The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-10-01

The foolish boy was dong wrong LII two
ways-in not having sufficient regard for
his mother, and in dallying with a young
girl for whom he had no affection, and
was only using as means to an end. 1
know his mother well enough to be as
sured that if he persisted in his present
course, she would cast him off, and then
break her heart. She could never be
forced into yielding anything.
From the excellent woman you saw
to-night-a friend more than a servant
i heard what happened that night.
cit was raining very hard, one of
those equinoctial storms which are
very severe on the gulf coast, but Paul
put on his overcoat and walked towards
the door.
"Where on earth are you going 2"
his mother asked. Its dusk, and it's
no weather for anyone to be out in.
He laughed provokingly. why,
mother, you don't think little rain will
keep me from where l spend my even
ings. I'm going to settle matters this
evening, and when [ come back I'll tell
you when you'll have nice, lively
daughter-i law to stir up our sluggish
household Have the light burning
brightly in the window, for it's going to
be black night outside
"He walked off whistling, and Mary
said MIS-. Mansell's face scared her, it
was so white and set She sat for a
long time as If she was petrifed, and
then commenced pacing the floor, NUT
tering to herself, Never! never! neverp
"She never was one to talk of her
troubles to servants, SO Mary was not
surprised at her silence. When bed
time came, as was always the custom
when Paul was absent, Mary trimmed
the lamp, stretched open the shutters of
the west window, and put the light near
the closed sash. Mrs Mansell stopped
pacing to and fro, and said, sternly,-
"Take that light from there, and close
the shutters.
"' But Mr.. Paul won't be able to find
his way, ma'am, and it's an awful night,
raining and blowing.
For all answer, Mrs. Mansell took
the lamp from the window with her own
hands, and barred the shutters.
"Let it be dark to him |" she cried,
passionately. For the first time in his
life let him see his home light quenched.
Ever since he was a little boy, whenever
he was belated, the light was constant
and steady to guide him Now let the
disobedient son take it as q sign that his
mothers heart is closed to him.
"Mary said she looked SO awful she
was afraid to open her lips, and when
Mrs. Mansell ordered her to bed she was
glad to go. But all night long the pacing
to and fro went on. Breakfast came,
but no sign of Paul
"EHe stayed all night at Grey's, Mrs.
Mansell said; but an anxious look came
into her eyes. At noon still no news.
The mother ordered one of the colored
men to ride to Grey's and tell Mr.. Paul
she wished to see him.
"The man galloped back in an hour.
"Is Mr.. Paul comm ?" called out
Mrs. Mansell.
Lordy, ma'am,' he answered,
Mass Grey he say Mass Paul started
for home fore ten o'clock last night
Mass Grey axed him to stay, it was SIGH
a bad night, but Mass Paul lowed he
couldn't miss Gle way Gaze you allays
kept light in de winder fur him. He
lowed you'd be scared to def eff he
didn't git back, and Mass Grey he say,
sartain sure, Mass Paul got in de salt
mash, and he's drownded.'
"Mrs. Mansell sank to the floor with
out sigh or a groan, and when she re-
covered consciousness her mind had lost
its balance.
"From the moment she heard he had
started for home, she knew perfectly
what his fate had been. His remains
were not recovered until the next sum-
mer,-a very dry one, -when he and his
horse were found in a DOGGY 'coulee,'
which had literally swallowed them up.
"Mrs. Mansell's disorder is a quiet
mania. She seems to have forgotten all
that passed between her and her son on
that terrible evening; In fact, think she
supposes him boy, and looks for his
return every evening. The business of
her life seems to be to keep the lamp ia
the window trimmed and burning, and
her trembling solitude about it seems
the only half-conscious link to connect
her with the past"
els there no cure?" [ asked elias
she ever been put in an asylum?"
eyes, her relatives tried that, but it
made her worse. She is quiet and docile
when she is allowed to tend her lamp,
and you can't tear her away from this
place, I don't think sanity would be a
blessing to her under the circumstances.
She is quiet and calm during the day,
but as night comes on she gets restless,
though when her lamp is ready, she will
sleep part of the night"
/ looked at the unfortunate WOman
the next morning with deep sympathy.
Her poor frail life was evidently near its
close, for more worn face [ never saw;
and those piteOus, imploring eyes were
dim with death shadows.
off you meet my Paul, Mr. Bruce, 4"
she said, "tell him not to be late to-
night My head aches So" putting her
hand to her forehead, "when he doesn't
come early. I'm so silly" with a quaver-
ing little laugh, "that fancy all sorts
of things about his losing his way. He
couldn't do that, could he, with that
lamp in the window No, indeed. He'll
see it, and he'll know home and mother
are waiting for him. But waiting, wait
ing is so hard on me-
We looked at her and [ felt the tears
moisten my eyes as we rode away. Her
weary waiting would soon be over, and
the bitter tragedy wrought by rlnbridled
passions ended.
Keep Your Grievance Fresh.
[Frcm the New York Graphicl