No
lawyer in this state will give me an apprenticeship. I don’t have sufficient
funds to attend one of those new legal colleges, and even if I did, it wouldn’t
matter. My father, the esteemed Judge William Howard Morse,” he said with a
sneer, “committed a crime. He abused the privileges of his office. He conspired
to commit fraud.”
“That shouldn’t matter.”
“No, it shouldn’t. But it does. His
acts will be held against me, and no one will ever give me a chance. It’s
unfair. It’s unjust, but that’s the problem, isn’t it? Injustice runs rampant
in the land, thanks to crooked politicians and corrupt officials like my own
father.”
His mother, obviously tired of arguing,
pulled her arm away. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear right now, but
your father would be proud of you.”
“You’re right. I don’t want to hear
anything about him.”
She leaned forward. “William, listen to
me, please. I know you’re angry. I know you’re hurt. But there are things you
don’t understand.”
“I doubt that. I think I have a very
good understanding of the situation. My father got greedy. That’s what it was
all about.”
His mother shook his head. “No, that’s
not what it’s about.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Your father is a sick man. He
didn’t want you to know. He didn’t want me to know for a long time.”
“Sick?” Willie’s heart lurched. Despite
his father’s faults, a bond still existed between them, one that carried with
it too many emotions to name. “What kind of sickness?”
“The worst kind. He won’t live long. I know what he did was wrong, but he did it for us, don’t
you see? He wanted to be sure we would be provided for after…” She broke into
sobs, unable to finish the thought.
But Willie was having none of it.
“Noble intentions don’t justify
wrong-doing, Mother.”
“No, I don’t suppose they do.” She let
out a shaky breath. “But perhaps they lead to forgiveness.”
“No. I can’t forgive him. I won’t.”
Her spine stiffened. She clenched her
hands in her lap. “We’ll discuss it later.” Slowly, she rose. “For now, let me
help you get settled. I can’t do much, but—”
Willie quickly got to his feet. He
placed a hand on her shoulder. “I told you, Mother, I’m not staying.”
The confusion in her eyes grew. “Of
course you’re staying. I’ve made my apologies to you, and as you can clearly
see, I’m in need of your help. I can’t hire anyone to do the gardening, tend to
the domestic chores, or deal with any of the other problems.”
“What other problems?”
“The roof,” she said with a sigh. “It’s
leaking. The runners are coming loose on the stairs. I nearly fell yesterday
when I snagged my heel in a rough spot.” She collapsed against him. “The floors
are a filthy mess, and my hands are raw from trying to cook and clean and
scrub. I’m not suited for this work, William.” She grasped at his arms. “I need
you to take care of me.”
“Mother, I’m sure it’s not quite so bad as you’re making it sound.” He glanced toward the
house. Yes, a few shingles had blown away, but the house stood as sturdy as
ever. “Listen, I don’t make much from my job, but I’ll do what I can to help
out financially.”
He did a few quick mental calculations.
It wouldn’t hurt him to miss an occasional meal, and perhaps he’d ask Mrs.
Godwin to let him move to a smaller room with a lower weekly rate. “I can’t
promise anything, but maybe we could find a cleaning woman to come in once a
week. That would help, wouldn’t it?”
His mother dabbed at her eyes. “But I’m
so lonely, William.” She clutched at his hands. “Won’t you please come home?
Won’t you please stay with me?”
He rose, then helped his mother to her feet. Ignoring her question, he ushered her toward the
house.
Once inside, he surveyed the parlor,
located just off the foyer. This room belonged solely to his mother and served
as
lawyer in this state will give me an apprenticeship. I don’t have sufficient
funds to attend one of those new legal colleges, and even if I did, it wouldn’t
matter. My father, the esteemed Judge William Howard Morse,” he said with a
sneer, “committed a crime. He abused the privileges of his office. He conspired
to commit fraud.”
“That shouldn’t matter.”
“No, it shouldn’t. But it does. His
acts will be held against me, and no one will ever give me a chance. It’s
unfair. It’s unjust, but that’s the problem, isn’t it? Injustice runs rampant
in the land, thanks to crooked politicians and corrupt officials like my own
father.”
His mother, obviously tired of arguing,
pulled her arm away. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear right now, but
your father would be proud of you.”
“You’re right. I don’t want to hear
anything about him.”
She leaned forward. “William, listen to
me, please. I know you’re angry. I know you’re hurt. But there are things you
don’t understand.”
“I doubt that. I think I have a very
good understanding of the situation. My father got greedy. That’s what it was
all about.”
His mother shook his head. “No, that’s
not what it’s about.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Your father is a sick man. He
didn’t want you to know. He didn’t want me to know for a long time.”
“Sick?” Willie’s heart lurched. Despite
his father’s faults, a bond still existed between them, one that carried with
it too many emotions to name. “What kind of sickness?”
“The worst kind. He won’t live long. I know what he did was wrong, but he did it for us, don’t
you see? He wanted to be sure we would be provided for after…” She broke into
sobs, unable to finish the thought.
But Willie was having none of it.
“Noble intentions don’t justify
wrong-doing, Mother.”
“No, I don’t suppose they do.” She let
out a shaky breath. “But perhaps they lead to forgiveness.”
“No. I can’t forgive him. I won’t.”
Her spine stiffened. She clenched her
hands in her lap. “We’ll discuss it later.” Slowly, she rose. “For now, let me
help you get settled. I can’t do much, but—”
Willie quickly got to his feet. He
placed a hand on her shoulder. “I told you, Mother, I’m not staying.”
The confusion in her eyes grew. “Of
course you’re staying. I’ve made my apologies to you, and as you can clearly
see, I’m in need of your help. I can’t hire anyone to do the gardening, tend to
the domestic chores, or deal with any of the other problems.”
“What other problems?”
“The roof,” she said with a sigh. “It’s
leaking. The runners are coming loose on the stairs. I nearly fell yesterday
when I snagged my heel in a rough spot.” She collapsed against him. “The floors
are a filthy mess, and my hands are raw from trying to cook and clean and
scrub. I’m not suited for this work, William.” She grasped at his arms. “I need
you to take care of me.”
“Mother, I’m sure it’s not quite so bad as you’re making it sound.” He glanced toward the
house. Yes, a few shingles had blown away, but the house stood as sturdy as
ever. “Listen, I don’t make much from my job, but I’ll do what I can to help
out financially.”
He did a few quick mental calculations.
It wouldn’t hurt him to miss an occasional meal, and perhaps he’d ask Mrs.
Godwin to let him move to a smaller room with a lower weekly rate. “I can’t
promise anything, but maybe we could find a cleaning woman to come in once a
week. That would help, wouldn’t it?”
His mother dabbed at her eyes. “But I’m
so lonely, William.” She clutched at his hands. “Won’t you please come home?
Won’t you please stay with me?”
He rose, then helped his mother to her feet. Ignoring her question, he ushered her toward the
house.
Once inside, he surveyed the parlor,
located just off the foyer. This room belonged solely to his mother and served
as
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