The Magnolia gazette., 1883-11-01

"You understand what mean better
than you pretend. oh, my boy, my
poor boyr' with a break in her voice,
lis your life, after all, to end in this2
Did YOU think it would not come to me?
Oh, Launt, my more than son, come
back to me! Give up the ruinous course
which will break my heart"
Launt set his lips and looked at her
full.
"Whnt is It you have heard?n he
asked, eoldly.
"What need is there to tell? You
know better than |. If you will have
il, that you are throwing away your life
as your father threw his away, that You
are taking the same path. That you
belong to a club which is only fashion
able gambling den, that You are living
beyond your means, that YOU associate
with fast men and faster women
women like his though that you should
be victimized by her, a aworn-out actress,
woman old enough TO be your
mother, she was about to say, but she
choked at the word. II would not have
believed it. if it had been told me-
Launt listened very quietly, with
neither anger nor resentment. A light
OF scorn and amusement shot for an in
stant across his face. but died almost
Immediately in lock of utter weari-
ness
II assure you,n he said, ''you are
distressing yourself without the slight
ct cause. l did try the experiment Of
some of those follies, but gambling.
wine or women have no charm for me.
l think l could 20 through a fiery fur
mace of that sort without the slightest
injury to my morals. In fact. am so
thoroughly weary of the course you
deprecate, that Ihaye made up my mind
to an entire change
!" You will come back tome, Launt?n
al shall Join an expedition which is
fitting up now for the Polar seas.
There was 3 heart-broken cry. sob
bing wall Of loss and pain.
:" AS if had not had trouble enough
in my life. Oh, Launtl oh, my boy!
have You no mercy on me?''
The look on Launts face told her
more plainly than words that remon-
STRANGE was useless.
She rose to 90. Some Of her COM
/ posure had returned. Whatever Nine.
Harrington might feel, she had learned
well the lesson of stern self-control.
Z Her eyes fell upon the note which had
escaped from her thoughts.
+ AT least she said, promise me
/ that you will not 90 TO that woman's
i house. No good can come of it, and it
/ is small concession for You TO make
now. Refuse Nine. Florine's invitation
i to please me, Launto
" Ny dear mother, l would do so
I willingly. but have already promised
promised so faithfully that I shall not
break my word
] What was it, misgiving, dread, that
/ looked at him out of Mime. harrington S
eyes? She seemed for a moment as if
+ she would urge her entreaty, but sighed
and turned away without another word.
/ Plenty of light, plenty of color, in
+ Madame Florine's handsome rooms.
Madame herself was petite, and blonde
of the blondest type; great turquoise
blue eyes looked at you out of the be-
rouged and enameled face, an abundant
roll of the softest faxen hair crowned
the small head She wore black satin,
bow of the same in the mass of pale
hair, and she looked at least ten years
younger than her actual age. "a
worn-out actress, Madame Harrington
had called her, but Madame Florine
was popular yet The cleverest men,
writers, artists and others, the hand
soonest actresses in the city, were always
to be found at these pleasant, after
theater reunions of hers.
Launt arrived late, barely in time tc
offer his arm and lead madame to the
table, glittering with silver and crystal
adorned with rarest flowers. bearing
pyramids of the costliest fruit, with b
golden flood of light streaming dowr
from a great chandelier, with an array
of wit and talent and beauty assembled
at the board; but the grace of the occa
sion was quite thrown away upon him
He was a favorite with Madame FlorinG
for some inexplicable reason-it wa
through no effort on his part--and
though he sat like ''marble guest,
scarcely speaking at all, eating as little
and that little as unapprecatively a
as if the dainty yiands were like ashe
to his taste, she gave him her brightes
smiles and most frequent glances
Madamehad conquered scores or hearts
turned scores of heads; had young men
clever men--men of wealth and posi-
tion on the list of her admirers to thi
very day; but if she had any thought o
conquering Launt she must have give
it up long ago. Through the glitter Q
lights, the perfume of flowers, tn
, laughter and talk going on all abou
him, came the vision Of pale, haunt
ing face which followed him forever
/ sleeping or waking, whether alone o
in crowd.
He had tried 10 forget her. He ha
plunged into this gay, enticing, envied
by-many experience, and found in
nothing but WEAKNESS mos
complete.
''Mon ami, what is this hear? Wha
wild scheme is leading you to make
votive offering of yourselfP Surely
: science has enough devotees withou
( you. There are plenty of men wh
: leave every hope behind them to g
! on those dreadful missions. Are yo
H. l.a,,+ ,,r,cr, fhaf or nf m Il