Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-15

AIt NUuiu cOOu ut NCtl dRdiii, Utt iaNt
frightened wonderfully. He was her only
son, and she idolized him. He took a
chair by the head of the bed. resting his
handsome head on the pillow near him:
II don't think shall ever be well again.
dear boy" said mother, lovingly stroking
his golden hair. as if he were again the
little boy she had been so proud OF. "And
as | shall always need Josephine here.
there is nothing for it but for you to mar
nv, SO we can dispense with hired
housekeeper. On Leonard's face came a
savage expression. and his eyes looked
cold, while his lips curled scorniully rs
he replied:
Il Shall never marry. mother. Women
are such false, tickle creatures. l want
nothing to do with any of them. But !
wish you would get another housekeeper. J"
,'Why, my son." said mother, Josie
says that Mrs. Hastings is all that any one
could wish. / was beginning to think we
had secured perfect treasure. What are
your objections 10 her 7"
Leonard looked down at the floor as he
replied: II have no real objections 10
her; just don't like her at ALL"
II know why Leonard dislikes her." i
cried eagerly. "He flrted with her
daughter III LONDON.
Leonard's face became ghastly in hue,
and with look OF pain and anger, he
hurriedly left the room.
what could make him so white P"
moaned mother in distress. | do hope
Leonard did nothing wrong while abroad.
What makes you say such thing Josie ?''
'IIe said she looked like a woman he
once knew in London. That all, mamma.
| only said it in jest. never dreamed he
would be so angry"
Leonard was the same as usual when
next we met. But he avoided all men,
ton of the housekeeper. A few days af-
ter he came to me and said rather hesitat-
ingly, Josephine, ! have some friends
who are called away from the country to
attend the sick bed of q daughter. They
have child whom they cannot take. /
have seen the child good deal and she
is lovable little creature. i told them l
thought you might take the little one tor
few weeks. She would be no trouble"
III it would be doing you favor, Leon
ard" ! replied, 81 am willing. When
must she come?'
Il will bring her this afternoon, he said,
the cloud disappearing from his brow.
'She is very fond of me, and will be no
bother to you."
lis she an only child? Where do the
people live p'' | asked with woman's Gu
riositv alert.
"She is an only child, and she lives
with her-parents-at place called Ho-
boken Hollow about ten miles from here"
Very likely that is where you 60 rid
ing so much" i said.
Very likely" said nay brother shortly,
walking away.
That afternoon the child came and
Leonard brought her straight to my room.
She was fragile little creature, with long
golden curls and lovely brown eyes.
Leonard said she was three years old, and
her name was Violet. She began to play
on the floor with tiny kitten had brought
up stairs, and Leonard threw himself in
an easv chair and watched her, look of
pain in his eyes, which | had frequently
noticed, when his life abroad was men
tioned--a subject of which he never vol
unfairly spoke.
Presently the kitten ran into the entry,
and the little Violet ran after it. Fearing
she would fall down the stairs, followed
her. | saw Mrs. Hastings coming down
the long hall, her black dress trailing be-
hind her.
"See the little girl Leonard brought
me % called. The child looked UP and
saw the housekeeper coming. A wild
cry of joy and love burst from her lips.
and rushing wildly down the hall she
screamed out In her childish voice,
my mamma. my mamma" and threw
herself into the outstretched arms of the
housekeeper, who buried her face Ia the
child's long curls.
] was startled at seeing my brother
walk past me, and in a hoarse voice he
said, dragging the child from the woman's
arms,
"What is the meaning of this' woman
who are your"
His face was livid with some powerful
emotion. and his blue eyes flashed angri-
ly.
81 will tell you who l am, Leonard
Morse cried the housekeeper, rising to
her feet With one hand she tore from
her head the white wig which covered it,
and her long abundant black hair fell to
her knees. ''And do you know who |
am P' confronting him with an imperious
gesture.
..Maran = Leonard staggered back as
he spoke. and then bent forward as he
said haughlily, taking Violet's hand as
he spoke. ..How dared you come here,
woman what do you want of me-"
"My child" she walled, clasping her
delicate hands. 20 Leonard, | could
bear your taunts, your injustness, but /
could not bear to be without my child.
Forgive me, Leonard, and let the past be
forgotten, pray you"
Without word in reply, Leonard lifted
Violet in his arms, and bore her back to
my room. Then he returned, and said
in voice so changed from his usual tone.
that it startled me, Josephine. four years
ago / married this woman, Marian Hol-
combe, a London actress, and an actress
ever to me. Yes, she lied to me in every
way, deceived me 10 every manner. and
yet lured me to love her. All. how mad
ly ! loved her Knowing how prejudced
father was against actresses and the stage,
| did not write home of my marriage
hasty one. for had known her but three
weeks. / met her a few days after my
arrival in London. In years time our
child was born, but even that did not cure
her of her insane desire for admiration
and Irritation. When Violet was year
old, her mother eloped with Russian