The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-11-09
THE MOTHERS SIN;
OR,
TWO LIVES MADE DESOLATE.
BY MARY C. VAUGHAN.

III CuuIe yOu ftAO lily PAANO dsiNA AlOHC
the heir of my fortune and your fathers
proud name. have nothing to live for
but your happiness, which is my sole
study. How, then, can you disappOint
me by persisting in this unaccountable
pursuit of one so in every way beneath
you?"
Mother do not understand YOU"
"Not understand my love and anxiety!
How could / expect you would under
stand a mothers anxious affection! But,
at least, I thought I had right to expect
common gratitude for all have lavished
upon you. You will bring me to the
grave--you are killing me! Ungrateful
boy
Mother-do listen to me. Don't
weep so. / am not, believe me, migrate
full. do appreciate your kindness, and
love you as dearly as son ever loved
mother. That is right! look at me
once more and forgive me-"
"Of course, forgive you, Arthur"
Mrs. Fairman answered, with the air of
a martyr, after she had offered herself to
be coaxed into q cessation of her tears !;
must say"
"I don't intend it, mother. do not
wish to give you pain"
But what elsecould you expect when
you tell me that you do not understand
my desire for your happiness, and when
l remind you how entirely am devoted
to you?"
Arthur Fairman might we'll have re-
piled that he could not understand Il
Statement Of what did not exist, for his
mother was a selfish invalid, whose
whole life was devoted to her "nerves"
and symptoms" and whose interest
in her son was never very active, save
when he was likely to run counter to
some pet scheme of her own. His only
reply was:
!" 1 see you mistook me, MOTHER
What did not understand was your
mention of Amy Lincoln, as one beneath
me.O
"Ah, dare say she is a goddess in
your eyes-a little milliner, with her
defy and insult your mother !" And
tears, Mrs. Fairman's ready refuge, burst
from her eyes. She also showed strong
symptoms of hysteria, and her son, un-
able to answer her unreasonable accu-
sations, while she continued in that
state, could only call her maid, and
assist in removing her to her room, while
he retired to his own.
These scenes had become of almost
daily occurrence in Mr.. Fairman's house.
That lady had imbibed strong preju-
dice against the beautiful but humble
girl, to whom her son was tenderly at
tached-the more violent, perhaps, that
she had been raised by the father of Ar
thur from position equally lowly. She
desired her son to find a wife from among
the daughters of fashion, and would have
preferred brilliant exterior to any
charms of mind or heart.
Arthur passed a sleepless night; and
on the morning that followed the above
recorded conversation, he WassummOned
had fallen at dawn, to his mothers bed
side.
He went to her, pale and haggard.-
He had been weighing the claims of the
rival love that occupied his heart-that
for his parent on the one hand, and for
Amy on the other, and vainly striving
to find means to reconcile them to each
other. He hoped that when his mother
had quite recovered from the condition
into which her angry excitement had
thrown her, she would be willing to listen
to him, to let him plead the cause of his
love-perhaps to- see Amy. To see
ANY,! That would be to love and well
come her, the lover thought, and his
heart beat fast with the joy of so sweet
a hope.
On this occasion, however, he was dis
appointed. He found his mother appa-
rently very ill. Hisheart melted towards
her whom he had all night accused of
selfish attempts to destroy his happiness.
Conscience added its pangs. He believed
that the agitation he had caused his in
valid parent was surely destroying her
life; and when in feeble tones, she urged
him to make the only promise-to fulfill
the only request she should perhaps ever
make-he could not refuse.s
=" Promise me, Arthur, only this
That you will not see or hold cOmmu-
MON with this Amy Lincoln for one
month, and that you will 60 down to
your uncle Godwin's. If ! should so far
recover as to be able to endure this jour-
ney, will go with you in a day or two.
II not, land il these symptoms that
now Cypress me continue, l shall not
live beyond tomorrow you will, Of
course, remain to close my eyes and lay
me beside your father. Then, remember
that it was my dying request that you
ahOa,ld 90 to VOur unclos9 and refrain