The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-06-14

"Bored" Mrs. Latimer groaned as she
rose. you use the right word indeed
But il go down, young Lyons will not stay
The father and son glanced at each other.
Dan Lyons is very worthy, honorable
young fellow. mother" said Hugh, HE is
reckoned the strongest among the young
lawyers at our bar"
"Very probably" said his mother, with
chilly brevity.
And really, my DEAR" ventured her hus-
band. there is no better family in the city
than the Lyons. Daniel is not dependent on
his profession. He has means"
THAT may be-"
And he is an active member of st. Jude's
Church."
'And what is all this to me? l am not
curious about his creed or his bank account. -
1T Is just this to you, mother" said Hugh,
bluntly. 1.-THE man has loved Frances for
years, and think she is interested in him.
There is actually no objection to him; yet
you persistently freeze him out of the house.
Why do you do it? 1t is question of life
and happiness with poor little Fan. What
reason have you?"
Mrs. Larimer's eyes flashed, but she con-
trolled herself and was silent for minute
Then she said, slowly:
Il simply do not like the man. He is not
the kind of person wish Frances to marry
1t is case of DR.. Fell, l suppose. Your
father, when he came to visit me, was grave
and tender and courteous. This young man
is flippant; he is eternally joking and max
ing puns. The chitter-chatter that goes on
between him and Frances wearies me beyond
endurance. He is type of the modern
young man, suppose"
Precisely, nanny, and Fan belongs to
the same generation. After all, it is for Fan
he comes a-wooing, not you. You have my
father. Dad is perfection, know, but we
cannot all be like him."
Frances will hardly engage herself to a
man who is repugnant to me. think that
closes the matter"
3 "Oh. of course" said Hugh, "Will you
walk down-street with me, father The
night is pleasant"
Mrs. Latimer did not 20 down to the par
Tor when the two men left her. She per-
fectly understood the cold disapproval in
their faces as they babe her good-ni
'They think have no right to control the
lives of my children" she said, the bitter
tears creeping down her cheeks. "As If 1
did not give them lifel AS if 1 would not
pour out my hearts blood for themr'
1t was not only question OF love. Mrs
Latimer knew that her intellect was stronger
than that of any of her children; she had
age and experience. And yet she ought not
to decide and judge for theml
About IL o'clock Fan tapped at her door
and came in, with shy quiet in her step and
movement very unusual in that gay little
chatterbox. The girls cheeks, too, were
pale and there was tender softness in her
dark eyes, very close to tears.
what is it Frsnces?" her mother said,
coldly, "Do you wish to see me?"
"Only to say good night, mamma" She
kneeled down and put her head in her
mothers lap, looking up, her lips trembling
with the secret shehad to tell. Mrs. Latimer
guessed it and her soul filed with a blind
rage
81 will not hear Il" she cried to herself.
Il win never consent! My baby-my little
girl. Dan Lyons's wife"
mamma? do so love you tonightw whis-
pered Fan, with sob.
Mrs. Latimer patted her as she might
troublesome cat snow jump up, Frances
and go to bed" she said briskly.
Fan rose. II wished to talk to you, NAM
my dear, about"-she said timidly.
''Not now-not now! have something to
think of; an important business matter"
Tomorrow, then" Fan threw her aims
about her mother and strained her to her
breast Mrs. Latimer set like stone; yet
she loved her child with fierce energy. She
was her child; she had given to her blood
and heart and mind Surely she ought to
direct her future life.
When Frances reached the door her mother
said; "Who was here tonight?"
"Clara and Mr.. Lyons, mainma."
"Mr. Lyons remained after Clara had
gomez"
"Yes"-her face blushing radient, "He"-
do not let it occur again. He is IA young
man whose character and manner are dis
tasteful to me, Frances. Encourage no in
timacy with him."
"Motherp'
GOOD night, my DEAR"
THAT will do. / wish to be alone"
The girl flung out her arms like an angry
child. st is l who am alone. You drive me
from you" she said as she left the room.
There was an absolute calm in the Latimer
household for several weeks. Dan Lyons
never came to the house again, and his pane
was not mentioned even by the continually
nh
of the fraternity nor of the room which he
had planned. He did not, however, bring
his friends to his mothers little parlor. and
laughed somewhat grimly when she urged
him to do it,
There's something about boys you don't
understand" he said.
Mrs. Latimer smiled. As IL woman of
her keen insight and judgment could not
read those transparent, immature minds
Noblet was engaged by The Age, and she
read with contempt his crude, slashing ar
ticies; but there was no doubt of their popu-
larity. Everybody congratulated Mr. Lati-
mer IN this brilliant access to his staff, and
the paper nearly doubled its subscription
list.
When Hugh mentioned this fact in his
mothers room one evening, she said: 81 am
sorry for the public taste. then. Twenty-Five
years ago such colloquial touch-and-go talk
would not have been tolerated in leading
article"
And If you read an article of those days
now 1t would seem stilted even to you. The
world changes lis base with each generation.
1t may go backward but it does not change
Its base"
Il shall not change mine," said Mrs. Lati-
mer. calmly.
There was knock at the door, Mrs. Lati-
mer noticed that her husband went quickly
to open it, glancing at Hugh with controlled
excitement in his face.
Frances entered, and close beside her was
Dan Lyons. Even in her establishment the
thought flashed into Mrs. Latimer's mind
that he was really manly, handsome fellow.
She rose. "Whatb-d do not understand
Frances"
"This is my husband, mother. married
him two months ago. Icould not have your
bless ing, so Lob, mamma, loved him! l
did not want to find man like father to
marry. as you did for me, but just Dan
Dan" The words tumbled out over each
other as Fan laughed and cried and dragged
her husband and mother together.
Two months agoW
:, 1T is all right, my dear-all right" said
Mr. Latimer. "Old Father Johns married
them. He says he knew you would relent
"nen you had learned to appreciate Dan. ;"