Smyrna times., 1882-04-19


quaintances her mother and sisters had
formed, as well as the old friends she re-
membered so well and loved so dearly,
anxious to be introduced, or dying to
see her
One of the former occupying house re-
Gently built adjoining the Ormsby grounds, !
came in the day of her arrival.
Mrs. DuVault was a very old lady, and !
petted Alrina's cheek caressingly as she |
ciasped her hand in greeting.
You resemble your father, my dear
child, she said, surveying her with keen
but kind eyes, land I'm sure you are as
,od."
Good" laughed Mrs. Ormsby deris-
lively; Just wait till you see her in one
of her tantrums."
Mrs. LOrtOn was painfully conscious Of
being given to tantrums, but how could
her mother be SO cruel as to expose her
before this charming old lady whose good
opinion she coveted.
= So this is your baby, is it ?" said Gen.
Duvault entering at this moment. and be-
ing duly introduced.
Poor Rina's heart was sore, her eyes full
Of tears no wonder she hung her head
under the old soldiers gaze.
Did you ever in all your life sec
stronger proofs of tenper!' exclaimed
Mrs. Ormshy. Alrina, if you don't learn
to behave better, I'll find way to make
you"
III must see after baby" gasped
Alrna. between sob and groan, max
ing at the same time a tear blinded rush
for the door.
You must do no such thing replied
Mrs. Ormsby sternly. Bridget has him.
She knows how TO take care of children.
You're to stay where you are. You're
not to disgrace me further by rushing from
the room in that unseemly manner"
Mrs. Morton remained, but the pleasure
she expected to derive from the society OF
! this delightful couple gave way to tortur-
ing pain.
> RecOllectiOns of past tenderness only
rendered her agony more acute. II was
Il formerly point with Mrs. Ormsby never
e to expose her children's faults, even in
y the retirement of the family circle. She
n rarely inflicted punishment, invariably
II admOnished i'll private, and, so far as she
=, was able, treated her husband and hel
n girls as courteously as she treated hel
guests,
n Alrina Lorton wondered over th
y change in mother still too young to hav'
% become childish She wondered more anC
Al more as the days ran by.
Mrs. Ormsby and her widowed daugh
u =, ter, Mrs. Sixty, kept open house, and il
the crowds coming and going Alrina es
:, capped cepsure; but, in the presence o
those whom the mother held in highes
esteem, and whose good opinion she her
self coveted, she was continually in dis
= grace. If dress, manner, conversation es
caPed criticism, the sins of the past ros
up to confront her True, those in who's
society she was especially Inundated
never noticed directly any attack upol
her, yet they beamed dclightedIy on he
mother. as if earth did not contain he
counterpart.
Nor did Mr.. Lorton escape, althoug
- Mrs. Ormsby was not, as he termed it, IS
hard after" him, as after Rina. Apar
- from the respect and esteem in which h
held his mother-in-law there were exec
lent reasons for-quOting him again-"nC
raising a rumpus." STILL such state {
affairs was far from agreeable.
- One day, three weeks after their arriva
- Mrs Ormsby surprised her daughter in
torrent of tears
:. After being treated with unusually sever
- ty-that, too, in the presence of her mOtf
- - er's revered pastor-she sought refuge
her own apartment, whore her torture
. heart found relief in a very storm of sob
~ perfect deluge of weeping.
> whats the matter?"
In answer to this cool, calm inquir
from her mothers lips, Mrs. Lorton raise
=, her head.
~ Need you ask % she replied, somethin
90 of her fathers masterful spirit hashin
= ~ from her drenched eyes. Can you ask ?
-' you who ever since my arrival have dor
all in your power to mortify me in tt
presence of those whose good opinion
Yalue-yOu, who to-day turned my holie
feelings into ridicule, and burlesqued II
natural impulses ofmy being-you frigid
ask what's the matter?"
:, Are you my daughter, or are yC
- not?" inquired Mrs. Ormsby, haughtily.
Having borne in silence until she csu
M bear no more, Mrs. Lorton acknowledge
" the relationship, denied this stern parent
right to make life burden.
,vs do you mean to tell your mother 81
ar. has no right to exercise authority in Il
,.t correction of her childrens faults?" +
relt turned Mrs. Ormsby, even more severe
he than before.
em You must remember | am no longer
)rs child" replied her daughter; Il am
Ids married woman"
Granted" returned Mrs. Ormsb.
ese "but since sustain the same relationsh
as did in infancy, and since, although "
Md have matured dOubly, it is my right, q
me bounded duty, to cndeavOr to correct yo
viii faults. Do you deRy that right9 Doy'
md defy me?"
th- During this conversation poor M
me Lorton's cheeks had burned and iced