Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-12-15

1 Oub VI uOOIo'
5 "She will not listen to me,
Martin had said to his mother, be
fore he went out that afternoon
II tell you / must have her, too
before another twenty-four hours
, goes over my head, mother. I'm
less ! get her for my wife, I'll shoot
myself sure as fate. never cared
SO much for anything or anybody
before, and its only the memory OF
your cruel treatment of her-the
feeling that she thinks you would
not sanction an engagement-that
keeps us apart.
You think That" she said,
trembling
II know it, he answered, holly.
"She is gracious and kind, but be-
yond that, l tell You her just pride
restraints her. Look here, mother,
il you don't want to have me
brought in dead some time-you
will tell her you want her for your
daughter
And Mrs. birmingham knew, as
she looked upon her sons hand
some, haggard face, that even if it
killed her to so humble herself, she
must DO it for his sake.
at is awfully cruel Of you," she
said piteously, and he interrupted
her, firmly.
."You can take your choice
Lila Barton for your daughter, or
get along without me-"
Martin y
81 mean it. She won't refuse
me if you ask her. BY Jove. she
is the only woman in the world l
shall ever ask. She shall accept
me-
81 think there is no danger of
her refusing such an Offer" she
said, little of the old scornful-
ness in her voice.
"Of course you will Co." he
answered, decidedly. "When l come
back at seven to dinner, | shall
hear what you have to say from
her"
Then he had gone, and Mrs.
birmingham had sat in trouble and
dismay, thinking it out, wondering
how she could accomplish her err
rand, and yet not sacrifice her
pride-how she could conciliate
Lila Barton, and yet give her to
understand il was an honor she |
had come to offer her.
She ordered her carriage, and,
dressed in a most elaborate toilet,
was driven to Mrs. Warringdale's,
whore, surrounded by all the lux
uries of wealth and refinement,
Lila Barton had won her way to
heart, and made not only the con-
fdential friend, but the beloved
daughter and choice companion.
As Mrs. Warringdale's friend,
society had opened its most exclu-
sive doors, and our little Lila had
found herself almost unconscious
ly, pet and favorite in pleasant
social circles, where her personal !
attractiveness, her refined intslli-
gence, held the position given her.
And Martin birmingham had re-
newed his acquaintance with his
mothers discharged governess, and |
had
This was the result-Mrs. Jern-
ingham waiting in Mrs. Warning
dale's parlor for Lila Barton to
come, with whom she was to plead
in her sons behalf.
1t seemed like some impossible
burlesque, as she waited, and there
was a sharp struggle within her
between pride and love for her son
that idol and darling who had
never been denied, and who ruled
her with a rod of iron.
For his sake. Only, solely for
his sake. And then Lila Barton
came in, vision of elegance, and
loneliness, and sweetness in her
soft, white dress.
She greeted Mrs. birmingham in
a courteous way, and then waited
inquiringly, and, perhaps, just
trihe haughtily.
And Mrs. birmingham rushed at
once into her errand.
"No doubt you will be quite sur
prised to receive message of
which l am bearer, because usual
" such messages are delivered per-