Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-02-26

night before-his mother! Close behind
was the wholly wondering, half apollo
getic face of his butler. It took him a
full minute to realizr it was no dream:
and then (honor to his manhood) sud-
den, overwhelming tenderness swept
away all else, and with glad cry Of
Mother" be clasped her to his breast.
When she had grown calmer 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 that 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 himself knew the innate If
ritation they betrayed.
Mother, why did you not let me
know you were coming?'
81 meant to surprise you, my boy"
she answered fondly. "Can it be that l
have done wrong?"
"No, no." he hastily replied. "Come,
you must eat and go to bed, you need a
rest"
But long after he had hidden her
good night he sat and thought.
His mother had come to make her
home with him. This was clear. IF ne
told her he willcd it otherwise, she
would obey him.
For q time he planned it outflow he
would tell her that city lie was not
adapted to her needs; and 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 q gentleman.
Oh, shame on him! Could he ever
wash them clean, even of the thought :?
No, Violet should now 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, but
his mother should share his home and
heart to the end.
1t was too late now to visit Violet, to-
night, but be went up stairs, and softly
turning the knob Of the door of the room
where his mother slept, he noiselessly
approached the bed, and, bending
down, touched his lips to the old, with.
cred forehead reve1 emily.
She started up with glad cry Of JOY.
"My boy! 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 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
have come to-day to tell you how I'M
worthy 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. L have
never told you of my mother. Think
Of ia man so blessed and yet so
dumb! All her life she toiled with pow
erty-for whose sake, think you? Her
sons, that she might make of him a
gentleman. God prospered 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 let the heart
starve. Last night, in the desperation
of her hunger, she sought me out.
For moment-oh, humillation-my
pride rebelled. Think of it, Violet
that unnatural pride which would bring
into mans cheek a flush for the VIC
man who bore him. thought of you,
with your pretty, dainty ways, side by
side with her plain and homely ones
| knew that the two could never be
reconciled, and so, Violet, have come
20 ask you TO forgive and forget me.
My heart, my home, are mothers
henceforth and forever"
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
his a MON ent as if in farewell.
His visits seemed very long, very
weary all that day; bat as he crossed
the home threshold at nightfall, he
smOthered the froRn 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
he anticipated her glad cry of "My
boy" as she tremblingly rose to meet
him: but, alb, he had not anticipated
the picture 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 fingers carelessly stroked the luxur-
liant chestnut hair, was another figure
which rose instead to meet him. Der
nard,' the sweet voice whispered in his
ear. II lost my mother when L was a
baby. 1t has been SO sweet to find one
again You said, henceforth your homo
and heart were hers. Ga, my love, nav
we not share the BOOM"