The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-21

CHCe OA46hA hAA
to be forgotten.
Without a word the stranger lifted
the latch and entered. With a cry of
iov Mrs. Raymond started from her
couch. Ralph. Ralph" and was
clasped in her sons arms. After the
first rapturous greeting was over she
turned 10 present her companion, Tut
under cover of the surprise of the
meeting. We're had gathered up her
letters and papers and made her es-
cape 10 the library, leaving the
mother and son together. Eagerly
the mother asked question after ques-
ton about her sons travels and plans.
and then told him of her new COM
panion. and the man saw with a flash
of jealousy how much of his mothers
love. which was the one thing he
valued most in the world, this girl had
won from him. Not contented with
winning the hearts of my people, h
has trespassed on my mothers love,
he thought jealousy.
"With the tea-tray, We're came as
was her custom to make the tea.
This is my son Ralph, We're. | have
been telling him of my sunshine. and
| expect you two TO be fast friends"
said Mrs Raymond.
Remembcringth the deliberately steady
stare he had given her IN the after
noon, We're ~vouchsafed only a naughty
bow when Ralph Raymond rose, say
ING coldlv,- she should be happy to be
counted among Miss Herberts friends"
From her refuge behind the a-u
We're examined the new comer-not
far from thirty, she concluded. tall
and straight az an arrow, with broad.
powerful shoulders. The beard and
mustache that half covered his bronzed
face, matched the luXuriant hair in
their glossy blackness, and the pierre
ing blue eyes lost their sternness only
when they rested on his mother. a
man not easily swayed by TRIES, but a
man to inspire respect among his
equals and awe among his interiors.
When Mrs. Raymond rose to retire
her son left his seat too, and with a
slight bow to We're, who had spent the
evening in a distant corner of the
room, offered his arm to his mother.
We're thought him gone for good, and
putting aside her work stood gazing
dreami!y into the fire, but III q few
moments ne was back again, and lean
ing against the mantel opposite her,
while his keen eyes took in every de-
tail of her person, said. Il cannot
tell you Miss Herbert how glad am
to find my mother SO much improved,
| trust you Will not let her grow worse
again"
Il trust | shall not neglect my duties
in the future any more than l have
done in the past" she answered cold
ly, for something in his voice and
rather than in his words,
angered her, and taking her candle
from the table she left the room.
MY dear" said Mrs. Raymond as
We're We're about to bid her good night,
Il wish you to write some invitations
for me tomorrow; my dear boy IS so
seldom al home hat | wish to make
his visits as pleasant as possible, and
the house is but a dull place with no
one but his old mother to amuse him.
We're, l said | would one day tell you
why he does not live at the hall, sit
here on the bed and | will do SO now
when Ralph was about seventeen
| lost my husband: he had been a
stern tyrannical man and made my
home very unhappy, | was much
after this for Ralph was at Col
1t was about a year after that q
occurred which broke in
hpoh lily IOIlclll1tSS. VI ol oioOCI
died suddenly leaving to my are her
only child, and l, who had no child
save Ralph. was eager to welcome
this girl to nv home and give her a
place in my heart. She
was about sixteen then, and as her
mother had willed that she should be
educated in a large boarding school,
she only came t 0 us for her vacations:
but even during these short visits |
learned to love her very dearly. Nor
was | the only one; Ralph, who was
then finishing his course at Yale, soon
saw how fair and sweet the gill was,
and asked her to be his wife. OF
course | was delighted, and it was ar
ranged the wedding should take place
as soon as her education was com
At last that time came. she
her studies in Baltimore, and
back to US for good: but | saw
from the first hat she vas greatly
changed, at one time dull and ~listless
then again feverishly impatient and
restless. When | remarked on and
the reason of the change, she
saying it was all my magma
ton and went off in a few days to visit
some friends at Ladyside, about ten
miles from here.
"Among other presents Ralph had
ordered for his bride was an elegant
carriage and horses. and on the dav
Were expected he went to B. to
examine them. There he unexpected
ly met an old College mate who had
once been very kind to him. He told
he was in Virginia for his wife
but that it was to be an elopement as
her family objected. and begged
Ralph's aid in stealing the bride.
Ny boy was a wild lad then and
too, Of past kindnesses. prom
ised the young man all the assistance
be needed. The fact that the lady
was at Ladyside occasioned him no
surprise as he knew a large party Of
young people were gathered there for
summer, SO he agreed to have a
in readiness to convey the
couple to the railroad. There was 4
ball at Ladyside that night, and toward
midnight a cloaked and hooded figure
eft the dancers and stole to where the
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