Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-09-28


sist upon keeping him among these peo-
pie, and young men who are idle will
amuse themselves with whatever may
happen to come in their way. That's at
the bottom of half the ill-assorted mar
riages.
'"You don't think my Paul would
marry Lottie Gray 2 she cried, angrily.
I'm ashamed of you, Mr.. Bruce No,
even the Irritation is disgraceful enough.
AS for going away, Paul is going to stay
right here, and I'll make him behave
himself, too Speak to him, will you,
about his conduct
"Tm very awkward person for these
delicate negotiations, but Paul saved me
the trouble.
ooh, [ know what you want to say.
Mothers been talking to you about Lot
tie Grey and then he laughed.
Il care as much for Lollie Grey
as I do for this weed Ticking
off the end of one with his whip, I'm
not there half so often as she thinks
am, and Lottie's only the means to an
end. You know my secret now. Rather
than have Lottie Grey for daughter-in-
law, she'd ship me to China and never
lay eyes on me again.
"But she don't think you want to
marry her, [ said. 'She believes you
are only flirting
"'She does 2 he exclaimed. well,
I'll push matters this very evening.
She'll yield, rest assured"
l demonstrated seriously with him.
The foolish boy was doing wrong in 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 a means to an end. [
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
4 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 ?"
his mother asked. It's dusk, and it's
III WCdUACI IOI Ouc w UC OltG Ill.
He laughed provokingly. why,
you don't think little rain will
keep me from where [ 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-in-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 Mrs. Mansell's face scared her, it
was SO white and set. She sat for
long time as if she was petrifed, and
then commenced pacing the floor, NUT
tering to herself, Never! never! never!
"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-ight quenched.
Ever since he was little boy, whenever
%Ia ;1<14
and steady to guide him Now let the
disobedient son take it as 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 CO. But all night long til pacing
to and fro went on. Breakfast came,
but no sign of Paul.
"sHe 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 Greys and tell Mr.. Paul
she wished to see him.
"The man galloped back in an hour
"'Is Mr.. Paul comm ?" called out
Mrs. Mansell.
AOIOy, LIe1 GILL, liz duoWOIcu,
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 de way Gaze you allays
kept a 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 a sigh or groan, and when she re-
covered consciousness her mind had lost
it's balance.
"From the moment she heard he had
started for home, she knew perfectly
what his fate Lad been. His remains
were not recovered until the next SUM
mer,--a very dry one,-when he and his
horse were found in 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, I think she
sllDDOses him O. bow. and looks for his