Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-08-23


his genial temper and tried worth; but he
never forgot that his mother denied herself
all intercourse with society, and was indif-
ferent to every pleasure out of the sphere of
home. Nor did he meet her as a matter of
course mindful of his mothers absorbing
love, and heartily returning it, he seemed
always, upon entering the room, to have
come home as from a long absence. He
kissed her fondly, asked after her health and
spirits, and how she had passed the day.
"The day is always long till you come,
Robert. Tea is ready now, son. When you
are rested we will sit down."
"Ah, mother, you are cheerful to day.
have brought you, besides the papers, new
book, which we win commence presently
"A thoughtful boy you are; but you have
not told me all, Robert. / see something be-
hind those eyes of yours"
"What telltales they must bel Well,
have pretty present for you-a sweet pict-
ure | bought for you the other day, and
which will come home tomorrow, fancy"
as that alll l shall be glad to see the pict-
ure, because you like It. But you have
something else on your mind"
II see never keep anything from you,
mother. You seem TO know my thoughts"
swell, what is itp
II have been thinking, mother, that our
little property was hardly SO productive as it
ought to be, earning hardly six per cent,
while / know that many of my friends are
getting eight, and even ten"
u am afraid that the extra interest is only
to pay for the risk of losing all"
"True, that is often the case; but l think
we can make all safe"
swell, what do you propose doing"
AZ have left it with Mr.. Norcross, an ac-
quaintance of mine, 10 invest for me. He
is secretary of an insurance company, and
knows all the ways of the money lending
world
otis great risk, Robert, to trust our ALL I"
"Not our all, mother. have salary. and.
whatever may happen, we can always depend
on that Besides, Mr.. Norcross is a man of
integrity and credit. He has the unlimited
confidence of the company, and rely upon
him as / would myself"
allow has he invested it, Have you got the
securitiesP
"Not yet, mother have left the money
on his note for the present; and when he has
found good chance to loanit he will give me
the mortgages or stocks, as the case may be-
But come, mother, let us sit down to tea.
All is safe, am sure; and tomorrow | will
make you satisfied with my prudent manage
ment."
When the simple meal was over, they sat in
the twilight before the gas was lighted. The
moments passed rapidly in their free and
loving converse. Then the table was drawn
out and the new book opened. Mrs Jameson
suddenly recollected something.
"Walter, my dear, a letter was left here to-
day by the postman. AS it was directed TO
| "a ~ a
box. Here it is have read it; and rather
sad news it brings Cousin Jonas is failing,
go his daughter writes, and it is doubtful
whether he ever RECEIVERS. Poor child lam
sorry for her."
Robert took the letter and hastily read it,
"a modest, feeling, sensible little girl, am
sure have never seen her, you know;
| but this letter is simple, touching, and wom-
| anly."
"A dear, good girl, am sure. How lonely
she must beI'
Smother, believe I'll go and see Them. In
time of trouble We should forget ceremony.
Cousin Jonas has never invited me, but III
go and see him. won't you go, tool7
my dear boy couldn't; it's no use to coax
me-"
IL have but one thing to trouble me,
mother-and that is that ! can never get you
away from this spot"
"I'm very happy, Robert, and it's very
pleasant spot; why should | wish to gop
"How long since YOU were in a carriageYn
Her eyes filed with tears, but she made no
reply.
Forgive me, motheri I remember the
time-fve years! and it seems like yesterday
when father
There was silence which, for time,
neither cared to break.
"Well," said Robert at length, Il shall
have to go alone Tomorrow morning
will arrange my businessmen forgetting our
| securities-and start on the afternoon train
"Your father often spoke of COUSIN Jonas
and his lovely wife; l wonder if the daughter
has her mothers beauty"
81 can't tell. hope so. But don't look so
inquiringly / don't love woman in the
world-except you, mother. l shan't fall in
love, even if she is an angel"
"If Cousin Jonas should be worse-should
| die, what will become of the poor motherless
chdp
"rhere are no nearer relatives than We
mother-and we must give her home, il
she will come"
Certainly, Robert, we must not be hard
hearted
Mrs. Jameson was charitable, kind and
motherly toward the distressed she felt the
| force of her sons generous sentiments. If it
were her cousin Jonas himself who was to
| be sheltered, or his son, if be had one--or if
the daughter were unattractive, hoyden
even, she would cheerfully make any sacri-
flee in favor of hospitality. But she could
| not repress a secret fear lest the beauty and
| innocence of the orphan should appeal too
strongly to Roberts heart. She knew the
natural destiny of agreeable young men; she
| acknowledged to herself that Robert would
| sometime marry; but she put the time far off
as an evil day, and kept the subject
under ban. None of her neighbors
who had pretty daughters were
encouraged to visit her on intimate terms
| She almost frowned upon every winsome
| face that crossed her threshold when Robert
was at home. SO absorbing was this feeling
that she was not aware of its existence, but
watched her son by a sort of instinct. Her
| conduct was not the result of cool calcula-
ton, and, if it could have been properly set
| before her generous, kindly heart, she would
have been shocked at her own fond selfish
ness.
So she sat and specialized. balancing be-
tween fear and hope. II Robert built air.
castles was he to blamel At "a, with a
h. rt untouched, with fresh susceptibities
and little romance withal, is it to be won
dered that his fancy drew such pleasing pict-
ures of his cousinl
We will leave them to their quiet evenings
and follow Oakhurst to the house of Mr. Nor
cross