Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-04-27

C11CA ny Ky lQOhoA duScI, III i ~ SOAliC
to think / could not control myself; scarce
q day but my wrath fell holly and heavily
upon Paul, and then, in my remorse. /
would kiss away his tears, and beg him to
forgive me. There came a time at last,
when I knel by my boy. and entreated the
dumb, white lips to say Just LAT one little
word-'Forgive!'
I was dressed for an evening FaTty; I had
felt particularly anxious to appear well, as
some friends of my husbands, strangers to
me, were to be present at the gathering. I
was a fair handsome woman then; no one
knows this better than myself, and you
will not think it vanity in ME saying it,
now, when my cheek is faded and my hair
whitened with my great sorrow; that 1 was
sinfully vain then, l will not deny; had l
been less so, to-day, I, a lonely widow.
might have rejoiced in the love and care of
my son, who would haze been twenty eight
years last May, had he been spared me.
My dress was pale blue silk; it had a sort
0 tsilvery sheen like moonlight on the water;
l had had it in the house for several Yeas,
but had never seen an occasion before, that
seemed worthy of so rich a dress; ii was
brought from India by my husband, who
was a merchantman; but this promised to
be IN affair quite out of Che common course.
SO at much pains and expense / had it made
and trimmed with point lace; they dressed
their hair, then, much as they do now,
high, over cushins, With curls falling care
lessly hare and there ABOUT the head. l
wore misse in this way that night With wax
halls woven among the curls; at last, all
my arrangements were completed, and, as
I saw my hfi acticn in the mirror, I re.
all the pride and vanity that swelled my
sinful heart. l recall all these facts, for
trivial though they seem, they have become
part n parcel of my life. l never think
of that bitter day, but I see myself as /
stood there in my fresh, young beauty,
little dreaming of the bitter baptism of
sorrow that was to coma to me through
my vanity and unres.rained temper.
Paul came bounding into the room; he
stopped suddenly, eyed me admiringly and
cried:
SO, mother, yos look Just as pretty as a
picture!!"
Then suit you, do II" I replied smil-
ing down upon the young, radiant face
looking into mine.
ssuit me?" he rejoined, 80, don't you? l
think there was such a good, pretty woman
as my mothe,!"
Have / no faults, Paul?n l said; 81 did
not think I was worthy such unqualified
recommendation"
well, mother" he said in a hesitating
way, while the warm blood flushed his
cheeks, "if you, only" again he paused,
afraid of giving pain.
"Go on, Paul." I said encouragingly.
"Well, then, if you only would not get so
angry at me for every little thing, when T
do not mean to do wrong at all, I think
you'd be just the bes. mother that ever
wss!'
Te%ar-blinded, I stopped and kissed my
boy, inwardly resolving that I would con-
troll my temper for his sake; alas, for re.
solves made in our poor human strength!
It was early in the afternoon, and 1 was
not to go until evening but l liked to dress
early, that I might get sort OF wonted to my
clothing, not have the sensation, that was
made up at just the last minute.
"Those wa1-balls are very pretty said
Paul coming nearer to see them, shut l
think pond-lilies would be p~rettier, there's
. picture of q lady at q window down town,
and she has them on her hair, and / don't
believe but | can get you some down to
Brier pond"
In his earnestness be had come close to
me; he had in his hand a small bottle o.
some dark-colnrad fluid; it slipped fom
his fingers aud the next instant a muddy
stream was coursing down my skirt.
Ny disappointment and wounded vanity
wrought together, upon my hasty temper; I
seized him by the shoulders, shook him
and pushed him rud bly, from the room.
20, mother! your dress is not spoiled
you will not have to stay from the party?"
mo I shall co. 1 replied %petulantly,
sbut first IN ydress must be taken all OFF the
skirt; I shall wear it;'' but as I thought of
all the trouble evolved, my anger blazed
afresh; / dealt a blow at his little hot cheek,
and cried:
"There! go along out of my sight; l don't
much care if 1 never see you again, for
you're the plague of my life!"
20, motherl' the pleading look in these
brown eyes, what a haunting memory it
has been to me all these sad years since. I
rAet them as he stood before me in his in
nocent, youthful beatty; he turned. slowly
from me, then l heSrd his heavy footsteps
pass along the hall. I ran to the window
for W minutes after the outer door closed.
repentance came. 1 saw him with his head
bowed sorrowly upon his breast; I called,
Paul, Paul, my boy, come back" but he
had passed beyond hearing.
With a heavy heart 1 called in my dress.
maker and We began to sreft the dress; but
all pride and pleasure in it was over. Nv
cruel anger stood between me and happi-
ness. In two hours it was ready, and I was
again dressed for the entertainment.
My husband came home pronounced me
faultless, told of the pride he should have
in presenting me to his friends, bnt no en-
swering emotion stirred my heart; mind I
was not mourning my sin but its eonse-
3uences.
Where is Paul?" inquired my husband;
che is usually at homo before this time, Mill
cent"
He bad hardly ceased speaking, before a
domestic announced a gentlemen to see
him on business; felt a vague sense Of
fear; | never could tell after it if l thought
OF coming sorrow In any die inct form. T