Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-29
Mrs. Presty looked round the room.

udugnCer mas Dcell DlOugnG up on the mod
ern system. Children are all little angels
no punishment gentle remonstrance-
don't be naughty, dear, because you will
make poor mamma unhappy And then
mamma grieves over it and wonders over il
when she finds her little angel disobedient.
What fatal system of education! All my
success in life; every quality that endeared
me TO your father and Mr.. Presty; every
social charm that has made me the idol of
society, attribute entirely to judicious cor
rection in early life, applied freely with the
open hand. We will change the subject.
Where is dear Bennydeck? l want to con-
graduate him on his approaching marriage"
She looked hard at her daughter, and men,
tally added: He'll live to regret itp'
Catherine knew nothing Of the captains
movements Il have something to say to
him, and don't know where he is.
Mrs. Presty still kept her eyes fixed on her
daughter. Nobody observing GATHERINGS
face, and judging also by the tone of her
voice, would have supposed that she was al
Iuding to the man whose irresistible attrac-
tons had won her. She looked i'll at ease
and she spoke sadly.
You don't seem to be in good spirits, my
DEAR" Mrs. Presty gently suggested. mo
lovers QuaTrel Already, nope:
Nothing of the kind"
'Can | be of any use to you?"
''l ou might be Of the greatest use. But
know only too well you would refuse"
Thus far Mrs Presty had been animated
by curiosity. She began now to feel vaguely
alarmed. After all that [ have done for
YOU" she answered, Il don't think you ought
to say that. Why should L refuSe?"
Toth nriY, Tod
Her mother persisted in pressing her. ''Has
it anything to do with Capt. Bennydeck?"
Eyes"
What is it?"
Catherine reused her courage.
you know what it is as we'll as I do"
she said. Capt. Bennydeck believes that
am free to marry him because l am a widow.
You might help me tell him the truth"
''What!!!'
That exclamation of horror and astonish-
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. II 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, Il mean to try if L can stop you. Go
back to your chair"
Catherine refused.
Il know how it will end" she answered;
'and 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, is
a man whom | refuse to deceive"
Lets have it Ou5 plainly" Mrs PreSty
insisted. "He believes your first marriage
has been dissolved by Death. Do you mean
to tell him that it has been dissolved by d.
vorce?'
Il do''
"What right has he to know it?"
"a right that is not to be denied A wife
must have no secrets from her husband"
Mrs. Presty hit back smartly.
YOU'RE not his wife yet. Wait till you
are married"
Never! Who but wretch would marry
an honest man under false pretenses"
Il deny the false pretenSeSI You talk as
if 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
a 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 matter that
doesn't concern him! You are fool enough
to raise doubts of you in his mind, and give
a reprOach to cast in your teeth the first time
you do anything that happens to offend him!
Any woman-I 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, l
am ashamed of you. Have you no princi.
pleS?'
She really meant it! The purely selfish
considerations which she urged on her
daughter were 50 many undeniable virtues
in Mrs. PreSty'S estimation. She took the
highest moral ground, and stood up and
crowed on it with pride in her own princi-
pies which the primate of all England might
have envied.
But GATHERINGS rare resolution held as firm
as ever. She got little nearer to the door.
Goodnight, mamma was the only reply
she made.
rs that all you have to say to me?'
81 am tired, and l must rest. Please let
me CO." Mrs. Presty threw open the door
with q 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. If
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 filial duty
could successfully endure.
Il only wish had never taken your adj
vice." she answered. MANY miserable
moment would have been spared me if | had
always done what l am doing now. You
have been the evil genius of my life since
Miss Westerfield first came into our house"
She passed through the open DOORWAY
stOpped-and came back again. I 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. Presty of the indomitable spirit
and the ready tongue-was petrifed. She,
the guardian angel of the family, whose eX-
perience, devotion, and sound sense had
steered Catherine through difficulties and
dangers which must have otherwise ended in
utter domestic shipwreck-she, the model
mother, had been stigmatzed as the evil gen.
ius of her daughters life by no less a per-