One hundred choice selections Volume 10, nos. 37-40

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 Excerpt: ...will be so nice to have one, for she will like me for your sake, won't she? What does it matter what she is like? She is your mother and that is enough for me." "Hate me, then, Violet, for I was base and cowardly and untrue; I was ashamed of her and I wanted to get her out of the way before any one, not even you, should know, and I hurt and wounded her who would have done anything for her ' Laddie,' as she calls me, and she went away disappointed and sad and sorry; and I can't find her." "We will find her, never fear, your mother and mine, Laddie." Eighteen months passed. The search for the old mother was altogether fruitless. The wedding had been postponed from time to time, for Violet had said, "We will find her first. We must find her, Laddie, and then we will talk of the wedding." They had not given up the hope to find her nor their efforts to do so, but it no longer seemed a reason for postponing the marriage and the wedding-day had been set. One morning, a few days before the wedding, Dr. Carter was making his rounds in a great London hospital. He had been bending over an interesting case in the accident ward, and rising to pass on, found that he had dropped from his coat some flowers that Violet had given him. They had fallen by some quick movement onto the next bed. An old woman's arms were stretched outside the bedclothes, and one of the hard-worked hands had closed involuntarily over the flowers. "Here they are, sir," said the nurse. "Let go of the flowers; there's a good woman; the gentleman wants them. She's not been conscious since they brought her here. We don't know her name or nothing; but I fancy she is Scotch, for I heard her say ' Laddie ' several times." The words seemed to catch the...