The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-05-26
BRAVELY WON.

lived in a pretty semi detached villa in
the neighborhood of the pretty English
village of Clapham. The good old lady
was what most people would consider
comfortably off; but she, who had once
known all the luxuries that wealth can
bestow, regarded herself as one of the
unfortunates who merited as much pity
as the wretched pauper who crawls into
the workhouse for nights shelter.
Poor Maud Sylvester's life was render
ed perfect misery to her. Lord Waist
rill's son almost lived at the quiet little
villa, and worst of all, Mrs. Sylvester
encouraged him.
Lord Waistrill had told falsehoods
sufficient about his precious ne'er do-weIl
to raise Mrs. Sylvester's hopes of social
ACKNOWLEDGMENT for herself and her
daughter to the skies, and Mrs Sylvester
had sufficiently exaggerated her daugh-
ter's prospects to insure my lords per-
sistence in his sons behalf.
But his son needed no urging on. He
was madIy in love with Maud. The more
she showed her dislike the more affec-
tionate he was. In vain she assured him
she could not care for him.
To make matters worse, her mother
entirely changed in her demeanor toward
her. With all her vanity, selfshness and
absurdities, Mrs. Sylvester had hitherto
been affectionate toward her daughter.
But now a change had taken place in
her demeanor. She threatened that she
would leave her penniless when she died,
and let her make her own living as best
she could, if she did not consent to the
marriage.
1t grieved Maud deeply to see her
mother stoop to falsehood in her wild
desire to bring about this marriage.
Now Arthur Chambers and Maud Syl-
vester had so far kept their engagement
a secret from every one excepting her
friend Lucy,
Of course poor Maud took every op-
portunity to visit her friends in Bays
water as frequently as she could, and to
her confdante, Lucy, she revealed her
troubles.
''You must come as often as you can
to Clapham, pleaded Maud, "and save
me from the prosecutions of the obiec-
tionable creature to whom mamma would
haye me sacrifice myself"
OF course Lucy did come as often as
she could; but ere long her visits were
put to a stop by the positive rudeness of
Mrs. Sylvester, who, for the sake of her
own wishes, desired to sever Maud's con-
nections with her Bayswater friends.
Lucy, dearly as she loved Maud, could
not continue to visit at house where she
was openly snubbed and insulted.
Not satisfied with having driven her
daughters dearest friend from her doors.
Mrs. Sylvester at last objected to Maud's
going to Bayswater.
Maud rebelled Indignantly against this.
"Why," she justly asked, 'was she to
give up her dearest friend9 What had
she. Lueh, or any member of her family
ever done to merit any such unheard of
treatment ?"
"Never mind what they have. done,"
answered Mrs. Sylvester; "that has moth
ing to do with the matter. 1t is nv de-
sire that you should not visit them, for
the present at least, and you must sub
NIT to my orders"
Il am sorry" answered Maud. ''I can
not, IN this instance obey you"
but you must and SHALL" cried her
mother, furiously.
Maud did not answer her.
'Do you hear me Z" cried Mrs. Sylyes,
ter.
Il hear you" answered Maud.
"And you must obey, Or
''Or what 2" questioned Maud.
''Or wilt turn you out of the house."
cried Mrs. Sylvester.
''You need not do that" answered
Maud, with considerable emotion-"I
can go very easily, without being turned
out
She arose as she concluded speaking.
Mrs. Sylvester looked up at her
hardened though she had of late become
WIN 'nis one hideous nightmare of So
cia' aggrandize nent engrossing her whole
consideration, she still had spark of
Deter feeiing left when the pathetic tone