Maryland free press., 1866-06-28


"Don't give It TO him." said Mrs. Raynor, in
q tone of much feeling.
'It will be an; n;unpardonable offence" sugges-
ted the executor, leading to a break between us,
and the destruction Of all nv influence over him,
in the future. Is II WILL to risk this conse-
quencer'
"The face of Mrs. Raynor grew still more dis
tressed.
~ see. see,' she answered, wringing her
hands in a nervous, excited, manner. "And If
He won't take word of remonstrance or advice |
| from me. Oh, have wished hundred times that |
his father had died poorp'
"It would have been better for the boy, am
| sure, i" said Mr.. H.. "But the question now
is, shall give him the money he demands2 1t
is his by right,and if withhold it now, itcan only
be for short time'
"Do as you think best" replied Mrs Raynor,
tears flowing over her pale cheeks "but, abo We
all things, do not offend him. My only hope is
in you. When your control is lost, he is Host:
And the poor mothers fame shook with the
wild strife of her feelings.
| At one o'clock, to minute, Charles Raynor
called at the office of Mr.. H, who was griev-
ed to see that he had been drinking.
~ will take that money! he said, with the air
of a man who expected an immediate compliance
| with his wishes. t. .....
"It would suit me better to pay the amount to
morrow" replied Mr.. HIN mild, concil-
iating tone. Cant you possibly do without 1t
until Tomorrow
"Didn't say that wanted it to-dayp' The
! young man showed some irritation.
"You did, Charles"
every well, sir; meant just what I said. You
told me that you would be ready for me at one
o'clock; and here am"
4 Seeing that it would be in vain to parley with
ihe young man, the executor took down his
check book, and filled out a check for live thous-
and dollars. He then wrote a receipt in due
orm, and required Charles to sign it. On hand
fng him the check, he said. ..,
"fOur property is in stocks and real estate
The real cstat, is paying eond interest," and the
stocks are among the safest in the market. !
shall have to sell some of these stocks in order to
. realize the amount now pay you"
"Well talk about that another time" said
Charles, interruptine Mr.. H-almost rudely
and turning away, he left the Office.
Charles was not home at tea-tme. Ten, elev-
en-, twelve, one o'clock came and still he was
absent. 1t was not novel thing for him to be
out late at night;indeed, he was rarely home be-
! fore twelve or one o'clock, On this occasion
Mrs. Raynor did not 60 to bed as usual. The
| fact that her son had demanded, aud probably
received five thousand dollars can .ed her to feel
great concern on his account, and she could not
retire without seeing him. Long after every
: member of the household, except her son, was
locked in sumber, she sat in xious expectation,
or walked the floor of her room with troubled
spirit; or stood, hushing her breath, at the win
dow, listening for the sound of his well known
footsteps. II was one Of the saddcst nights she
had ever spent. She felt that her son stood upon
the brink OF wildly rushing river, and in immi-
nent danger OF being swept away by the al-cOn-
quering flood. How feeble were her hands!-
l Yet she felt that she must clutch after him,
and hold linn back from ruin, if that were pos
sble.
1t was nearly two o'clock when Charles came
home. He entered with his night-key, ascended
the stairs, and was passing the room Ofhis moth
er, when the door opened and she stood before
I him.
"You are late tonight, my son." she said, in
a kind, but grave voice.
A He tried 10 pass her, but she laid her hand Oh
= his arm. '-. .-r -
"Come into my room, Charles, have some
thing TO Say to you" W.
! The young man followed his mother as.:sh,
stepped back into her chanbr. Drawing him tt
a.sofa, she sat down beside him. and looked earn
estly into his face the stronger light of her room
4 enabling her to examine it closely. He did no
4 meet her steady searching glances, but looked
past her, and tried to avert his countenance.
IL "Charles, Mrs Raynor spoke in an impressive
manner, "you were twenty-one to-day; but an
q still your mother, and more interested IN y0ui
welfare than any other human soul can possibl,
4 be. And now, may take mothers privilege
4 and ask where you have been to-day, and wha
you have done with the five thousand dollars yol
received from Mr.. H-W
ted. He started from the sofa, and replied in m
4 impatient voice.
- al do not care to he questioned in this style
n mother ] had use for that sum of money, ano
have disposed of 1t in an honorable way"
'In that CASE Charles, there is no reason why
you should hesitate about satisfying me in regard
: to.the way"
"Well, don't choose to satisfy YOU" answer
ed the young man. rather sharply, and showing
still greater disturbance of manner; "and you
might as well understand, once for all, that
don't mean TO be catechsed OF lecured, or inter
ferred with. I'm old enough, it strikes me, to
, know my own business, and manage my own ut.
= fairs"
I, Mrs. Raynor's face grew very Iac, and she
caught her breath several times in choking
way. For some moments the mother and sou
sat We still; then the latter arose. and without
!, word, passed from the chamber and went to his
el own apartment. As he left her room, the moth
. er sank upon her knees, and bending down low
upon the sofa, covered her face with her hands,
An hour passed and she still crouched there, like
one who had fallen aseep but her soul was toe
full of fear and pain for the opiate of slumber.-
Almost wildly she prayed for her son, until The
very bitterness If her agony para yzed her mind,
and she sank into dull, heart-aching stupor, in
which she took scarcely note ofthe passing time
Morning found her lying across her bed, asleep.
II - VIII. the mother and son met at breakfast
time barrier of reserve had been thrown up be-
tween them. Mrs. Raynor tried 10 cast II down,
but Charles held it firmly in its place. He was a
man, now, coming into possession Ofa fortune,
which he meant to use as his own judgement and
inclination dictated, be wished no interference
from any one, not even from his mother, Mrs,
Raynor tried to renew the conversation of the
night before, Lut he effected not to understand
her; and when she pressed the subject, lie threw
her offimpatiently.
Thus it was that Charles Raynor started in life
with his legacy OF sixty thousand dollars. There
were many who thought him most fortunate
young man. Whether this was or not the Sc
quel will prove.
twenty-five to-day" said Edward Strong
lorking across the table ct his mother and sister
1t was evening" and they were sitting in neatly
furnished room. The mother and sister were
sewing; Edward had been reading. The huose
they occupied was not that old, unattractive one
firm which we saw q funeral pass more than ten
years ago, but pleasant dwelling Of larger size
and ample accommodations.
Mrs. Strong raised her eyes, and looked fondly
| across the table at her son.
4 "How fast the years go by" she said. 'Twen-
ty-fivel it seems but yesterday that you were q
boy"