River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-06-17


the letter she was writing, with the
fond, tender smile she always gave her
beautiful daughter shy, sweet girl of
seventeen, so ike what the mother had
been at the same age.
'Gou want a new dress, or some other
necessity, from the non-possession of
which you are suffering so terribly?
Her soft, white hand, jeweled and
strengthened smoothed the girls fair
hair, and she smiled down at the flush
ed, hushed face.
Not a new dress, Lily, or trinket
or another new pet pony? Child, what
is it? Not"-and quick, strange look
came into her eyes-"you do not mean
Herbert Canyons"
That is what mean Oh, he says
he loves me, and"
and you told him what, Lily?'
II said it must be just as you said,
mamma" Lily replied.
And you-care for him? You are
such Il child-the merest baby! What
do you know of the love that SWAPS
hearts, and makes or wrecks human
life?'
Lily looked up in her mothers stormy
passionful eyes
II know | care a great deal for him, "
she said, simply.
yet you will tell him no. Lily!
When he demands your answer, tell
him your mother says mo" Lily, you
have always been a dutiful daughter,
and in this respect your usual ODE
dience. For years | have been waiting
and now my turn has come? Tell NAL
colin Carlyon's son | say no. no. nor
The girls lips quivered, and her face
paled.
But, mamma, it will break my
heart, for [ love him, and he loves me
just as well.
Mrs Glyn laughed coldly.
That is all nonsense about Jour heart
breaking tell you / know that hearts
do not break so easily! And rs to love
you are two babies to talk OF such a
thing. All the same, l command that
you tell him what my decision Is.
But, oh, mamnIa-
Mrs. Glyn passionately interrupted
the piteous remonstrance.
Il tell you have only lived for this
hour, There is no but about it, Lily
it is nothing but mo- to Malcolm
Canyons SON"
And Lily Glyn crept away, to cry out
her sorrow to herself
Twentv-four hours later, a servant
took to Mrs Glyn card from a gentle
man waiting in the parlor, and she went
down, with a cold, passionless face and
deliberate repose of manner, to look
upon Malcolm Carlyon's face for the
first time since her widowhood ten years
before.
He was 50 like he used to be-oi
course showing that he was twenty years
oldcr-but she thought, even handsomcr
than III his younger days.
Nevertheless, her well-disciplined
heart did not quicken or lessen Its
steady beats, and she bowed courteous
", not even wondering if his thoughts
had gone tlyi1-- back to the last time
they stood alone in Maud Tudor's
home
Perhaps it is needful for me to apol-
ogize for intruding, Mrs. Glyn," he be
gan: but She fastened to assure him his
presence, although a surprise, was no
more an intrusion than dozens of calls
she received daily.
brings me- he continued, with grave
earnestness, and you will allow me to
introduce it mt the beginning. L am
come on behalf of my SON, whose hap
piness is at stake, and who has been re-
fused by your lovely daughter, i'll ODE
dicnce to your command. Is this cor
rect, Mrs. Glyn?"
He stood looking in her face, still very
enchantingly fair.
Tits entirely correct, Mr.. Carlyon.
Your son has been refused by my
daughter, in obedience to my explicit
commands
Not a word beyond the bare actual
statement
But pardon me, you may not know
how fondly they are attached to each
other. Surely you cannot know what a
terrible misfortune it will be to them to
be so needlessly cruelty separated
Il understand the condition of my
daughters affairs better than anyone
else, | think, NJ, Carlyon; and as to
your son, you car hardly expect me to
take an interest either way. All have
said Is, Lilly cannot marry him"
And you can SO deliberately break
Two young hearts"
She smiled looking steadily into his
eyes.
1T sounds rather odd to hear you
plead for them, lest their hearts break,
when, not so very long ago, you
succeeded in-Well hearts do not break
so readily; and if they did what matter!
1t is only Il life, more or less that Is
ruined.
"Maudr' he exclaimed in sudden
Mortified tone
II am glad you have called me by my
name" she said coldly. II have not
heard it since my husband died, and il
strengthens me III my desire for revenge
upon you"
His eyes kindled passionately.
And you will kill our children tC
Wreuk your revenge upon me. Well it Is
useless to plead with such woman as
you have grown to be-"
Entirely useless" she repeated
haughtily. go tell your darling boy
the story Of his fathers younger days
and let him judge whether you are the
perfect man he thinks you"
And as he went back to his magniti-
cent home, where his son awaited his
coming in fcverish impotence, Nal
colm wondered whether it was his Sin
returning to curse him.
4 week later, Lilly went to her moth
er, with pale, resOlute face and steady
gleam in her eyes, that was her father
over again.
Mamma" she said, very quietly-an
| ominous calm it perhaps you dc
not know that Herbert is lying danger
ously i'll of brain-fever? Mr.. Canyons
physician has Just been to tell me his
reason, his life, depends upon my being
with him; ard, mamma, am going tC
him. because we love each other. Oh
mamma" and the steady voice faltered
ana the tears sprang to her eyes, ''if
might only go with yonr consent youl
blessing?'
Mrs. Glyn turned her head away.
You Will go, at all events Lilly?
Mamma, love him. Wouldn't you
do as much-so little-for anyone you
loved ?"
An. She would have died, in those
carry days, for this sick boys father.
"Wait," she said until come
back"
And while Lilly sat crying and pray
ing. her mother went to Malcolm Car
| lvoll, and was shown TO the bedside OF
the delirious boy where his father sat
! in hopeless anguish, looking at the
/ fo,-.r fuSbed face the taOoled cTrlino