Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-14
"But T have no card. He'll see me-.

under the full glare Of the light of the
hall lamp.
The man looked askance at the sin
gular apparition. Her hat was crushed
and bent, her dress bore evidence of
the dust of travel, and in her hand was
a huge band-box, 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 DIR. Notions cheek. The morn
ing's dawn had dissipated the foolish
fancies Of the night. His duties for
the day were over, AID he was free to
seek Violet, whose sonderful eyes
would light up as he entered. and
whose lips would perhaps brush his
cheeks with their velvety caresses.
He sprung to his feet to seek her,
when the door softly opened, and turn
ing he saw-could it be a dream cor
jured up by his restless ihncies Of the
night before? --his mother! Close be-
hind her was the wholly wondering,
half-apologetic face of his butler. It
took him full minute to realize it was
no dream, and then (honor 70 his mar
hood a sudden, overwhelming tender
ness swept away all else, and with a
glad cry of "Mother!" he clasped her
to his heart.
When shs had grown caimer and
more at rest, beginning to look around
and wonder and admire, little feeling
of irritation began to grow at his heart.
Why had she come? 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 he-
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 we're comine?"
meant to surprise you, my boy
she answered fondly. Can it De that
I have done wrong?"
ono, no." he hastily replied. "Come,
you must eat and go 10 bed You need
a rest"
But, long after he had hidden her
goodnight, he sat and thought.
His mother had come to make iieT
home with him. This was clear. II be
told her he willed it otherwise, she
would obey him.
For time he planned it outflow
he would tell her the city life was nos
adapted to her needs; aud then Violet
need never know Of the plain, humble
little woman-who had not shamed to
toll with her own hands that his might
be the hands Of a 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 dared he look up to her, bu5
his mother should share his home and
heart to the end.
It was too late now to visit Violet TO-
night, but he went upstairs, and, softl7
turning the knob of the door Of the
room where his mother slept, he noise
lessly approached the bed, and, bend
ing down, touched his lips to the old
withered forehead reverently.
She started up, with glad sob OF
Joy: -.
"My boyl my boy! who thought
was not glad to see his mother"
He quoted her at last, wondering
why his own heart felt SO light, and she
fell asleep with LIS 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 l
come to-day to tell you how unworthy 1
am of your love. Last night my mother
came to me. Nay, do not start. 1t was
no visitant from the spirit land, but an
actual reality. I have never told you
of my mother. Think of it-a 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 a gentleman. God prospered
him, and enabled him to take all the
burden from her old shoulders, and 50
he thought he had done his duty. He
fed the body, but let her heart starve.
Last night, in the desperation of her
hunger, she sought me out. For mo-
ment-oh, bitter humiliation!-my
heart rebelledl Think of it, Violet
the cruel, unnatural pride which would
bring into mans cheek blush for tie
woman who bore himl l thought of
you, with your pretty, dainty ways, side
by side with her plain and homley ones.
I knew the two never could be recon
ciled, and SO, Violet, I have come to ask
you to forget me. My heart, my home,
are my mothers henceforth and for
ever.
Had the man some lingering hope
that the girl before him would refuse
the sacrifice? Certainly an added look
of suffering grew into his eyes as she
answered nothing, only laid her hand
in mis- 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