Page:Lippincotts Monthly Magazine-70.djvu/680

672 "Oh, hold your tongue!" replied his wife. "You would let him go on as though he had no home; but I'm his mother, and I want him to know he isn't forgotten."

"You're ruining him, that's what you're doing!" growled Joseph, feeling for his pipe as he strolled into the front room.

His wife grunted disdainfully and continued to arrange a dainty little supper for her pet on the sideboard. She then asked Sam to get the checker-board and play a game with her.

He obeyed with quiet good-nature that gave no evidence of the disappointment her request caused him. He had looked forward to a quiet stroll in the twilight, where he could think out his secret anxiety about Herbert's real attitude towards Helen.

"Sam," said his mother softly in the midst of their game, with a keen glance over her spectacles, "your father's been hintin' that our boy isn't going quite right. What do you think?"

Sam did not reply; he seemed puzzled over his next move.

"You've got something on your mind, Sam, I know it," said his mother; "now, you've just got to tell me."

"It's not for me to tell you,"—he made his move,—"ask the boy himself."

"I have asked him, many's the time, and he only laughs and kisses me; but I feel something is wrong, and you don't want to hide it from me, because it will only make things more fretting in the end."

"I have nothing to tell you more than you can see for yourself."

"Do you think he's been drinking?"

"I know he has," replied Sam with a determined look.

His mother jerked back in her chair. "How do you know it?" she demanded petulantly.

"Because I've seen it."

"Well, I haven't and your father hasn't, and it's very strange you should be the only one."

"You asked me," he returned quietly.

"Yes, because I thought you'd be just to the boy."

Sam was silent.

"I might have known what you'd say. You've always been a bit jealous of the lad."

"It's your move, mother."

Mrs. Monroe jerked a checker from one square to another heedlessly. "Poor boy, he's pecked at and slandered by the lot of you! It's good he's got a mother who can understand him and friends who like him."

Her son looked at her. "Did you mean to do that?" he asked. "I'll jump you."

She drew the checker back and made another move.