Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-12-28

quoted her about some triling matter now
was a good time to show my independence
so replied, without looking up, that must
90 out. for had something to do in the barn.
I was going, when she called me back.
"Harold listen to me-"
I turned and looked at her. Her eyes
were full of tears, but the lines about her
mouth were fixed.
"Now, Harold, you must not go out this
morning have forbidden it.'' sa.s.
NV spirit was aroused in a moment; it
was the first time she had spoken so decided
": now was the time to show that she was
nothing to me. whistled a tune, and walked
quietly out of the house as far as the barn
then, as there was nothing to interest me
there, and my purpose was accomplished,
returned slowly to the house
NV stepmother was sewing when entered.
Her face was very pale, and it grew paler as
came in. She'.rosc Immediately and took
nv hand in hers The grasp Of that little
hand was firm, and there was resolution in
eyery movement that did not dream Of re-
ssting.
"You will come with me, Harold" she
said, and followed mechanically.
She took me to my room, placed me in
chair and then with the same calm, dignified
step, she went out and locked the door.
was so overcome with astonishment, that
I made no resistance That she, so young,
and beautiful, almost timid in her gentleness,
should have taken ssuch decisive measures
was to me perfectly unaccountable. She had
never before directly commanded or forbid
den me to do anything. She had seemed to
| try to win my love, not my obedience; but
now she had taken an entirely different
course she had exerted an authority over
me, which had forgotten she could claim,
and shown spirit for which was totally
unprepared. .#
At first was very angry. Visions Of the
cruel stepmother came floating back again
over nv mind, but fainter than at first. |
would brave her, I said to myself. I would
never have it said that was conquered by a
girl of eighteen; because she came into my
fathers house, because she sat down in my
mothers place, owed her no obedience, she
owed no love to me. | wanted no love, no
sympathy Twas enough for myself; could
20 through the world alone. arose and
walked to the window. On the floor lay a
piece of folded paper. 1t was letter from
Clifton to me, received the day before, and
read it over again. 1t was full Of "love to
dear mother" although he had written to me
at the same time, intersperscd with accounts
of his dislike of school, and longings for a
sailor life, saying, in strict confidence, If it
were not that he was to come back to her at
the end of the year, he would run away and
70 to sea. was angry with him. He too
had turned from me, thought; so tore up
the letter, threw it away, and sitting down on
the window seat, looked out into the garden.
The hours passed slowly away, and began
to feel very miserable. Clifton would come
home next winter, perhaps before; for might
not she--now that she had ceased to love me
persuade my father to send for him, and
let me 90 in his place9 My father would do
it. was sure, if she suggested it. The pat
tering rain and dreary prospects were not
calculated to inspire me with more cheerful
thoughts; and in spite of my boastcd indie
pendence, my loneliness came over me like a
food, and wept bitterly. ] had tried to
deceive myself into thinking that | needed
no sympathy; but felt that | had been
longing for it all the time. did not think
of my pride now. only knew that longed
for a tender hand, a soothing voice; for some
one to say, IL love you, Harold, tell me what
troubles you;" and then, with that feeling
of desolateness which it is painful to witness
in grown person, but fearful to see in a
child, laid my head down on the window
bench, and uttered one moanning cry, "Oh,
mother mother come back p thought il
was my own mother that wanted, but now
knew that it was not, for to my minds eye
as called her, she bore that sweet pale face
and those loving eyes that had seen gazing
into the blazing fire that November night
but she was fading slowly, slowly, into the
mist, and so called again, tor she was almost
gone, "Oh, mother! Inother!"
started in moment to my feet MY step.
mother had entered the room unnoticed, and
as rose. she flung herself at my leet, on her
knees before me, and grasped my hands in.
both of hers.
i They were very, very cold; and the pale
face, with dark rims around the eyes, and the
words which she uttered with almost gasp,
all told of intense suffering, {" Harold, love
me! only love me! love me, Harold !"
I was stunned, could not speak. And
she, taking my silence for refusal, gave one
low cry Of anguish, rose to her feet, tottcred,
grasped the bed-post TO support herself, and
then sank heavily to the floor again. / tho't
she was dead. My pride had vanished
knew that I loved her now But had she
gone further, further into the mist and dark
ncsss Would she ever come back to me !
But must call again, though it were des-
pairingly, and threw myself down beside
her and sobbed again, O mother! mother p
She reused little, and opened her eyes.
Say it again, Harold, say it again." she
said eagerly, MS though had brought her a
message of life. Mother, dear mother!'
In moment her arms were around me
she had clasped me close to her breast, and
her warm tears were falling like rain upon
my head, and mingling with mine.
From that moment, more than loved,
idolized her. believe, indeed, know that
at any moment could have laid down my
life for her A smile from her was my great
est reward, look Of sadness my greatest
punishment.
Time passed on; the winter and the sum-
mer passed, and November came again. We
were having just such storm as she came
in one short year ago. We talked about Gel
ebrating the wedding day, my father and L;
: but she only smiled gravely. and said she
was very weary. The bright flames danced
and roared in the chimney. and then fell
and, as sat at her feet looking up into her
facc-my favorite position--it seemed to me