The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-19
A MANAGING MAMMA,
BY @. D. BEEBE.

"Oh" exclaimed his uncle, John Rlv-
ers, prolonging the monoNyilable and
speaking in Il tone OF voice indicating
great surprise. lis She so anxious to Sc
cure q husband for Maude, thCnT
"~ho is indeed rcturncd james, with
the air of Solon. "ihc praeticed her
arts upon me 10 a certain extent, throw
ing Maude constantly in my society.
But, interesting though the girl may be,
] did not fancy her altogether so Mrs.
Howe changed her tactics and professed
indifference"
"Strange," unused Mr.. Rivers; | never
heard the thing limited before. Mrs.
Howe has invited me to spend n few days
at her house, ostensibly To meet an old
friend-sIr. Rogers. wouldn't wonder
if her real object is to fingMaude at my
head, with all my forty-tive years and
gray hairs"
Undoubtedly" replied James, in a
confd mt tone. "Your fortune is too
great an object for her to allow to pass"
'Indeed," returned Mr.. Rivers, with
some asperity, Il flatter myself that even
without my fortune ! would not be con
sidercd a bad catch for any one
"Of course, UNCLE" i'll conclliatory
tone; "no one knows your attractions OF
mind and person, and appreciates your
sterling worth more thoroughly than |
do; but / fancy Mrs. Howe would look
to your fortune first. And it would be
IN excellent Joke, Uncle John, if you
would be very attentive to Maude during
your visit, and leave at last without com
ing to any proposal, as you would, in any
case" he added.
"Rcally, my boy" said Mr.. Rivers,
"your coolness is positively refreshing.
DO YOU expect me to right your fancied
| wrongs in this heartess manner? And |
really wonder, if Mrs Howe showed you
such distinction, you did not feel flat
tered by it."
James was silent He had not been
altogether truthful in his statement, and
he began to think it best to refrain from
saving too much. The facts Of the case
were, that Mrs. Howe was a managing
mamma, so far as keeping her daughter
from improper associations were coll
cerned. When James Earle made his
advent at her house she received him
very warmly, for he was the son OF an old
friend long since dead She did not dis
courage a reasonable amount Of attention
to Maude, until she discovered that he
was too fond of the cOmpanionship Ol
rather fast young men, and OF keeping
late hours. When she discovered this,
she read him short but earnest and
motherly lecture, which James did not
kindly receive He fancied she discour-
aged Maude from going out with him
afterwards and he felt greatly aggrieycd,
Fearing his uncle might learn the true
state of the case, he FASTENED to giyt
his own version of the affair." hoping tc
weaken Mrs. lIowe's influence thereby.
He was John Rivers reputed heir,and
in reality, considerably spoiled. Hi
chief objects in life has been to consull
: his own pleasure in every thing, and t,
hide his shortcomings from his uncle
and in both he succeeded admirably.
In spite of the unfavorabe news
{ James brought, Mr. Rivers made rathcr
. elaborate preparations for his visit. II,
| had known Mrs. Howe as a young girl
: when Il friend of his sister, james mother
c indeed, though she never suspected if, h,
$ lost his heart in that direction, and hcl
' rather sudden marriage was quite Il blow
e to him. He had not seen her in years
e and it seemed SO novel, and not alto
4 gcther unpleasant, the idea that She ha,
$ a marriageabe daughter whom she was
c doubtless, preparing with great cere
i. mony to fling at his head" to use hi
, |
:, Strange James was so peevish abou
t T." he thought. "Why, am realI
c anxious to know how Anne will begin.
G At the appointed time he set out TO
IS Hayden, the town in which Mrs. How
It resided, and when he reached his dest
$ nation he found a charming residenc
o filled with interesting people, and
e charming hostess presiding over all, vii
e welcomed him in 50 cordial a manner Il
l. to leave no doubt that his presence wa
Desired Maude was not so pretty as he
mother, but with gentle, pleasing way
and she evidently had no designs upo
him. A. for Mrs. Howe herself, she W.
, a Youthful and beautiul-arp pearin
y woman still and if 4 managing namnl
/, at all, as he began to seriouslv doubt, S.
. managed 50 adroitly to hide it that i
: confessed to himself he would never hay
" had the slightest suspicion of such
y, thing had not james put him upon h
guard.
- At length, however, he began to thin
~ James more than half right. Maude can
NJ every morning to ask his pleasure for Il
T. day. Would he walk, ride, or how did |
prefer to amuse himself? She alwa
NJ brought him the morning papers, W
- ready to read, sing Or play for him, al
,s he thought her a very interesting youl
' girl indeed, but somehow he fantied til
# he preferred older women. And then Il
" idea struck him rather unpleasantly tn
his old friend Mr.. Rogers was very poll
to Mrs. Howe. 1t was only passil
thought, he told himself; but if 50
'd passed through his brain vast numb
I'd of times in an incredibly short viii
e- He sat alone one afternoon thinking
lg all this and feeling rather disconsolate
PC the truth were told when Mrs. Hoy
ne came down stairs, looking absolutely gi
tn ish in her becoming dinner-dress, al
peeped into the drawing-room.
"Why, you look lonely" she said, wi
her wonderfully bright smile. at is
~ unusual thing to see this room, 50 near
,ir deserted thought Maude was here"
tie "And why should she be hereF'
p- asked, beginning to feel aggrieved at !
sc ing put off with that child SO persi
ng entity. ri have seen so little of you dl
~ inc nv visit here"