The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-11-21
Playing the %Dressmaker.

Playing the Dressmaker.
Mrs. Ross Washington sat dignifed.
naughty, self-possessed.
Mrs. Ross Washington was indignant,
and took no pains to hide that fact, and
all because her son had rebelled-all be-
cause her one darling had seen fit tc
consult his own heart in falling in love.
Ernest Ruslington was one of those
handsome, tenderly-worshipful fellows
tall, strong, Northumberland, with 6
devoted way that goes SO surely to 8
woman's heart, that made his. mother
idolize him as he deserved, that made
little Mamie Morgan fairly thrill with
rapturous love for him, that made ever
stately Miss Genevieve Wallace admire
him, and feel in no ways averse to the
plan Mrs. Ruslington had arranged, thai
her handsome son should present Miss
Genevieve as his wife.
But in this especial Instance Mr.. En-
nest Washington was proving, beyond the
shadow of a doubt that, while he and
Mamie Morgan and Cupid had proposed
their future way OF happiness, his mothe,
was determined to dispose OF them all
except her boy-very summary. Ant
to this end was the interview tending
when Mrs. Ruslington sat in her blue
aforementioned chair, with her fail
blonde face as stern as her well-bred in.
dignation could make it.
Mr.. Ruslington stood at one end of
the low mantle-piece, his elbow resting
upon it, his head leaning lightly on his
hand, listening ~courteously to his moth
er's low-spoken, yet none the less pas
sionate words.
"But you are so entirely mistaken,
mother. Ii you would only permit me
to bring Mamie to see you, if you would
only give her an opportunity to let you
see her, I am positive you would change
your mind. She is a dainty, refined
high-bred little lady, with a face sc
sweet that it would appeal to you IN.
stantly. You would love her, mother,
if you would only lay aside your pride,
your injustice"
Mrs. Washington only smiled family.
clam sorry you look upon me as
prejudiced, my dear boy. I have always
studied your interests, I think, and now,
when 1 recommend you so strongly to
marry Genevieve Wallace, you surely
must understand, I regard it for your
great good. Genevieve is very pretty,
undeniably a lady in birth, manners,
education and position. She is very
rich, and would make a most suitable
match for YOU 4
"EI loved her-which I do not and
cannot. Mother, it seems to me you
should not seek to bias my Judgment in
this, the most important event of my life.
All my life I have tried to- please you,
all my life been governed very much by
your wishes and advice but in this
case, you must permit me to know my
own heart. You must remember that
where one has carefully boarded all thei,
wealth Of affection, and not frittered ii
away onevery pretty face, when one has
never loved until they have brought
their Judgment and their disciplined
maturity to concur as I do, that such
love is a resistless passion, not to be
trifed with by any one" -...~.E =
Mrs. Washington looked at his very
quiet, determined face, and knew he
would stand by what he said, and the
e~alization that Mamie Morgan would
be the wife OF Ernest Ruslington came
to her with such abhorent force that she
rose fromher chair, fashing-eyed frosty
voiced. n.s~ . g.. t.. d t-.f. .elt
@"I remember nothing but that my
son intends to disgrace his family and
himself. I shall never mention the mat
ter again, but, rest assured, that if you
marry this obscure, ordinary girl, whose
pretty face is her only commendation-
hush, if you please If you do it, all
further communication with me and
this house, and your income, will be
ended" ss7s.r .slts8 V.E7 -" s.
- - xrls4ts =. r
"And you are sure, perfectly sure, it
was right, Ernest? T am so afraid that
I have been doing. wrong in permit
ting myself to stand between you and
your mother. Oh, Ernest, it, is the
only unhappiness that comes to me as
. your wife-this knowledge that I an
the cause of you and her being enc
mics" ~. rlfJt1
Mamie Ruslington, the year-old wife,
was leaning her lovely head on her bus.
bands shoulder, and together they were
looking interestingly down on a little
golden-hossed head nestled among
blankets and lawn, from which it will be-
deduced that Ernest Washington had not
been intimidated by his mothers
threats, but had bravely foresworn
luxury and elegance for the sake OF
the girl he loved and who loved him,
and married her, conscious that he was
in the right -. ....
Mamie Morgan had never been &C.
.customed to surroundings that were
more than plainly comfortable, SO that
to her the pleasant little home her hus-
band took her to, and which he was
enabled to make for them in considera-
ton Of o snug little sum of money in the
bank, saved from his income, was a very
paradise to her, where she was as happy
as the day was long, after Ernest had rea-
soned her into believing it was not he1
fault that his mother refused to coun'
tenance them. ~.
He had not been long in obtaining g
good position, and on the salary he re-
ceiYed he and his young wife lived we'll,
aver elegantly.
Then a little baby-girl had come to
them, and over the nesting cradle, over
this child, Mamie's conscience con
demned her afresh, and she cried ovel
baby's fossy golden hair.
II wish as heartily as you do, darling.
that my mother would be friends witt
us, and she shall know your delicate
compliment in naming baby Helen Der
wyn, after her own maiden anne VIII
knows but that this pet of OURS will prove
q peacemaker?
True to his word Ernest wrote to hi
mother, telling her of the birth Of Ii
child, her granddaughter, and renewing
his invitation-in his frank, eager way
that was yet perfectly free from fawnine
to come to his home and be convinced
that Mamie had made, not marred, hi
happiness. X - :,
Mrs. Washington was conquered blythe
letter-by the sweet news that Away
touches a true woman's heart.
Almost all those long months since he:
darling had gone from her home to b.