Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-04-14
The next morning as / passed down

i Land had gone down TO give some or
ders preparatory to his departure for
the city, heard merry whistle in
the lower hall, an6 as ran swiftly
down the broad stairs encountered
Laurie coming up two steps at a bound.
l st p ,e1 on the first landing and held
out nv h md. while l smiled at sight
of the fresh, happy face and handsome
eyes as said: " Good-morning; this is
Laurie, supposeY'
Ny offered hand was accepted with
a gravity and statelin, s. becoming an
oli-time knight, as the boy said, coldly:
"Good-morning. Yes, am Laurie"
Then with stiff little bow went on
! up the stairs, leaving me with the feel
ing that l was suddenly congealing
into ice.
That sensation was somewhat dis
PEELED by the warm greeting which
Mamie gave me as l entered the break
fa,t-room a moment later, but it re-
turned again when the door opened to
admit Laurie with the same loyish
stateliness in his manner, and the
same little stiff bow whenever / adj
dressed him.
In vain l endeavored to draw him
into conversation by introducing a
b Us favorite topics. such as Goa ting,
ska ing and other exciting p1stimes.
Maggie chartered like Ii tie 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. 1
tried my best to a pear natural and at
my ease, but that chill presence made
me cold and qui t. was too young,
too easily affet ted by others to not care
whether boy of fifteen years ap-
proved of me or not. Perhaps if the
boy had not been Laurie, it would
have been different. But as it was, l
was glad when the meal was at an
end, and, after kissing Mamie, and
with a cool "Good-mcrniEg" to me,
he had left the room. 1t was with
still gre ter sense of relief that l saw
a few moments later from my post at
the library window .warmly-coated
and capped young man go down the
carriage drive with his school books
unuer MS arm.
Then Mamie and were left to spend
the long winters day together. said
1t was with a feeling of relief that l
saw Laurie leave the house, and yet |
missed him all that day. And when
o'clock came and with it his quick,
boy.sh step in the hall, my heart gave
sudden start, and woul gladly have
echoed Mamie's glad cry of "Laurie's
come = But he only stayel long
enough to warm and leave his books.
Then taking his sled he started out to
coast till supper zine, leaving us only
it'll breeze of frosty air and a sense
OF loneliness as we drew nearer the
glowing fire to wait for the evening
train from the city, bearing its precious
load of human freight. with my hus-
band and Mamie's papa among the
number.
So the days and weeks went by.
Mamie and l grew to be inseparable.
We were together from morning until
night. / heard her lessons, read to her
and oat with her while she practice
her music while she in turn was my
constant companion in my every day
duties and pleasures. But Laurie, oh,
how many hearta:he haveI had over
LAUREL
Laurie remained the same, gentle
manly, polite and resp ctful-perfectly
SO. At times l longed, fairly longed,
to have him just the opposite, if with
it he would be less cold and stately,
and yet love me little. and, after some
burst Of boy,sh passion, beg forgive
ness in my arms, as little son, and
receive full and free pardon, as from
an own mother. But as it was there
was nothing to be done no way for
me to reaca his heart, for he had
placed that broad barrier between us,
and my hands could n IT tear it down.
TO others our department toward each
other may have seemed somewhat cold,
but perfectly just and right. And no
one, | am sure, ever accused me of not
being true mother to Laurie, as well
as to Mamie.
Butno one knew how my own heart
a he'd and grieved over The boy grown
so dear to me, to whom / felt that
was mere stranger, and no more.
Sometimes despaired Of ever win
ming bis confidence and love. Some
timts a little thing would instill hope
in my heart, and the burden would
seem ligAter for day or two. only to
grow the heavier when he again made
me rea ize how far apart We were by
some more than usual GOODNESS.
Still l hoped and prayed. l could do
nothing more There was nothing