The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-11-11
A DETERMINED MOTHER.
Arkansas Traveller.

would be better 10 speak 10 you first, but
would like very much to marry her These
were your very words Mr.. Lucas, and you
needn'; try to get ont OF it.
''Why, madam, am much too old Tor Hes
ter 1 have never had thought OF marry
ing her. You certainly must have dreamed
that addressed you
| 'Iook. here, Mr.. Lucas, l am a woman
COZ course. You have borne that reputa-
ton during many years
None OF your foolishness. sir. say that
/ am a WON
"a declaration which have not disputed. F"
She drew herself up, glazed at him and
continued: Il am woman, but ] have the
spirit of rlan. 81 am always prepared TO
defend my word against attack, and let me
warn you mol to again question my truthful
ness. You said that you wanted TO marry
Hester"
Mrs Beasely. this i an unfortunate al
fair. sn forty years old: Hester is seven
teen.
when 1 told Hester what you said. she
ioyously replied. Won't that bc:deliSht
fulg"
Mother what are you and Mr. Lucas iow-
eriDg about exclaimed young lady, en-
ing the room Il have been try ing to write a
letter bat your noise scatiers my thoughts,
il haze any
Hester. Keep quiet I'll manage this al
fair. am determined that you sAali not 6e
cheated
GLOW cheated, mother
':Nsw don't put on such an air oil aston
ishment. You know what mean
81 declare DO not"
''Now, daughter, don't lac foolish. When j
told you that Mr.. Lucas wanted you for his
WIFE
Mother screamed the young lady.
What's the matter? demanded the old
lady.
you never in all your life spoke 10 me
| about Mr.. Lucas wanting TO marry me. [
don't know what 10 think Of YOU"
''Hester, / have not lain the weight of my
| hand on you since yOu We're a child, but If
| you persist in disputing nay word, i shall
| box your ears. Lucas asked me for you.
| When i told you, fact which YOU can not
| dispute you clapped your hands and said
! that such an arrangement would be delight
| ful."
| Miss Hester's face grew scarlet. Without
l replying, she sat down near the window.
Lucas could see the tears rolling down her
| cheeks.
''NIr. Lucas has disputed my word, but he
\ can not deny the truth of what l say. Now
j shall leave you here to talk over this bust
1 ness
Miss Hester. this is q strange affair" said
/ Mr. Lucas when the old lady had gone.
| i never saw the like. l don't know what
| can all mother"
/ ''She is certainly very strange"
| is Il possible that she is going crazy
Il think not for She Is perfectly sane on
| all other matters, and Is the most accurate
| business woman / have ever seen. As God
| is my Judge, though, have never spoken TO
L IN / have
| thought OF such thing, let rae assure YOU
The denial was little To positive. The
! young lady, turning with mock courtesy re-
| Piled:
'0h, you needn't throw such emphasis
| into your words. Other men, men who are
quite as handsome as you are. doubtless,
have thought about marrying me. l have
never begged any one 10 marry me, am
| sure
"AIiss Hester did not Ineail-"
"0h, never mind making excuses. Just
because you have a large plantation and a
wants TO marry you.
| Miss Hester"
| Don't Miss Hester me- You and mother
ought 10 be ashamed OF yourselves. A poor
girl never has chance in this world any.
how ana the younS lady burst into tears.
| This heats any affair j ever heard OF,
| unused SIR. Lucus, as he walked toward
| home. ~ don't know how ] am going 10
| ger out OF it either, for the old lady is as
mule-hcadCd as a pig or IS pis-headed as i
| mule. Idon't know which. l dOu exactly
understand Hcster's sections. 1 thought |
would be doing her q service by making q
l vigorous denial, but hang the luck. il seems
| that she did not want me TO deny it,.
| Stephen Lucas one Of the most prosperous
| planters In Southern Arkansas, owned Z
| beautiful residence near the ouachita River.
\ H.. a bachelor knew hin.
! said that he had never been in love with
| anyone, and that hc was too honorable %
| marry without love.
| Hester said Mrs. Beasely, after Mr.
Lucas bad gone. "Wliy do you take so keen
a delight in Illuminating your poor old
! motherg'
Il do not wish to humiliate You. mother
! and YOU ought TO know that do not
''Nou did so, my daughter"
''Why, mother, you are surely beside
yourself / have known Mr.. Lucas all my
| life and / never had thought OF marrying
him; and know he baS never had . thought
Of marrying me-
chester. let me give you warning. Dom
dispute my word. He asked me for you
"But, mother. l could not help that. III
should have first asked my consent"
cit seems that your consent was tacitly
given, for when ] spoke to you concerning
the matter you said that marriage with Mr.
Lucas would be delightful"
''Why, mother, you are crazy,
"Hester, as / told you before, | have no
laid the weight of my hand on you since yot
were child, but III declare TO goodness
that if you persist in disputing my wore
and attempt 10 make out that I'm not in ml
right mind, / will box your ears
Miss Hester began 40 shed tears. 81 don,
| know why YOU should want me TO marry,
| she said ~ am sure that have never giyeI
. you any trouble.
ffHc>fcr all girls must marry
$50 must all people die. but il is not in
tended that they shall die until their TIM
| comes"
Marriage is a condition OF lie, my child
| All conditions OF life are brought about by
human agencies ! she'll soon have anothe