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Alex Cabal 2022-09-05 11:16:13 -05:00
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<p>“I aint seen my son before,” she continued, “in eight years. One of my nephews, Elkanah Price, hes a conductor on one of them railroads and he got me a pass to come out here. I can stay a whole week on it, and then itll take me back again. Jest think, now, that little boy of mine has got to be a officer—a city marshal of a whole town! Thats somethin like a constable, aint it? I never knowed he was a officer; he didnt say nothin about it in his letters. I reckon he thought his old motherd be skeered about the danger he was in. But, laws! I never was much of a hand to git skeered. Taint no use. I heard them guns a-shootin while I was gettin off them cars, and I see smoke a-comin out of the depot, but I jest walked right along. Then I see sons face lookin out through the window. I knowed him at oncet. He met me at the door, and squeezes me most to death. And there you was, sir, a-lyin there jest like you was dead, and I lowed wed see what might be done to help sot you up.”</p>
<p>“I think Ill sit up now,” said the concussion patient. “Im feeling pretty fair by this time.”</p>
<p>He sat, somewhat weakly yet, leaning against the wall. He was a rugged man, big-boned and straight. His eyes, steady and keen, seemed to linger upon the face of the man standing so still above him. His look wandered often from the face he studied to the marshals badge upon the others breast.</p>
<p>“Yes, yes, youll be all right,” said the old woman, patting his arm, “if you dont get to cuttin up agin, and havin folks shooting at you. Son told me about you, sir, while you was layin senseless on the floor. Dont you take it as meddlesome fer an old woman with a son as big as you to talk about it. And you mustnt hold no grudge agin my son for havin to shoot at ye. A officer has got to take up for the law—its his duty—and them that acts bad and lives wrong has to suffer. Dont blame my son any, sirtaint his fault. Hes always been a good boy—good when he was growin up, and kind and bedient and well-behaved. Wont you let me advise you, sir, not to do so no more? Be a good man, and leave liquor alone and live peaceably and goodly. Keep away from bad company and work honest and sleep sweet.”</p>
<p>“Yes, yes, youll be all right,” said the old woman, patting his arm, “if you dont get to cuttin up agin, and havin folks shooting at you. Son told me about you, sir, while you was layin senseless on the floor. Dont you take it as meddlesome fer an old woman with a son as big as you to talk about it. And you mustnt hold no grudge agin my son for havin to shoot at ye. A officer has got to take up for the law—its his duty—and them that acts bad and lives wrong has to suffer. Dont blame my son any, sirtaint his fault. Hes always been a good boy—good when he was growin up, and kind and bedient and well-behaved. Wont you let me advise you, sir, not to do so no more? Be a good man, and leave liquor alone and live peaceably and goodly. Keep away from bad company and work honest and sleep sweet.”</p>
<p>The black-mitted hand of the old pleader gently touched the breast of the man she addressed. Very earnest and candid her old, worn face looked. In her rusty black dress and antique bonnet she sat, near the close of a long life, and epitomised the experience of the world. Still the man to whom she spoke gazed above her head, contemplating the silent son of the old mother.</p>
<p>“What does the marshal say?” he asked. “Does he believe the advice is good? Suppose the marshal speaks up and says if the talks all right?”</p>
<p>The tall man moved uneasily. He fingered the badge on his breast for a moment, and then he put an arm around the old woman and drew her close to him. She smiled the unchanging mother smile of threescore years, and patted his big brown hand with her crooked, mittened fingers while her son spake.</p>