The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-12-19
PAMELA'S MAMMA.

with Pamela Price, there was quite an ex-
citenent in our little circle, for Mrs. Price,
thoughn widow lady, who had two middle
aged married sons with large families resid.
ing in Chicago, was o human evergreen, that
refused in the most positive manner to grow
old like other persons
She kept Pamela, who was her youngest
daughter, as the only representative of her
family, and insisted upon it that the child
was too young to think of beaux and she
confessed to those whom she took into her
confidence, that she g dreaded forty" and
that she had found o gray hair in her head.
It certainly was not in the jetty wig she al.
ways wore, and OF distance she was very
deceptive; the complexion was that of
brand-new Christmas doll, though 1t occa-
sionally cracked when she gaped or laugh
ed she had false teeth, false eyebrows, a
corset in which she must have suffered
agonies, and underlined eyes,
The Indian lady with the bundle of cigars
who stood outside the tohacconist's estab-
lishment, had quite as much the effect of
being living being, and the wax figure at
the hair-dresser's was far more natural.
However, there was one satisfaction SO
Juvenile figure would never play the
"black alpaca mother-in-law in my do
nestle circle if I was happy enough to win
Pamela, and, according to instructions,
courted Mrs. Price instead of her daughter
Pamela being we'll aware of the reason
why. ce uH
+. waltzed with her, though it is my i'm
preston that she weighed tom / walked
with her in the park, while Pamela trotted
after us with the poodle in charge. sat at
her feet and famed her while Pamela talked
to old Captain Peeler, who always called of
pleasant evenings, and felt that was win.
ming her consent to my union with her
daughter at a fearful price but still Pamela
whispered to me
Don't ask dear mamma yet, Chester
don't please. She is so youthful and SO
much admired that she can't bear the idea
of having daughter old enough to be mar.
ried.'
thought of the elder brother, whom |
had met, but said nothing. Pamela adored
her mother, and had resolved that the dread
full secret Of our engagement must be brok-
en- to her gently.
On occasions when left the city I al
ways, of course, desired to write to Pamela,
but her mamma would have been sure to
ask who her correspondent was, so we hit
upon II charming plan. l was TO write to
10,
letters privately.
Need l say That they expressed the warm-
est friendship, and that they contained such
sentences as these g How can | endure this
absence y 81 would that / were with you
again !" and 3" 1 am not liying-I simply
exist away from YOU
Once commenced my letter !" My Dear
est" but I scratched that out.
My probation seemed long to me, very
long but bore it brayely until our en-
gagement was two years old. Then it SEEM
ed to me that it was time that Mrs. Price
should know Of our intentions, and / re-
solved to declare myself. The matron had
gone to a wedding party, and would not, as
we imagined, return until very late, and l
sat beside Pamela on the sofa in the parlor.
The Are burned brightly. She was looking
very pretty indeed, and as I thought that
there was no reason why she should not be
my wife, for I had very good income and
even home of my own, grew indignant.
" shall speak to your mother tomorrow,
Pamela, said, and if you are not trifling
| with me. YOU will say mayp
At these words Pamela turned pale, and
caught me by the arm.
"Oh, oh don't ~ she sobbed. Don't,
please. know IL seems absurd. but man.
ma takes no heed of the passage of time.
She thinks me a little girl yet" IS
"That is actual insanity, my DEAR I an
swered. "You are lovelier than ever, but
| you are twenty-seven. You are perfectly
candid to me about your age, you know. If
| your mother won't say yes, we'll do without
| it; but she likes me. I've done my best to
make her like me, Pamela"
Yes" faltered Pamela you are per-
fectly right, I know; but / can't bear to set
myself against mamma. don't believe she
can spare me. Pm her lady's-maid and her
housekeeper, and everything. Still"
She looked at me so sweetly that clasped
her to my heart. Her head lay upon my
shoulder, her sweet, warm, little hand was
in mine. We were supremely happy for q
moment Then some one uttered an awful
shrek. We started to our feet.
Mrs. Price had returned earlier than we
thought possible, and stood behind us in
the middle OF the room; her cloak had fall
len from her shoulders, her eyes were fixed
upon us with an expression OF horror.
scream after scream burst from her lips.
She hung her bouquet IN one direction and
her ian In the other ana circulating T" Can
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