The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-01-31
HENRY CLIFFORD.
WHAT CAME OF A M0THER's INTER
FERENCE.
Written for the August
Continued from Saturday. J


ed mothers grasp, aud rushed frsntically ou
of the apartment, he heard her shrek for,l
his name with despairing energy, but ther'
WAS no responce; she would have pursued
him, but she had no strength, and tot
tered into seat, forssken even by the pride
which had been the ruling passion in her
nature, alone with the misery which she had
wrought by her own act.
long time must have elapsed before
Mrs. Clifford found strength to rise ana quit
the room. In the hall she met q servant,
and INQUIRED for his master. He had gone
an hour before, she was informed.
The hapless mother turned despsiringly,
and left the house. There was nothing to
be done; she could only return to her lodg
ings, and wait. Even then, she was no,
wholly subdued; she would not have per
United her son to go back to the woman
from whom she had parted him-better any
suffering than that. Her fierce pride rose
up, ard restored her courage; she should
vet succeed in winning her son back again
her power over him could not be all gone
on the morrow she would seek him; she
would De more firm; he could not hold GU,
acknowledgements her whose will had
ever been law for all who approached her.
The loug hours Of that gloomy day wore
on, and still Mrs. Clifford sat in her cham
Der lonely watcher or paced up and down
the room. consumed BIZ anxiety, mingled
with stern self reprosches which she had no
power TO still.
1t WAS growing late in the afternoon, and
Mrs. Clifford had been endeavouring to for
get her trouble reflections in book. when
an underlined thrill passed over her, which left
her faint and cold, AS if from the effects oil
some terrible tidings. Once or twice before
in her life had the strong woman felt tina,
peculiar shock, which was even the prem0n
itIon of some unexpected calamity. and she
started up pale and trembling, ss one who
has stood face TO face with q visible doom
Her sons name died on her lips, in fain
murmur that was ike groau. 1t was in
stinct, rather than reason, which caused her
10 summon her maid, giving her directions
IN voice startling from It's very calmness
In few moments she was speeding away
towards the house she had left that morning
it seemed to her that she should never ar
rive; she would have shouted to the coach
man, but she had no strength; she could
only lean back in her seat, sick and faint
with horror, certain that some terrible It'd
ings awaited her on the threshold of that
dwelling, where lived the man whose happi
ness she had so ruthlessly trampIed beneath
her will.
The carriage drove up before the house,
and the servant descended to ring the bell.
The door opened, and Mrs. Clifford leaned
mechanically forward, listening to what
passed.
is Mr.. Clifford in ?" the man asked.
No, he has gone out-nobodv knew where;
and the servant would have closed the door,
but Mrs Clifford found power to call out,
stop, stop, must 90 in"
The footmRu assisted her TO descend from
the carriage, and she entered the house. lis
Mr.. Cliford's own man in p she asked.
The servant said he woald call him, and
ushering her into dimly lighted apartment,
left her alone. Size could not sit down, the
agony of her soul was too fierce for that,
but walked up and down the room, the very
echo Of her footsteps sounding on her ear
like an omen Of i'll. She heard murmur
Of voices outside the door, and paused to
listen she recognized one of the speakers
as CHford's own servant, and there was q
terrible meaning in his words which checked
the pulsstions of her heart, as if an iron
grasp had suddenly been pressed upon it
She flung open the door, and stood before
the two men, who started back at the sight
of her pallid face, 80 like in its paleness and
despair to one which they had seen but a
few hours before working with tho deadliest
emotions Of the soul.
Speak !" she gasped-"where is my
son ?''
The man looked pisyingly upon her,
then turned his eyes away, unable to sup
port her glance.
What has happened ?" she continued,
her voice sinking to a whisper as she added,
is ne dead is he killed ~
Al don't know anything for certain, mad
am, replied the servant; but there was
quarrel here among the young gentlemen,
and to-day g friend of my masters called,
and they we're closeted together for some
time They finally went away in carriage.
They had box with them, where master
keeps his pistols that's all | know"
Mrs Clifford had not interrupted him
while he spoks-she stood gazing into his
face with blank horror when he paused
her parched lips writhed in an effort To
speak, but she could only articulate single
worldly Where ?"
81 know the place where they were
going" was the reply. "but l cannot remem-
Der the name" Gould you find it," she
asked.
Yes, madam" he replied "but -
Come with me-" she said. Get on the
seat by my coachman, and bid him drive as
if for hls iIfe''
The man led her without word of
demonstration, aud they drove rapidly away
Mrs. Clifford did not need the lapse Of time .
There was warning, cod and deatly, Oh her
soul she should arrive too late - too late,
At length the carriage stopped near acme
open fields, and the servant opened the door.
you had better get out her, madam y
said he 4; sits Just behind that clump Of
trees
He assisted her out, and aided her TO wall
for she was trem bling from head to foot
vet she pressed forward with al energ,
which was the result Of despair rather thar
courage
They entered the feld-passed the trees
assembled a little rise of ground which com
manded a view Of the hollow beyond. Tn
mother looked. Within reach Of her vote
stood two men, one OF whom she recognized
only too well. Before she could make
movement a white handkerchief waved il
hand of one of the little group near them
At the signal there was a report @ cloud O
smoke rolled up through the trees beyond
aud the mother saw her son stretched INC
tiouless upon the ground.
She rushed forward as the atteudan,
crowded about the PROSTATE form, saw II
nan who had struck down her son before b,
eyes bend over him. exclaimlng in tones
bitter self rsproach ,-"Listen, Clifford!
the presence of these gentlemen l decla
that what said last night was idle vauntir
Mrs. Mowbray is innocent"
The wounded man half raised himself
a happy smile lit up bis features then
fell back, pale and still. The mother ga
one cry, and when the frightened gror
parted, sunk upon her knees by the motto
less form, pressing her hands upon the pulls
less heart, and shriekiug out her sons nsu
with despairing energy. The friends
Lord Herbert forced him away, leaving q
wounded man with the second aud the 81
gson bending over him, and that trsn'