The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-06-12

| and bent, her QreSS pore evidence OF
the dust of travel, and in her hand was
a huge handbook, containing the hat
which was to astonish the Londoners.
"Indeed, ma am" the man began,
but the old lady walked steadily on to
the door, beneath whose threshold she
deserted stream of light.
The hot flush had by this time burned
out of DR.. Notions cheek. The morn
ing's dawn had dissipated the foolish
fancies of the night. His duties for the
dav were over, and he was free to seek
Violet, whose wonderful eyes would
light up as he entered, and whose lips
would perhaps brush his cheeks with
their velvety caresses.
He sprang to his feet to seek her,
when the door softly opened, and, turn
ing, he ssw-could it be dream con-
jured up by his restless fancies of the
| night beforeP -his mother! Close be-
hind her was the wholly-wondering
haf-apologetic face of his butler. 1t
took him a full minute to realize it was
no dream and then (honor to his man
hood) sudden, overwhelming tender
ness swept away all else, and with a
glad cry of "Mother!" he clasped her
to his heart.
When she had grown caImer and
more at rest, beginning to look around
of irritation began to grow at his heart.
| Why had she Gomez Had he not made
all comfortable for her at homep Here
she would be constrained, unnatural.
And Violet! He could picture the as
tonished look which would creep into
her eyes when he said to her, "This is
my mother;' nay, more, the naughty
curve which would gather about her
mouth, so rich and ripe and sweet. So
the question at his heart found words,
and he scarcely himself knew the innate
irritation they betrayed.
Mother, why did you not let me
know you were coming?"
81 meant to surprise you, my boy"
she answered, fondly. "Can it be that
l have done wrongp"
"No, no." he hastily replied. "Come,
you must eat and go to bed. You need
a rest"
But long after he had hidden her
goodnight he sat and thought.
His mother had come to make her
home with him. That was clear. If
he told her he willed otherwise, she
would obey.
For time he planned it outflow he
would tell her the city life was not
adapted to her needs; and then Violet
need never know of the plain, humble
little woman who was not ashamed to
toll with her own hands that his
hands might be the hands of a gen.
tleman.
0, shame on him Could he ever
wash them clean even of the thought?
No; Violet should know the truth! He
could bear the scorn now in her eyes
and in her voice as she would question
him how he dared look up to her, but
his mother should share his home and
his heart to the end.
| 1t was too late now to visit Violet to-
night, but he went up stairs, and, softly
turning the knob of the door of the room
where his mother slept, he noiselessly
s5IaE8qesaqAffffss tips 'totne8iu Wondered f0fe
head, reverently.
She started up with glad sob of joy.
"My boy! my boy! whom thought
was not glad to see his mother"
He quieted her at last, wondering why
his own heart felt so light, and she fell
asleep with his hand tightly clasped in
hers.
You did not come last night" said
his betrothed, when, next morning, he
stood in her presence.
=" No, Violet" he answered; "but
come to-day to tell how unworthy am
of your love. Last night my mother
came to me. Nay, do not stare. 1t
was no visitant from the spirit land,
but an actual reality. / have never told
you of my mother. Think of ia man
so blessed, and yet dumb All her life
she toiled with poverty-for whose sake,
think you? Her son's-that she might
make him gentleman. God prospered
him, and enabled him to take all the
burden from her old shoulders, and so he
thought he had done his duty. He fed
the body, but he let her heart starve.
Last night, in the desperation of her
hunger, she sought me out. For a mo-
ment-O, bitter humiliation my heart
rebelled! Think of it, Violet-the cruel,
unnatural pride which would bring into
a mans cheek blush for the woman
who bore him. thought of you, with
your pretty, dainty ways, side by side
with her plain and homely ones. knew
the two could never be reconciled; and
so, Violet, | have come to ask you to
forgive and forget me. My heart and
my home are my mothers henceforth
and forever"
Had the man some lingering hope that
the girl before him would refuse the sac
rificeP Certainly an added look of suf-
fering grew into his eyes as she an
swered nothing, only laid her hand in
his a moment as if in farewell.
His visits seemed very long, very
weary all that day; but, as he crossed
the home threshold at nightfall, he
smoothed the frown from his brow, as
he remarked:
"She must suspect nothing"
He would find her, he knew, in his
study. As he softly opened the door he
anticipated her cry Of any boy" as
she tremblingly rose to greet him; but,
ah, he had not anticipated the picture
which met his gaze.
His mother was sitting, indeed, in the
armchair by the fire; but at her feet,
her head resting in her lap, while the
old fingers caressingly Stroked tho
luNuriant observation-disclosures hair was an