The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-08-26
A MOTHERS SACRIFICE.
BY j. w.

BY j. w. ..t ..
The fire burnt low in the crate. but
the little light it gave revealed all the
grace of Mrs. Wingtield's slight form,
in its close-fitting robes Of black.
Tonight, for the first time in her
two years of widowhood, she laid of
the widows cap, which had for so
long served to conceal the thick au-
burn braids, SO artistically coiled about
the small head.
Perhaps for this same reason she had
dismissed the butler, when he entered
according to custom to light the lamps,
or, perhaps, because the slow ticking
Of the clock upon the mantel revealed
to lier sufficiently the lapse of time,
without compelling her to distinguish
the hands upon the face of the dial
drawing nearer and nearer the hour
whose close approach dissipated the
cainness she vainly strove to gain.
Eighteen years had passed since she
and Arthur Mainwarning had met.
They had been lovers in that far-off
time; but he was poor then, with no
whisper in the air of the rich Inherit
ance to which he afterwards fell heir,
just too late for it to bring happiness
to either. fis-
Not that they cared for wealth, eth
er of them, but then there were older,
wiser minds to judge for both, and SO,
each vowing eternal vows, they were
torn apart.
Six short months later, she married
Edward Wingtield. He was. fortu-
nately, not man to look for love anu
sentiment in his young wife-only
wifely duty and obedience. =,
In these she never failed him, and
after his death the world found proof
of his esteem in the fact that to his
widow reverted all his fortune, un-
trammellcd by single reservation.
She had married very young. She
was but thirty-fivc now. Would he
find her changed she wOndere,l-he,
for whose coming she waited here to-
night? ~
simultaneously with the thought
came the sound of carriage wheels and
horses hoofs OH the graveled walk.
She started to her feet, pressing both
hands upon her fast-bcating heart.
Only that morning she had, received
the telegram announcing Arthur
Mainwaring's coming, and already he
was here. ...l.. s.s .-s.fl l.i-+a'f
She was glad, oh, SO gladI that the
room was dark, when she heard the
quick, firm tread she had sometimes
heard i'll her dreams during these long
years of dutiful living SO glad that he
could not see the quick blush, which
put her matrOnhOOd to shame, when
the door was thrown hastily open, and
three or four swift strides brought
him to her side.
"Barbarar"
Oh, how his voice still thrilled her
half with pleasure, half with pain!
His tall form lowered far above her
as in the olden time but he held close
in his own firm, tender grasp her two
little trembling hands.
"Are you glad to see mc?" he ques-
toned. ...-
She strovc to answer, but her lips
quivcred, and no words came.
"Barbara," he said then again, and
he bowed his handsome head lower,
sis it too soon to speak,"
"Oh, Arthur" she answered, "can
yet atone?"
And then the bridge of years was
swept away, and she sobbed out her
happiness upon his heart.
"Let me see you" he said, at last. -T
have not yet seen the face for which l
have hungercd all these years."
He struck light, then turned and
looked at her.
"My darlingw he said. 1T is still
my beautiful Barbara. What have l
done to deserve this hour ?"
"Mamma where are you?" called ont
a fresh girlish voice at this instant.
The next moment a young girl of
scarce seventeen summers sprang into
the room.
''This is my daughter, Arthur-my
only child. Dora, let me present to
you one OF your mothers Oldest
friends"
The gentleman indicated looked
from one to the other-from the moth
er to the daughter-thcn back again.
Now he could lealize the lapse of
timc-now he could appreciate tho
changes time had wrought. 1t was as
though lie had brought the past and
the present face to face, forcing him to
acknowledge the impOssibility Of na-
lures standing still.
The daughter was fair counterpart
of her mothers beauty, AS she look
cd now, shyly extending to him her
hand, Us if i'll depreciation Of her uI-
ceremOniOus entrance, SO had Barbara
looked, when extending her hand in
farewell, as though she would have
said, II am forced into it by stronger
will than mine."
An uncomfortable sensation rose up
in his brcast-a dumb warning against
the inevitable-an unacknOWled ged
desire to rctrsce life's pathway and
conquer time.
Meantime, the young girl pOuted
her full, red lips, as she thought her
mothers friend strangely absent: and
when he at last forced himself into
few words of greeting, they fell upon
dull, ul,heeding cars. IA
Then she had gone. The lovers were
alone again, bnt he no longer opened
wide his arms, but instead drew q
chair to her side, that they might dis
cuss more nationally. r-t a..
"You must teach Dora to love you,"
she said to him next morning. IL
want first to reconcile her to my Sec
ond marriage before starting her with
its probability. Tell me-do you
think her like nie?"
.Your second self.'
"Ah, am so gladi You will love
her, then, for my sake?"
TO love, and to be lovedl Der easy
task set by frail woman in her blind
ness. 1t was Mr.. Mainwaring who
must he Dora's companion in her
daily ride-Mr. Mainwaring who must
4. l. 80, IL