River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-02

A perfect afternoon, even for Ii belle
Paris, and Mrs. birmingham, leaning
back in her chair beside the window of
her Grtuide salon, thought that life in
the gay city was the one thing de
/ sirable, and would be the one glorl-
ous thing, we it not for her son Mar
tin
For her son, her darling, her chief
pride, for whom nothing in the world
was too good; for whom manageable
maidens and shrew ed mothers had an
gled yisibly and invisibly, who never
yet had been disappointed or thwart-
ed in all his life, was in state OF des-
peration and distress that made Mrs.
birmingham wonder, i'll agitation and
di-may what would be the result of it
all
And 1T al" meant that Martin Jer-
uingham vas in love with Mrs. War
ri,gdale's charming young friend and
coInpanlCn-our own Lila Barton,
whom, two years before, Mrs Jerning-
ham had turned out of doors.
She will not listen to me" Martin
| had said to his mother, before he went
out that afternoon. "Itell you | must
| have her. too-before another twenty
four hours goes over my head, mother
| Unless | get her for my wife, I'll shoot
myself ~ sure rs fate. | never cared
so much for anything or anybody be
/ fore, and it's only the memory of your
cruel treatment of her-the feeling that
She thinks YOU would not sanction an
I en@agement-that keeps us apart.
You think that?' she said trem-
bling.
i know it, he answered hotly. She
/ is gracious and kind, but beyond that |
tell YOU her just pride restraints her.
Look here, mother, if you want to do
me favOr-if YOU don't want To have
mo brought in dead some
I time--vou will 90 and tell her
/ that YOU want her for your daughter"
And Mrs. birmingham knew, as she
4 looked upon her sons handsome, bag
i gali face, that even if it killed her to
1 so humble herself, She must do it for
his sake
1T is awfully cruel of you" she said
pitcously. and he interrupted her, firm
| "
You can take your choice-Lila
Barton for your daughter, or get along
/ without met
| Martini
y mean it. She won't refuse me if
/ YOU ask her. BY Jove! she is the only
I woman in the world | shall ever ask.
! She shall accept mel
J. think there is no danger of her
refusing such an offer, She said, little
of tie old scornfulness in her voice
"of course you will 90 he answered.
decidedly when come back at
seven to dinner, shall hear what you
have to say from her"
Tncn ne had gone, and Mrs Jerning-
ham had sat in trouble and dismay,
thinking it all out, wondering how she
could accomplish her GRAND, and yet
not sacrifice her pri !e-how she could
conciiate Lila Barton and yet give her
to understand it was an honor she had
come to offer her
She ordered her carriage and dressed
in most elaborate toilet, was driven
to Mrs Waringdale's, where surround
ed 10y Ill the Injuries of wealth and re-
fncmont, Lila Barton had won her way
to her heart. and made not only the
confidential friend, but the beloved
daughter and choice companion.
A. Mrs Waringdale's friend society
had opened its most exclusive doors
anu 'sklt tltlit l4ilL llfttl Lblliitl btIStli
almost unconsciouSly Il pet and favor
lite III pleasant social circles, where her
personal attractiveness, her sweet win
somcncss. held the position given her.
And Martin birmingham had renewed
his acquaintance with his mothers dis
charged governess, and
This was the result-Alls. Jerning-
ham waiting i'll Mrs. Warringdale's
parl II for Lila Barton to come, with
whom She was to plead in her sons
| behalf
1t seemed like some impossible bur
lcsqu", 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 n rod
of iron.
| For his sake. Only, solely for his
sake And then Lila Barton came in, a
/ vision of lovliness, and sweetness in her
soft, uhite dress
She greeted Mrs. birmingham in a
courteous way, and then waited in
/ quiringIy, and, perhaps, just trlfie
/ haugbtily.
/ And 50 Mrs. birmingham rushed at
i once into her GRAND.
No doubt you will be quite surprised
i To receive a message of which | am
/ bearer, because usually such messages
are delivered personally, Miss Barton.
/ But, rs | am willing to remove any OBJ
/ stacle from the way to my sons happi-
ness. j determined that in no better
way could the accomplishment of his
wishcs lie decided than by my coming
! i'm a perfectly friendly way to you"
/ She had not sacrificed her dignity,
and certainly had spoken very we'll
AMI Lila, her face expressive of sur
prise. listened
Il think | do not ut all understand
!. You, Mrs. birmingham. You have evil
! IDENTITY undertaken some commission
/ from Your son. but what, might in
! quirc
This from the girl She had disgraced!
/ But she put the curb on herself, and
/ went blandly on, for her boys sake
/ "Gour dclcacy certainly does you
I credit cannot express how delightful
+ ~ claiming | find it, my dear Miss
! Barton Yes, | am commissioned by
I my sen 10 make YOU an offer of his
( hand hi, name. his position. his aifec-
! tions. And, Miss Barton, if you will
i charitabiy permit me, ] cordially en-
dorsc whatever will conduce to Martins
happiness
And for the first time in her life,
/ Mrs birmingham realized that She had
I eaten l;umblc-pie
\ curious little look had swept over
/ I.iia's face.
"WiG YOU tell Mr.. birmingham for
/ me, please, that in the society in which
| move il is not customary for gentle
men to ito their proposals of marriage
/ by pruxy2 Will you also be kind
/ enough to tell him that under any cir
cumstauces | could not possibly con-
slider his offer? And will you inform
/ him that | have been engaged to Doc
/ tor Dormcr for the past three months -?
I And. a. Mrs Warringdale's carriage is
waiting and have an engagement ut
/ half-paSt five. bc SO good as to excuse
/ me. Mrs birmingham.
/ And So LIla's turn came, and like
Young JucheSs, She bowed 20 the wo
man WHO had, all uuconsciously, been
/ her fate, while Mrs birmingham went
back Ia her son.
But rs year afterwards, Mrs. Dor
( L ,.naI