The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-01-05
SELECT STORY.
LOTUS BLOSSOMS.
BY HELEN LUQUEER.

at is your own fault, Edmund" said
Mrs. Latimer to her son, who was pac
ing to and fro the little sitting.room of
their cottage home in the suburbs of q
western city. "You have indulged
your vain, selfish wife in every whim,
and the result of her extravaganza and
you recklessness in speculation has been
your ruin"
"You are very hard on me, mother |
come to you with my trouble, as l
used when a boy, hoping for the old
sympathies and advice, but receive only
blame and hard words"
81 shall not always harp upon this
disagreeble subject, my son but before
l can give counsel must make you see
with my eyes all the errors Of your
past life. My sympathies--"
She paused, and there was the trem.
BILE of tears in her voice as she glanced
up into the handsome brown eyes of
her son. The look brought him to her
side; and they sat in close confidence,
with hand clasped in hand, and talked
of the fortune lost, the beautiful home
seized by creditors, and of their sad fu-
ture prospects.
"You will accept Uncle Jeptha Pod
hams proposltion!" said Mrs. Latimer
at last.
"With all the conditions mother
You know that would be impossible ~
he replied.
"How impossiblei" questioned his
mother. "You surely understand what
Uncle Jeptha says?"
Then taking up letter she read:
"If my nephew be still single, and
with untrammeled affections, ! will pay
him liberal salary to travel with me
as courier, companion and friend. l
shall expect him to take entire charge
of my financial matters, and to devote
himself entirely to me for the remain
der of my life. And in addition to the
regular salary, I will bind myself to
leave him, at my death, my entire es-
tate, amounting to several hundred
thousand dollars
"Well," continued Mrs. Latimer,
when she had finished reading, ''there
is no reason upon earth why Mary
should not relinquish all claim upon
you during the remainder of your
uncle's life"
"You cannot mean that shall di
vorce myself from my wife'"
"Only while 1t is necessary for your
interests You know Mary's require
ments, and that you are left with only
your hands to supply them
Eyes, and henceforth my life would
be that of a dog!'
"There is no Disgusting the fact, Ed.
mund. that you and Mary at the best
are not happy together.
The young husband groaned. and his
handsome head fell upon his hand. Al
that moment the conversation was in
terrupted by the entrance of another
| 1t was a rather stout, black eyed
rosy young person, dashing in manner
her rich silk robe trailing over the
modest, ingram carpet. With heavy
sigh she threw herself into a seat and
fixed contomptuous glances upon moth
er and son.
~ should like to know" she ques
toned, show long we are to remain
here pensioners upon the bounty ui
Mrs Latimer while you do nothing
Edmundi'
He made known the proposition oI
his uncle to her, and she responded:
"You will of course accept iti"
sand live lie 7"
81 have no patience with sentiment
where ones bread is concerned y she
answered haughtily and with curling
lip. "You give your services to tha
old, eccentric uncle untrammeled
Then, for goodness sake, 60! l release
you for the natural term of tho ole
mans life, so you send me money
enough to keep me from pauperism
and share with me the fortune when i
becomes yours"
"Mary, think again! We must sep
arate, to all intents and purposes, fol
years"
"Very well as told you before,
would not give rush for sentiment i
it stood between myself and advance
ment or fortune"
There was little more argument need
ed; and silencing every scruple, young
Latimer went forth, as Mary said, L
seek his fortune--it having been ar
ranged that his wife should remail
with his mother. where she should re
ceive means to beautify the place an,
for her support--which meant half tn
year In travel, or at some FASHIONABLE
resort
In due time Edmund Latiner foun,
himself in an Eastern city, face to fac
with q genial, gouty, redfaoed old fel
low, who was as eccentric In dress a
In person. He carried o ponderous
gold-headed cane, which he wielde,
like a sceptre, and with il emphasize,
all he said.
$50, Edmund, my boy, the wome
hain't roped you in yet, blast EN-
They, like the apostles, are fishers O
men ! and he brought his gold-heade
stick down with a thump. and lauohe