesm Islet X never had such lack. He fell in love In Parts. in Bom sad bought the ring la Naples, Pierrot Did your luck end thsrsT Violet Ob. no! While w were at Mont Carlo he woa enough tee as to get aoarrlsd Ths eontrflwitor wrote. are ertslasl sad nsv fished." The editor answered, eve ttr