Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-10-05
Barren Honors.

my reader. have, the saddest power
~ Of all, which tr es to keep up APP
pearances. My mother was left early
widow. with five children. all girls.
We inherited nothing from our we'll
born ancestors, save well-formed noses,
white hands, and low. cultivated
voices My mother was a proud and
courageous woman, an il am forced
TO impute blame to her. let the reader
never imagine that am ungrateful for
the love and care which sho gave to
my childhood. or unmind of the ter
rible temptation which assailed her.
So scarce was money with US that we
early learned to rse from a daintily-
served dinner crnely hungry. and
darn, and re-darn our spotlessly clean,
though simple dress Poor mother
hers was a stern rule, but | think of
the long hours during which she play
ed the part of housek eeper COVER
ness and seamstress ami marvel at
her strength of mind and body.
We lived in IA country village. for
any city residence would have been be-
You'd our purse, and Notwithstanding
poverty had the entree of every great
honse in the country. If mamma sell
dom availed herself of such privileges
it was that no decent clothes were
forthcoming wherewith she might
clothe herself and us.
When | was II l was invited to
spend few months with our father
cousin, Mrs Beaumont. who lived in
great style in London. She was that
most selfish of beings. hypochon-
driac, but to drive in Hyde Park, or
even Regent Park. was bliss TO me.
and when l had settled my face into an
expression meant deeply sympathetic
felt free to turn but an inattentive
ear TO my companions long list of
sinking sensat ons" and sudden
spasms. with which according to her
own account, she was constantly and
mysteriously seizei. That might do
her some credit, Mrs. Beaumont or
dered Il suitable outfit for me. and fine
clothes and good food soon.transform-
ed me from pale, STOPPING. dark-eyed
strip of girl, into tall. upright.
handsome young woman. She was too
hopelessly sunk in self TO observe the
change, and it was not until her fav-
orite nephew came on his annual visit
that the admiration which his young
face too plainly showed, opened her
eyes to the fact that / was that dam
gerous specimen of humanity-a pen
niless beauty.
A scene was troublesome, therefore
my hostess contented herself with de-
claring herself very much worse, and
ordering her doctor to prescribe sea-
air. Jack Beaumont was requested to
accompany her to the Isle of Wight
and l was packed off home. shall
never forget my mothers start OF sur
prise when she saw the change in my
appearance. All that evening she re-
NAMED very thoughtful. aud | began
10 fear that nv unexpected return was
hardly welcome, until two days later.
when. with her sweetest smile. sine in
formed me that | was to put on one of
my most becoming dresses, and be-
have my prettiest as she expected an
old friend TO luncheon. Nv Younger
sisters were ordered off to partake of a
cold dinner in the school-room. while
all things completed. with a view to
impress our guest with the idea that
my mother and awaited Lord Silu-
sian in the drawing room. knew him
to be one of the oldest, as to title, of
England's peers. and l had heard a
whisper that mamma might have bee n
his countess had her youthful beauty
been made more attractive by the hun
dred thousands of pounds sterling
which the lady that he eventually
married had brought him.
He came. a grim faced, stiff old gen.
tleman, who put up double eyeglass
and scanned me closely. A glance of
mutual intelligence passed between
mamma and his lordship. which did
not tend to pat me at NV ease. How
ever, smiled and talked as we'll as I
could. with a beating heart After
luncheon IVES ordered of for walk
with the others. and that evening my
mother kissed me. saying: LORD ST.
urian will bring his son. Lord Trenton.
to call on Wednesday," There was
something i'm her look and tone that
sent me to nv bed with a sudden
sinking" Of heart, much more real
than any Of poor Cousin Beaumonts.
What need to dwell on the wretched
details OF the next few weeks. Lord
Trenton came. saw, and. as II eveDtu-
ally proved, conquered. thought him
most vacant youth. but my mother
explained that he was much struck
with me. and ''sIich dear, simple shy
boy. Notwithstanding his great wealth
and high position
made brave fight, for I was no
Iph genia, but mothers stern reminder
OF all owed her, of the wretched flu
turo which opened before my four
young sisters. of the long struggle
with sickening poverty which had
made up the sum total of her life.
fiually wore ont my desperate opposi-
ton. and burned the half dozen dried
aowars Lack Raanmunt had given ma