The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-11-10
Written exIressiy for the Advocate.
CLIF FORD MANOR.
~ PRoF. RDvH sewLKR.

ar PsoE. EDwH sewLER.
CHAPTER VII.
MY fathers visits to our cottage, sfter tbs
one last happy afternoon / mentioned in MI
last chapter, became every month less fre-
quent and shorter, and deeper and more
habitual became my mothers gloom. The
gay smile and merry laugh Of her earlier
happy Gays, became less aud less frequent
ana her tits Of depression, broken by occa
sional wild bursts Of grief and passionate
distress, more and more common.
knew, young as | was, that it was my
fathers continued and long absences that
threw 80 heavy shade of sorrow over my
mothers once radiant face, and | began 20
feel ut times an intense anger aud almost
hatred of him on that account.
Ctten, in my childish way, l sought to
soothc her by my infant caresses and assur-
ances that papa (for 50 | had been taught
TO call hIm) would certainly come that after
noon," and then, as my prediction often
proved unfounded, | would burst into ex'
pressions Of anger at him for not fulfilling it,
and ooce called him a $ bad cruel papa to
make mamma so sad"
| never did so again. My mother sprang
from her seat, angry with me for the tiIst
and the last time, and shook me violently.
" Silence, Walter" she said, "It is you that
are cruel and bad to dare to say such
things to me Of your father. lie is
everything that il kind and good. Go away
and do not let me see you again to-day.
You To pretend to love me and yet YOU dare
TO speak TO me against your father, ,"7-push-
ing me almost violently away from her as
she spoke.
Almost stunned with grief and amaze
ment at hearing words Of anger aud repul-
sion from lips that hitherto had spoken only
the tenderest love, aud terrified 6gAthe un-
wonted excitement, almost Violence, Of her
manner, J shrank back, and with heart
bursting with passionate sOrroW ut having
grleved and palned one loved 50 well, as
knew mast have done 70 prssoke sach
treatment as this had turned and was
about 10 seek the garden to sob away my
first great gnef in the deepest recesses
Of the Strawberries, when felt myself caught
up in my mothers arms, and passionately
pressed to her BOSOM, whilst great drops
mingled with kisses, rained dowR upon my
face, hair and hands. and her slight form
was convulsed with the deep sobs which
accompanied the sudden revulsi0n Of her
feelings. rm
1t is | who am cruel" she called out.
How could be SO hasty and heartless as
to treat my darling sog was hasty and
unreasonable, but, Walter, never, whatever
may occur, AID see shadows before me
with something perhaps worse eyond, never
say anything III to me Of your father again
Whatever may be my fate, promise me
Walter always to love and think well oi
him, il you really love me- Has
Ipromis,d, and Heaven and nay own con.
science bear me witness how faithfully
have striyen TO keep nnbroken my childish
pledgs to my dead mother, dificalt as il ha,
been at times 70 do 90. ah "a r.sa5 Ni.
Ian Tor still came ut times, but his bright
Old face seemed less cheering than before;
bis look was overcast and be seemed hardly
able to speak to my mother with reassurina
encouragement that had once made her facs
brighten up under his words like Aowel
down-beaten and crushed by the tempest
under the warm reviving beams of the sun.
Still be failed not to do bis best :" Do no,
depress yourselves by useless fears, madam
heard him once saying, through the partly
open door of the little boudoir-left ajar by
accident-into winch they had retired, pro
badly TO prevent me from hearing them
Ny Lord has SO many calls upon him Ia Sc
many ways that it IL not surprising that YOU
should see him rather less frequently thar
before. he has just taken his seat in the
House for the frss tire and has made 8
speech there. He il compelled az q politi
clan, to spend the greater part of his time
in London, and to mix . great deal in
society. II is on this account that he ID SC
seldom, ,ar The Manor House, snd even when
he is here overwhelmed with dinners and
balls, giyea, in his honor BY his tenants and
the grand families round y
"And so be cares more for these things than
for my society," exclaimed my mother with
slight tinge Of indignation in her tone.
/" He cannot spare moment from all this tc
give me-
"My lord Is young, talented, and very
popular everywhere" said Landor, " and
popularity is not to be had without paying
for it. You esnpot understand al the claims
upon man, in his position, madame, but
believe me,they are totally unavoidable, and
It is because they, are so. and not because
he has ceased TO care for your society, thai
ne is so long absent from you"
"A sigh and . sad, incredulous shake ol
the head showed, that my, mother was moi
sltogether satisfied with her old friends ex.
planations. FL, g..
:" Is is very kind Of you to try to encourage
me, she replied and 4 wish could believe that
this Is the only cGuse but why then Is he ~
cold and silent, even when he is here BE
seems to come, mot because he Wishes II
hime0If. hllk "A IL ha foalu ha a.1ohf Hn