Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-07-28

mothers face. Even the presence Of Mrs
Lennox could not prevent the mothers hear
from speaking, and drawing the brigh
young face to hers, she gave the price ask
ed, and more.
edwin would know very well that my
sense of right could not be moved by few
soft Words" said Mrs. Lennox, magnificent
~.
Mark looked at his aunt half scornfully,
half pityingly. and whispered, significant
ly, to his mother: eff am bad and disc.
bedient, you know every bit oft, don't you,
mother p
Another kiss was the answer.
Years had passed, bringing changes
which, however great when comprised in
such sketch, had grown inperceptibly up
on those who figure therein. 1oT-
Mrs. Wallace was in her own home. The
freight shone softly upon the bands Of
smooth hair wherein the gray largely pre-
dominated now, and there was look of
quiet contentment that is the greatest beau
ty of face that has lost its youthful
charms. A book had fallen from her hands
as the early Winter twilight had stolen soft
ly in the room, and her eyes had far away
look as of one who gazes upon scenes that
have vanished. Her revery was suddenly
interrupted by the entrance of tall. hand
some young man, and she turned with an
exclamation of surprise rWhy, Mark,
has the old cther greater charms than the
new love to night, or have Grace and you
qnarreled p
s'No new love can make me forget the
old mother" the young man replied, affec-
tionately, ''and truth to tell, mother, l have
not seen Grace this evening"
"What, then, is the matter, Mark p
asked Mrs Wallace, anxiously as she no.
ticed that the young mans face was clouded
by sorrow or disappointment "You have
not outgrown your confidence in me, have
you, my child?"Tgg8 Hp8 aTgGla
Indeed, have not had it not been for
that know not what 1 might have been
But, dear mother, I fear this is trouble
you cannot alleviate. I have received a
letter from Aunt Jane, inquiring anxiously
for Edwin, who, she says, left home three
weeks ago, on visit to us. She has re-
ceived no tidings since then, and fears all
sorts of terrible accidents for him"
"This is indeed serious, for we have not
even seen him. What can be the meaning
of it, Mark ?''sg 1sq09
"Nothing more than what Edwin has
done all his life-deceived his mother. 1t
is not the first time that Edwin has gone to
town Oh the pretcxt of visiting, us, and has
employed his time in rioting and debauchery,
the like of which his mother has no concep-
ton" ..-.-~
"Oh, Marx, that is horrible! Surely,
you Judge him wrongfully?"
II wish could convince myself Of that,
but what have seen precludes all hopes of
it. Edwin Lennox is as complete debauchee
as there is, and has only one redeeming
quality, if such it can be termed-he merci-
! fully keeps up the system of hypocrisy
commenced in his childhood, to escape the
punishment and win the appreciation his
mother was ever ready to bestow with equal
impartiality. Held with hand Of iron,
Joined to blind belief in his worth, Edwin
Lennox has done what many another weak
spirit has done before him. Once free from
actual restraint, he has given loose rein to
his passions, and were not Aunt Jane.s eyes
as completely sealed to the faults ofhis man
hood as they were to those Of his childhood,
she must have seen what wreck of all
manly qualities her son has become"
"Poor Jane !" sighed Mrs. Wallace. 81
can the better appreciate what blow the
awakening will prove. Ny heart bleeds for
her the more as have known what anguish
the mere thought of seeing you in such a
position has brought to me. What steps
have you taken iu this matter ?"
Il knew enough Of Edwin's conduct on
previous occasions to guess where was
likely to find him. I was not wrong. In
a den Of vice, surrounded by associates too
low for you even to picture to yourself,
using language with which your pure ear
should never be defled, shouting in drunken
revelry ribald song, found Edwin Len
nox Words cannot express the loathing
with which approached him. Conquering
all such feeling, for the sake of the poor
mother whose heart must sooner or later
bleed at the knowledge, sought to make
him understand my errand.
"Getting anxious about her precious cub,
is she 2" exclaimed the brute. "Shouldn't
think she'd care much to see me just now ?
Amt exactly the model she used to paint.
Take.a drink, old fellow Don't do sneh a
thing, eh? You used to be the bad 'un,
now its tother way!" All this, interspers.
ed with caths, and broken by hiccoughs. /
turned from him in disgust, when some
glimmering Of love or pity seemed to strug-
gle up in spite of the drunken fumes, and
he hiccoughed out, ''sorry, 'pon honor
Spree most up. Go home in day Or two,
straight as a deacon She'll never know, il
you don't blab Tell her 1 was sick p
A heavy fall here interrupted Mark, and
mother and son turned to see the rigid form
Of Mrs Lennox on the threshold: How
much she had heard they could not tell,
but enough to know that her life had been
worse than useless, and that Edwin hereaf.
ter would need no prevarication. Tender.
ly Mark raised her in his arms, and a fer.
vent "God bless the poor mother p escaped
his lips as he laid her gently down on the
loung &c. Another mother thanked God
meekly that her treasure was safe.
Every one has to rough it at one time OF
another If the roughing comes in boy.
hood, it does good !; if later, when habits
are formed, 1t Is equally tough. but not be.
ing educational is generally useless. And