The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-05-28


sand you will allow me to introduce it at
the beginning. l have come on behalf
of my son, whose happiness is at stake,
and who has been refused by your lovely
daughter, in obedience to your command.
Is this correct, Mrs Glyn?"
He stood looking in her face, still very
enchantingly fair.
at is entirely correct, Mr.. Carlyon.
Your son has been refused by my daush
ter, in obedience to my explicit commands,
Not word beyond the bare actual state
ment.
"But, pardon me, you may not know
how fondly they are attached to each other
Surely you cannot know what a terrible
misfortune it will be to them to be so need
Iessly, cruelty separated :"
Il understand the condition Of nay
daughters affairs better than any one else,
l think, Mr. Carlyou; and as to your son,
you can hardly expect me to take an inter
est either way. All have said is, Lily
cannot marry him, and Lily shall not mar
ry him"
"And you can so deliberately break two
young hearts !"
She smiled, looking steadily in his eyes.
at sounds rather odd to hear you plead
for them, lest their hearts break; when not
So very long ago you succeeded iu-Well,
hearts do not break so readily; and if they
did, what matter? 1t ia only life, more
or less, that is ru ined.
"Maudl" he exclaimed, in a sudden,
Mortified tone.
lam glad you have called me BY my
name, she said, eoldly Il have not heard
il since my husband died, aud it strength
ems me in my desire for revenge upon yOu!'
His eyes kindled passionately.
And you will kill our children to wreck
your revenge upon me, Well, ii is useless
to plead with such woman as you have
grown to be.
Entirely useless, she repeated haugh-
tily. "Go and tell your darling boy the
story of his fathers younger days, and
let him judge whether you are the perfect
man he thinks you.
Aud. as be went back TO his magnif-
cent home, where his son awaited bis
coming in feverish impatienoe, Malcolm
wondered whether it was bis sin retaining
to curse him.
A week later, Lily went to her mother,
with pale, resOlute face and steady
CLEAN in her eyes, that was her father
ever again.
Mamma, she said, very quie,ly-an
omiuous calm it was-'perhapE you do
not know that Herbert is lying dangerous
" III Of brain fever? Mr. CarlyOn's physi-
clan has just beea to tell me his reason,
has life, depends upon my being with him;
and, mamma, am going 10 him, because
we love each other Oh, mamma aud
the steady voice faltersd, and the tears
spr4ng to ber eyes, "ir / might only go
with your consent, your blessings
Mrs Glyn turned her head away.
"Yoa will 90 at all events, Lily2'
MAMMA, love him. Woaldn'; you
do as much-so little--for anyone yen
loyea?"
Ah. she would have died, in those carly
DAYS, for this sick boys father!
"Wait, she said until | come back.
Aud while Lily sat crying and praying,
her mother went to Malcolm CarlyOu, and
was shown to the bedside Of the delirious
boy, where his father sat in hopeless an
guish, looking at the fever flushed face,
the tangled, curling hair.
/ He looked up as she entered
"Your work" he said, sternly, as he
I pointed to the bed.
/ But | viii atone, oh, Malcolm, am
sorry, sorry, sorry! Lily is coming to him,
and l viii stay aud fight death with him
He viii live-he shall live, and heaven
viii forgive me-"
And he sprang toward her, pale aud
passionful, and lifted both her hands to
his lips.
at is my own little Maud again Yes,
he viii get better now. The doctor says
he will, if Lily comes; and Maud-Maud,
cannot VIC go back to that day so long ago,
when l wanted to ask you TO bless my
life?n Win you come to me now dear2'
And when Herbert aud Lily were mar
ried-six months aiterwards-another GER
emOny was performed, anG Maud Carlyon's
heart was at peace for the first time in
I ....r. 81 ,,cars