Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-01

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YOU don't suppose / introduce my paid
companion to my friends, do you:'
''Oh - / said Il did not think OF that
And, truly, it had not entered into my
mind, having seen Essie constantly with
the other ladies.
made some excuse Tor leaving inc
room for moment, tied my card TO the
boquet in my hand, and, catching SER
want, sent il to ESTES room. had cho-
sen il so carefully, selecting opening rose
buds, fragrant. Kioicss, delica5e nllguo-
7 nette. and one pure lily, for the eentle
| girl, while IOna's was left to the florist,
and was composed OF eamelias, and, for
all knew, of cabbage roses.
| saw my mothers brow contract in 2
frown faithfully mirrOred sIpOn IOnz >
lovely face, when 1 returned empty han
ded; but l made myself agreeabls TO the
best of my ability, and, guests arriving
Immediately after, we we're soon too
much engaged to discuss private matters.
But when 1 was alone with my mother,
she asked me if had sent the flowers to
Essie.
Certainly replied. s'I purchased
a bouquet for each of your guests"
''But, Herbert, do put such strange
ideas out of yOnr mind. Essie Brown is
no more my gliest than my cook or lady s
maid. She is my paid companion, does
my shopping, writes my notes, aud per-
forms other services l cannot trust to un-
| educated servants. / beg you will not
spoil her by ATTENTIONS that are as absurd
and uncalled for rs they are out of place.
Only yesterday you left your writing to
place a chair for her.
81 should place chair for your cook
or your washerwoman,' | replied, ''if
their duties required them to be seated in
your presence"
( Absurd - said my mother, half an
. ] orrfIvy gEnon7f I heor of vOu nur gHgb
ideas into Essie's head. She understands
/ her place perfectly, at present
! 1 made no reply. / did not wish 10 ir-
ritate my mother by disreSarding her
/ wishes. and certainly did not intend to
treat Essie Brown as a servant, when al
ready l was thinking what a paradise my
| life would be, could win her for my
wife.
| 1t was too soon to speak such thoughts,
/ however, and l was a little amused also
/ at my mothers manner toward me.
l had been away from home so long,
I that she had forgotten l was not the boy
she had sent to college, and her some
/ what peremptOTy commands upon many
/ occasions rather annoyed me-.
Yet, the full sense of the authority she
| supposed to be her right did not come
/ home to me until about a month after my
return, when she cOunseled me, in a tone
and with a manner that were imperative
| beyond description, to endeaVOr TO win
! Iona for my wife.
''But do not feel the slightest desire
to marry IOna,' / answered.
Herbert" she said, Indignantly,
what can you ask more? She is beauti-
! ful, accomplished and wealthy. More
than this, my sOn-she admires yoH.
Il am obliged to her for her good opin
ion.'
''You need not lay that sarcastic en-
| ph2sis upon your words. Iona has made
/ no unmaidenly advances. With her adj
vantages she could marry amy one!''
81 do not dispute that"
S'But what fault can you find: - per-
sisted my mother.
Il don't find any fault with your guest,
mother. But while l admit all Miss Will
loughby's charms, she is not the woman
l would seek for wife. She is proud to
! a fault"
''She has good reason to be- Her birth,
position and personal advantages fully
/ justify her regal manner"
every true. But she is cold hearted" 3"
''NOt when she loves. Her affection
for her father was almost idolatry -
Where she loves, she Will be capable of
any devotion, any self-sacrifiee. You do
not understand such natures, Herbert,
but do. As girl | was like Iona, cold
and proud to strangers Ask your own
heart if l was cold to your father or to
you"
was silenccd.
knew what my mother said was true
that to the world she presented Il mask
of ice, but never VS. more devoted wife
and mother. q. ca T
1t might be that Iona's heart, too, was
sound and sweet at the core, in spite Of
4 the crust of worldly pride over it.
But L doubted it. My mother was cold
/ and proud, but never cruelty neglectful
I of the welfare of others-selfshly regard
less of all interests excepting her own.
/ Iona was both. l had seen her tried
more than once, and | could not believe
/ in 4 warm, true heart in her bosom.
And here l must write what may seem
a coneeited imagining of my own vanity,
( but what after events proved to be the
/ true prophetic warning of my heart.
With the volcanic, furious love that
breaks out often in such cold natures,
/ Iona Willoughby loved me, and with her
I senses reused to keenest perception By
jealousy, she read my growing affection
/ for Essie.
As my mothers guest, it was binding
/ upon me to pay Iona many attentions.
I was her escort whenever she needed
/ one, and endeavOred to I'LL my position as
host to the best of my ability.
l did not know, what L learned later.
that my mother exerted her utmost inge-
nuity to throw Us together as frequently
as pO sible.
In self justification l must say that l
never paid Iona any attention that my
own conscience could interpret as love
making, nor had for ono moment in our
I friendship any desire to win either her
! wealth or beauty for my own.
She was sinply my mothers guest, TO
whom owed the courtesies of a friend
and host; nothing more.
NJ 4 d.
such easy work as il would have been had
my heart been given 10 my mothers IA
vorite.
mstigated by Iona, who vet successful
ly concealed her motive, my mother kept
Essie busy in her own room many hours
each day, and our evenings were con-
stantly engaged, often fer weeks in AL
vance. Many times 1 have slipped away
from opera or party, leaving the ladies in
proper masculine care, and escaped 10 the
sitting room, to find EsSie sewing upon
lona's finery, or writing notes for my
mother. And in these short, delicious
hours, | won the sweet, shy nature tC
confidence and trust, till dared ask for
love, and found it mine already.
She loved me. My violet, my lily, who
was so little lower than the angels in my
eyes that my love was worship, loved me
1t was an easy task, after / had Won
this sweet confession, 10 gain her prom
ise to be my wife, and slip upon her fin
ger a glittering betrOthal ring.
l was prepared for disappointment
when l told my mother, but not for tho
storm of cOntemptuous Indignation ] met
If l had proposed 10 wed the cook, Will
whom she had once placed Essie on a lev
el, my mother could not have exhibited
a more angry surprise. She argued aut
entreated in vain, finally bursting into
storm of tears, and threatening TO dis
charge Essie within the hour.
l left her then, and Iona went TO Gem
fort her BY her eutreaties she won my
mother 10 cOncent to allow ESsie To Re
main, warning her, and truly, that shu
would only hasten the marriage by thrus
! ting the gentle girl from the house.
, ''NOu may thank Iona that | have con
sented to allow you to be married here,
f my mother said.
And l, poor blind fool, did thank he
earnestly and sincerely.
Ny reward was a heavenly smile an,
an assurance of her Warmest sympathy
with this subtle sting;
, Il have really noticed the little thin
e very little, Mr. Ashton; but now l vii
try TO make her my friend. Your VIII
e must be my friend, for your mother
sake
: And in pursuance of this magnani
: nous resolution, she proceeded to patron
iZe Essie in grand way, that fairly sc
= me frantic, While il left me no groun
: for complaint.
My only refuge was 10 hurry on th