The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-01-20

tdOV vi LILO ousiVts ~ bOOh q iuit
minute to realize it was no dream and
then (honor to his manhood) a sudden,
overwhelming tenderness swept away all
else, and with glad cry of another r.
he clasped her to his heart.
When she had grown calmer and more
at rest, beginning to look around and
wonder and admire, little feeling OF ir-
ritation began to grow at his heart.-
Why had she Gomez Had he not made
all comfortable for her at home? 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 knew himself the innate
Irritation they betrayed.
"Mother, why did you not let me
know you we're coming
II meant to surprise you, my boy"
she answered fondly. "Can it be that /
have done wrongr'
"No. no." be hastily replied "Come e,
you must eat and go to bed, You need
rest"
But long after he had bidden her good
night be sat and thought.
His mother had come to- make her
home with him; this was clear. If he
told her he willed ii otherwise she would
obey him.
For time he planned it outflow he
would tell her the city life was not adapt.
ed to her needs; and then Violet need
never know of the plain, humble, little
woman-who had not sbamed to toll
with her own hands that his might be
the hands of gentleman.
Oh, 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 be me and
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, be noise-
lessly approached the bed, and bending
down, touched his lips to the old, with
cred forehead reverently.
She started up with glad sob Of joy.
"My boy! my boy! who / 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
sought her presence.
"No, Violet" he answered, "but am
come to-day to tell you how unworthy |
l-em Of ye~rleua- night my moth
er came to me- Nay, do not start. 4
was no visitant from the spirit land, but
an actual reality. have never told you
of nv mother. Think of it-a man 50
blessed, and yet dumb! All her life she
has tpiled with poverty-for whose sake,
think yopp Her sons that she might
make Of him gentleman. God pros
pered 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 mo-
ment- oh, bitter humiliation my pride
rebelled. Think OF it, Violet-that cruel,
unnatural pride which would bring into
a mans cheek a blush for the woman
who bore him. I Thought Of you, with
your pretty, dainty ways, side by side
with ber plain and homely ones. knew
the two could never be reconciled; 80,
Violet, / have come to ask you to for
give and forget me. My heart, my home
are my mothers henceforth and foS-
ever"
Had the man some lingering hope that
the girl before him would refuse the sac
rifice2 Certainly an added look of suf-
fering grew into bis eyes as she answered
nothing, only laid her hand in his mo.
ment as II in farewell.
His visits seemed very long,very wea-
ry, all that day; but as he crossed the
home threshold at nightfall, he smooth
ed the frown from his brow as be re-
marked:
"She must suspect nothing"
He would find her, he knew, in his
study. As be softly opened the door, be
anticipated her glad cry of "My boy"
as she trembliugly rose to greet him !;
but. ah, he had not anticipated the pic
ture which met his gaze.
His mother was sitting, indeed, in the
arm chair by the fire, but at her feet, her
head resting in her lap, while the old fin-
gers caressingly stroked the luxuriant
chestnut hair, was another figure, which
rose instead to welcome him.
"Bernard," the sweet voice whispered
in his ear, ~ lost my mother when / was
baby. 1t has been so sweet to fnd one
again! You said, henceforth your home
and heart were hers. Oh, my love, may
we not share the boon?"
Railroad.
Col. Sullivan and Mr.. Tracey of the
Beaver Valley Road stopped in Cald well
| last Fridav night; Several citizens Of