The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-18

and comfort In my declining years.
Tears rushed to the proud woman's eyes, but
she did not relent. Her purpose was fixed,
and the tears that she shed only caused her to
feel a deeper hatred to her who had changed
her from a happy mother to a childless and de
serted woman.
"But they shall not see my grief 3 wa hse
resolve. "They shall not exult in any change
in my appearance. No one shall insult me
with pity, and [ will tear him from my heart"
But, as she resolved to do it, a food of ago
nizing emotions rushed over her, and, forget
ting her anger, the mother triumphed. 1t was
but for a moment. A servant entered to an
nounee supper, and though it was her first i'm
pulse to order it away u~ntasted, she remember
ed her determination and, rising, went to the
table as if nothing had happened. Supper
over, she went to her room, where she paced
the floor with rapid steps, eursing, in the bit
terness of her grief, Zoe and her father, but
not her poor misguided son.
Meanwhile Zoe, all unconscious of the storm
in Mrs. Maitland's breast, sat with Wrldo on
he vine-shaded porch.
She was a delicate girl of seventeen, who
had been all her life at school, and who knew
nothing of the usages or conventionalities of
society. She was very beautiful, and of a
style rarely seen at the South. Her slender
and graceful figure, large timid blue eyes, and
long fair silken hair, which she arranged sim
ply, yet Enthusiastically, added to regular features
and a pure and delicate complexion-almost
too colorless, had not every emotion brought
the rich blood to her cheek-had at first sight
made an impression on Waldo's heart, which
her simple manners, sweet disposition, and
g%uiltless nature had deepened into ardent love.
He had spared no pains to win her affections,
and she loved him with all the depth and ar
dor of a young girls first love. The only
thought that married her perfect happiness was
" H. -4 IL - III
her-a fear which Waldo had laughed to scorn.
But now he admitted to her that his mother
had wished him to marry some one else, and
that, therefore, she did not like Zoe but he
pursuaded her that when once married, all
would bewell, and urged a speedy union. Zoe
hesitated.
"Oh, Waldo !" she whispered, "not without
your mothers consent. We are both young.
Let US wait for that"
Waldo's only reply was a burst Of repeoach-
es. He declared that she did not love him, or
that if she did she would trust to him And
when she burst into tears, he suddenly chan
ged his tone to one Of tenderness, and finally
wrung from her a reluctant consent to be mar
ried the next day.
And married they were. The poor bride
with a vague foreboding of coming evil at her
heart, and the groom vainly trying to forget
his mothers words, and endeavoring to think
that all WOulu yet DC well. LII 1act, he Qlu De-
lieve that when once his mother found that it
was all irreparably done, she would forgive her
only and idolized son. and that, once acquaint-
ed with Zoe, her many excellencies would gain
her a place in his mothers heart.
The discharge of Mr.. Lyman shook his faith
a little; but he looked upon it as his first out
burst of her Indignation, and waited, hoping
for some signs of relenting. None came.
His letters were returned unopened. His
---l-olo 80, ,-Ion1 eanf - I1n, +o-@Lo, III
his favorite servant, Byron, but aside from this
came no message, no word from his mother.
At first he needed this little, engrossed as he
was in his young bride; but soon came the old
longing to see his mother.
"Let me but see her once" he said to Zoe,
"and all will be we'll"
So. dressing himself with unuaual care, he
took his wife, and with her entered the parlor
at the old homestead, now doubly dear to him.
How everything reminded. him Of that last
night when he and his mother had sat there
together; that mother whom he so fondly loved.
It could not be that she would not relent. No!
She must, like him, feel that yearning tender
ness that was urging him continually to seek
her.
The woman seized his hand and shook it
warmly, e~xclaiming, again and again, "Oh,
Marss Waldo! Use mighty glad to see yc
honey; but [ don't dars to tell Missus So"
one = mighty SOIlCO, III " U u hOpOOJ SdJ |
nothin' about ye. Never delude to him. SEE
she, and 1 don't dars to, Marss Waldo"
"Well, a%untie, take this to her, and you
needn't say . word, }" he said, giving her a card.
And as she turned, he paced up anc down the
room, feeling more doubtful of his reception
than he would even acknowledge to himself.
es'Trin't no USE" said the servant, entering
the room and handing him his card again.
"Missus says, tell the gentleman he IS mistak-
49,. T Loro oof +bo bOnOr Of hiu oonuoiDtonc |
I hain't got no son."
81 am not to be foiled So" exclaimed Wal
do, and bidding his wife remain where she was
for a few moments, he pass into his mothers
room.
She was sitting in her usual seat by the win
dow. looking into the garden; her work hung
~listlessly from her hand, and her face betoken-
ed her though is.
So Waldo deemed as, with a heart filed
with love and sorrow, he laid his hand softly on
her shoulder, and said simply, "Dear Mother"
She turned upon him a look full of tender
ness, and said, gently, "Have you come, then, !
Waldo, at last Are you tired of your new
toy, and ready to give up that artiulgirl for
your mother?"
"Madam," he replied, h~aughtily, "you are
speaking of my wife. [ cannot permit her to
be insulted, even by my mother. She is in the
house now, waiting to ask your forgiveness
poor child when | alone was to blame. Viii
you not forgive her and your ~penitent son ?"
"Never!' exclaimed Mrs. Maitland; "never
will 1 forgive you; neeer till she is dead"
"Fiendish woman" began Waldo, in the
greatest excitement, but his mother interrupt
ed him:
COOP she said, her eyes flashing like a tt
gress, as she poured upon him all the invectiyes
that could be imagined, till, out of breath, she
paused; then before he could have time to re-
ply, she rose, saying, "Shall I call upon the
servants to rid me of your intrusion, or will
you retire 2"
"MadamP' he replied, iercely, edo not ven
ture to let a menials hand touch me. leave
you to your own reflections; 1 do not envy you
your company"
He bowed and left her; hastilystcpping into