Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-08-06
Catherine reused her coura.r.

Catherine reused her courage.
"You know what it is as well as l do"
she said. "Capt. Bennydeck believes that
am free to marry him because am widow.
You might help me tell him the truth
.'What!!w
That exclamation of horror and astolish-
ment was loud enough to have been heard
in the garden. If Mrs. Presty's hair had
been all her own, it must have been hair that
stood on end.
Catherine quietly rose. 1--WE won't dis
cuss it" she said, with resignation. Il knew
you would refuse me-" She approached the
door. Her mother got up and resolutely
stood in the wav. Before you commit an
act of downright Madness" Mrs. Presty
said, II mean to try if can stop you. Go
back to your chair"
Catherine refused.
II know how it will end" she answered !;
ssand the sooner it ends the better. You will
find that | am quite as determined as you
are. A man who love me as he loves me, il
a man whom / refuse to deceive"
Lets have it our plainly" Mrs. Presty
insisted. 'tHe believes your first marriage
has been dissolved by Death. Do you mean
to tell him that it mas been dissolved by Dl-
vOrce?"
Il do"
"What right has he to know ity'
"a right that is not to be denied. A WIFE
must have no secrets from her husband"
Mrs. Presty hit back snartly-
You're not his wife yet. Wait till you
are married"
Never! Who but a wretch would marry
an honest man under false pretenses|
II deny the false pretenses! You talk as
II you were an impostOr. Are you, or are
you not. the accomplished lady who has
| charmed him? Are you. or are you not the
beautiful woman whom he loves? There isn't
! stain on your reputation. In every respect
YOU are the wife he wants and the wife who
| is worthy of him. And you are cruel enough
! to disturb the poor man about a matter that
! doesn't concern him! You are fool enough
| to raise doubts of you in his mind, and give
reproach to cast in your teeth the first time
| YOU do anything that happens to offend him
| Any woman don't care who she may be
might envy the home that's waiting for you
| and your child, if you're wise enough to hold
| your tongue. Upon my word, Catherine, /
am ashamed of you. Have you no princi
| pies?
She really meant it! The purely selfish
! considerations which she urged on hel
|
! in Mrs Prestys estimation. She took the
highest moral ground, and stood up and
crowed on it with a pride in her own princi'
! pies which the primato of all England might
| have cnvicd.
But GATHERINGS rare resolution held as firm
| as ever. She got little nearer to the door
Goodnight, mamml," was the only reply
she made.
is that all you have to say to me?'
81 am tired and | must rest. Please LEI
me 60" Mrs. Presty threw open the door
| with a bang.
"You refuse to take my advice" she said.
| oh very well. have your own way! You
are sure to prosper i'll the end. These are
the days of exhibitions and gold medals. Ii
| there is ever an exhibition of idiots at large,
/ know who will win the prize
Catherine was accustomed to preserve her
respect for her mother under difficulties, but
this was more than her sense of tiial duty
! could successfully endure.
II only wish | had never taken your adj
vice" she answered. Many miserable
moment would have been spared me if | had
| always done what | am doing now. You
have been the evil genius of my life since
| Miss Westaried first came into our house"
| bp1lt lbtNStI llllbu5l ttlb pp'i ub'i " dN
stopped-and came back again. Il didn't
mean to offend you, mamma-but you do
| say such irritating things. Goodnight"
| Not word of reply acknowledged that
kindly meant apology Mrs. Presty-viva-
ciOus Mrs PrcSty of the indOmitablc spirit
and the ready tonguc-waS pctrihed. She,
the guardian angel of the family, whose eX-
pcriencc devotion, and sound sense had
stcercd Catherine through difficulties and
dangers which must have otherwise ended in
utter domestic shipwIcck-She, the model
mother, had been stigmatizcd as the evil gen
ius of her daughters life by no less a per
son than that daughter herself! What was
to be said? What was to be done? What
terrible and uneXampied course of action
should be taken after such an insult as this:
Mrs. Presty stood helpless in the middle OF
the room, and asked herself these questions
and waited and wondered and found nc
| answer.
An interval passed. There was a knock al
| the door A waiter appeared. He said: "A
gentleman to see Mrs. OrmOnd."
The gentleman entered the room and re
veaIcd himself
Herbert Linley!