Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-05-13
THWARTED.
e Mother =:

Il III w An l. HDs
"Mother p
A look of tender expostulation: the
swift moving of aged lips to smile.
Two faces almost touched as pair of
strong arms relieved feeble ones of a
heavy package of books.
"Well, DEAR" said the mellow old
voice of Mrs. Naples, addressing her
son, Lynn; i" I thought you had enough
to carry"
Lynn Naples arms might have been
said to be full, for he carried dry-goods
bundle, valise, well-packed shawl
strap and an umbrella; but.he took quick
possession of the books, and then, after
an instant's evident regret that he had
no arm to offer his mother, stepped from
the store door, and turned to hail horse
car.
A fair face, that had been turned stead
lily toward the two since they emerged
from the store, leaned forward now into
the sunshine, as Annie Lorraine, among
the velvet cushions of her phston, fol-
lowed with her brown, attentive eyes the
movements Of mother and son.
Amusing, watching the crowd some
times" remarked an elegant young man
at her side, reconciling himself with
what grace he could to Miss Loraine's
inattention.
EYES," she answered, almost inaudi-
bly,.
The next moment, with a sharp CRY,
she had sprung from the violet cushions
and was foremost in the gathering crowd.
Bewildered, and for once shaken out
Of his boosted repose of manner, Percy
Dudley followed her.
An aged woman, her beautifully sill
very hair disheveled, her black dress
covered with dust, had just been lifted
from the ground by b11rly policeman,
and was instantly claimed by young
man.
"Win some one call carriage?"
cried Lynn Naples, his mother lying
senseless across his breast.
"Take mine! pray, take mine!" the
astonished Dudley heard Miss Lorraine
saying.
But before he could get his breath, he
was shouldered one side by Lynn, who
had accepted Miss Loraine's offer with
out thought, and was only anxious to
get his mother to place of safety.
He laid her in the deep seat, and sup
ported her with one arm, while Miss
Lorraine put the lines into his other hand.
"Turn down this side street-quick-
out of the crowd" she said; "and leave
the ph@ton at the St. James hotel for
Miss Lorraine
{" The burly policeman had finished
placing his packages and bundles about
his feet, and mechanically Lynn Naples
obeyed the mandate given him by the
slvery voice and sweet brown eyes.
The pretty ponies bore him quickly
from the scene, and through several quiet
streets to his home.
By this time Mrs. Naples had regained
consciousness, and could descend from
the vehicle with his assistance, though
much shaken.
In stepping from the sidewalk to take
horse-car, she had been interrupted by
the passing, of carriage, and stepped
back beneath the horses of another.
Lynn Naples was blue-eyed, tender
hearted fellow, with nothing remarkable
about him but his purity of character
and domestic tastes, contrasting strongly
with the habits of the young men of the
day.
Though six-and-twenty, his mother
had hitherto been the sole lady of his
love, and she was little surprised to
hear him exclaim suddenly, out of
revere, the next day:
"Wasn't she beautifully"
"Who, Lynn"
"The young lady who offered me her
carriage"
"You forget, DEAR" placidly, over her
knitting, II did not see her.
II wonder who she is?"
And Lynn continued to wonder. He
had left the pheton at the St. James
hotel, and the proprietor had assured
i1m that all would be right. Apparently
the episode had closed.
On the contrary, Annie Lorraine, re-
lnarkably independent young lad y for
one of but twenty years of age, had
taken pains to inform herself that Mrs.
Naples was not seriously injured.
She asked hundred questions of her
mformant-who CHANGED to know the
MaPles-and learned that they were in
moderate circumstances; perfectly re-
spectable; that they lived in flat in
Hotel Dighron; that Lynn was dry
goods clerk and supported his mother
and young sister.
Percy Dudley stood by chatting.
"lt seems to me you are very much
interested in that fellow, Annie!' he e1-
claimed, at last.
II am, Think she answered, care
lessly.
Dudley looked at her from under q
frowning brow. He, Percy Dudley, the
Irresistible, the best match of the season.
had paid this girl the most unmistakable
attentions for four months without the
slightest sign of having made but the
most ordinary impression upon her.
Yet he continued his suit, since there
was not another girl worth one hundred
thousand dollars in his set, nor anywhere
that he knew of, to be had.
His jealous eyes observed that in
driving with Miss Lorraine, they never
passed the store where Lynn was en-
ployed without turning her glance toward
the entrance; and once, when he CHANGED
to be filling lady's carriage with bum
dies, she bowed to him, with faint flush
upon her lily face.
From that moment Dudley hated
Lynn. Though he did not for q moment
entertain the thought that Miss Lorraine
gave him more than passing approval.
and he could see that the young man
had something noble and attractive in
bis air, he was jealous even of her mere
respect for him.
1t was mere accident that the two met
again and again during the winter,
at church, at fair, in picture gallery,
where Miss Lorraine offered Lynn the
sweetest courtesy, but it infuriated
Dudley, -"
"Curse the fellow! I'll make him
cut h1s own throat before longp' hemut-
ne caught Lynn out, and obtained
an introduction. It was in concert
room. =-.,.