Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-05-09
HOW LAURIE WAS WON.


HOW LAURIE WAS WON.
The dining-room door stood open, lot
ting stream of rosy light out on the
snow covered carriage-drive, and faint
fragrance of delicate coffee and warm
smelling viands on the cold, frosty air,
while fair, girlish face peered anxious
ly through the heavily curtained window,
the red draperies held back by a small
rounded, hand, as my husband lifted me
from the carriage, and with a warm kiss
on my cold cheek, said:
Welcome home, dearl Your home as
we'll as mine, now"
A moment more and I was i'm the
warm, bright room, and, after being cor
daily met by the old nurse and house
keeper, Mrs. Wait, who had taken care
of my husbands house and two children
since the death of his first wife, many
years before. was introduced to the
little maiden whose sweet face / had no.
ticed at the window. felt at once that
] should love the child, with her fair,
lovely face and clear blue eyes, so like
her fathers And the position of step
mother, which l had SO much dreaded,
assumed an altogether different aspect as
drew Mamie close to me and pressed a
kiss upon her smiling lips, while her
father looked on well pleased at the meet
ting between his "little woman" as he
was wont to call her, and her new
mamma.
Suddenly he seemed to miss something,
and turning abruptly to Mrs. Wait, who
stood by waiting to show me to my room.
with half jealous, half-pleased express
sion on her kindly face, said:
Where Is Laurie? Why isn't he here
to meet his motherp Mamie stole a
troubled look Mt her nurse, and then lcav.
ing my side put her little soft hand into
her fathers gloved palm, and looking be-
seechingly up into his grave face, as Mrs.
Wait said, in answer to his inquiry:
Laurie, sir? Why, he had promised
to go coasting with some lads this even
ing, so he took an early supper and left
before time for your arrival. He promised
some time since, see, and didn't like To
disappoint the lads" she added, as my
husband frowned slightly.
Every WE'LL" he replied, quietly, after
a moments pause, in which Mamie
pressed his hand tightly with her small
fingers.
/ felt that all was not right, and a
strange feeling of chilliness crept over
me as followed Mrs. Wait to the large,
handsome room which had been prepared
for my use-a feeling which even the
sight of so many of my favorite luxu-
ries, suggested, as / well knew, by my
husbands thoughtfulness could not dis
pei.
During the remainder of the evening,
spent partly at the supper-table and
partly in the cosy library, with my hus-
band and Mamie, Laurie's name was not
again mentioned; but strange sadness
brooded over me. The old happy free
dom of my heart was gone, and some
where there lurked vague apprehension,
mingled with fear, of what, Hardly was
conscious and yet which overwhelmed
me to such degree as to make my flu
ture, which had seemed so radiantly
bright few hours before, appear unat-
tractive and lacking.
Tired and disheartencd | retired at an
early hour, but not to sleep. lay for
hours wrapped in thought about the
house which l had entered-a bride of
only few short days-to fill the place of
a mother to two motherless children.
Myself a mere child, fresh from my own
mothers arms, without experience or
understanding, and now, on the night of
my arrival, my hearts, chilled and dis
appointed by the knowledge that to ut
least one of these children my coming is
unwelcome. And Laurie, the one had
10 tu,, I 4 4 4
learned to love, because they told me he
wac like his father, the first one to make
me feel that my presence is an intrusion.
Weary with thinking, / at last fell
asleep with prayer on my lips that
might act the part of true mother to
this boy already so dear to me, though
had never seen him, save the likeness OF
his handsome boyish face which his faith.
er gave me, when he said, ~ know you'll
care for him, Alice, and I'm sure he'll
love you. He needs mothers love sad
ly poor boyp
The next morning as I passed down
the long hall to the stairway-my hus-
band had gone down to give some order,
preparatory to his departure for the city
i heard merry whistle in the lower
h",'i ni'u 40 ian oNlitiy uOWn the DrOuu
stairs encountered Laurie coming ur
two steps at bound. l stopped on the
first handing and held out my hand, while
] smiled at sight of the fresh, happy fac,
and handsome eyes as / said: Good
morning; this is Laurie, Isuppose?'
My offered hand was accepted with q
gravity and stateliness becoming an old
time knight, as the boy said coldly,
Good morning. Yes, | am Laurie. y
Then with stiff little bow went on ur
the stairs, leaving me with the feeling
that was suddenly congealing into ice
That sensation was somewhat dispelled
by the warm greeting which Mamie gave
me as / entered the breakfast room q
moment later, but it returned again
when the door opened to admit Laurie
with the same boyish stateliness in his
manner, and the same little stiff bow
whenever addressed him.
In vain endeavored to draw him into
conversation by introducing a boys "a
vorite topics, such as coasting, skating,
and other exciting pastimcs. Mamie
chartered like little magpie, and beamed
upon me from her seat by her fathers
empty place, while her brother, sitting
next to me, ate his breakfast in almost
utter silence. tried my best 10 appear