The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-01-04
THE LITTLE SCAOOI.TEAcHER.

when you will bless me for my inter
ference that HOW you consider unwis
and cruel.
The soft summer sun, delicately tenn
pered By clouds Of pearl and gold, wouli
have shone on a pretty and peaceful
scene Of nature only for the human pas
sion that marred it.
On every side were green meadows
thick with clover bloom, and fields .
wheat and corn yellowing in the sun
In the center OF the scene stood til
Severne homestead with It's tall w%lls .
ale grey stone, its Lofty obselvdter.
with gIItter.ng glass windows and II
shlniag, brazen weatheT-cook, and witt
its wiae, handsome portico, the SLENDER
marble pillars Of which were woun,
with iaie vines, heavy with sweet
scented Howers.
From the broad, high parlor windows
open to the balmy wind, and flung ajal
to the low, acknowledgements tloor u
this portico came those earnest, asgriev
ed voices.
In the middle of the room, in quaint
ly cushioned chair sat Birs. Severne-a
proud, matronly faced lady, who wa
swiftly nearing her three-score years.
Her only chdd, Leo, stood before her.
He was the son Of her youth, the
pride of her long widowhood, and the
snly reminder she jealously held Of hen
dead husband, except the fair and goodly
estate that lay so slnilingly in the sum
mer sun.
Leo Severne was nearly forty, and
people marveled that he had remained
unmarried, whereas he was handsome
and willing, being superbly formed ana
nobly featured, finely educated anu
highly cultured, and had always been,
moreover, the favorite of all women.
why have you never taken . wife,
Dir. Severne1n maid and matren haa
often asked him; ''surely 50 kind ana
amiable man should have done So long
ago"
When l meet q woman wht m can
love more than my mother, | shall
marry her if she will have me-" the
devoted son would always reply.
But the question was never asked
him after dark-eyed Rosie Lynde had
come 20 teach the unrliy boys and mis-
chievoas girls Of the village chool, 10,
every gossiping SPY thereabout knew
and talked of the change that had COME
uPOa him since the spring morning
whe1 he had found her among the pines
and wintergreens on her way 10 the
brick gothic structurs where she was
expected to ill young minds with oid
book lore at the rate of two dollars pei
head for a term of three months, anu
found her weeping bitterly because
amoisg so many strangers no one seemed
more than strange. Aud ali
these Eatchful gOssips knew and talked
about the gentle way in which he had
conforted her, of how he had cheefed
and advised her, of how he had walked
and rode, and sung with her, and of the
great bouquets of roses and lilies lie had
sent to her.
He is bewitched by that girl" said
the gossips, with comments that refined
senses shrink from hearing.
PerhsPs none would have been hard
upon the friendless girl only for the
sneers of the rich and popular Mrs.
Leenis Chisholm, who was a permanent
bearder at the Severne mansisn, and
usually had her will with the aged
mother of the bachelor renegade.
sMrs. Chisholm would be Just the
match for Mr.. Severne," they assente.l :
she is about his age, and certainly Il,
could not find finer nor more elegant
ThiRwas just what hismotbor thought,
and this was just why she had hroaght
herself to reason with her obstinate SON
on that swess, summer day.
"The time will come, perhaps, when
you will bless me for my interferea,e Z
that now you consider unwise and
cruel.
"What objection have you to Rossie
to Miss Lynde-mother, as my wifel'
asked her son.
"What oIjectioni How can you ask
Do you-does any one know anything
about her or her antecedentsl 1t Is
true that she was brought to the village
by an apparently very venerable and
person. Her certificates OF
character and ability seemed to be every
thing irreproachable, l admit but not
Of us-not one member of the Beard OF
Education had ever before heard the
names of the honorable and recere1ad
gentlemen whose names were annexed
to those certificates. They may be for
geries, and she an adventures and.
indeed, that is the general opinion since
you
''Since have openly expressed my
respect for her, and publicly announced
my intention of making Ler my wife, y
interrupted Mr. J.e. sS3;eYes-.le.
"li4. it come to that, my sonf'
Her son was deeply moved by her
hurt and reproachful voice.
"Mother r he said, in kind remon-
STRANGE, 81 love Rossie Lynde 80 we'll
that unless she becomes my wife shall
never marry"
"And you have repeatedly said, my
boy, that you would never wed woman
whom you could not love better than
the mother who idolizes you. Oh, Leo /!
If you disobey me il will be my death q
she cried, in anguish. eff you must
marry, why not turn your heart toward
our dear Leonie. Indeed, my boy, I
have long had my mind fixed on your
union with her.
Leo Severne gazed at his parent in
for long moment.
"My dear mother, you must be out
of vonr senses. Quite" he gasped. "Do