The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-07-12

ii see this old lady further before L
allowed hc- to upset all my life- calcula-
tons il this sort OF way. Why can't
he get her boarded out som, wherel or
admitted into a respectable Hons or
Refuge, or. something of the sortl'
II suppose said the man who
worked next him il the wall paper de-
signing factory, 'bccause she is his
mother
"Hang sentiment was Morsc's re-
ply.
To Marius Gray's credit be it spoken
that he never for an instant hesitated as
70 what decision to make.
He wrote an affcctionate letter to his
mother, telling her of the little home
which was now at her disposal, and
offering to come to Montreal and bring
her thitber at any time which she should
fix.
And this letter safely dropped into
the nearest mail box, he next began to
consider the forthcoming explanation
with Alice Ardley.
He went to see her that very evening.
She was a music teacher, and lived in
one of those gentce. comfortless board
ing houses which afford so poor sub
stitute for real home', and sae came
down into the parlor, where the gas was
economically lowered, and the scent of
the vegetable soup that hal been served
for diancr still fingered.
"Oh, Marius!' she said. with little
gurglc in her voice, 1--WE been wanting
to see you so much"
Have you, Alce!"
He stood holding both her hands in
his own.
i've got such favor to ask of you,
Marius-and oh, l don't know how to
do it, after all the hateful thing, I've
said about mother in-laws, and that
sort of thing!" faltered she.
He stood still listening. and after a
short pause, Alice went hurriedly on:
''Its my Aunt Alethea. I've got to
take her home and take care of her, for
the cousin who has supported her all
these years can't do it any more; and
oh, Marius, we can't be married unless
unless you will be very good
and kind and let old Aunt
Alethea como and live with
u. I'm sure she can't be great deal
of trouble and I'll keep on with my
music lessons to furnish her with
clothes. She's very nice, quiet old
lady, and-but if you'd rather not,
Marius, say so at once and Of course
the engagement will be at an end
Marius Gray's face lighted up.
''Alice, forgive mel" he said. "You
have shown eater confidence in me
than have done in you. As far as l
am concerned your aunt will be most
welcome in any home that you and /
are to share together. But, Alice, 1
had come here to ask you to release me
from our eng ,gement."
Alice gave little start.
''Mariusl" she cried. "Oh, Marius,
you don't mean it2'
'For the reason" he went on, 'tha.
it is now incumbent on me to support
my mother, who has heretofore lived
with her father. didn't like to ask
you, dear, knowing your opinion on
the subject of-wcll. of mothers-in.
law, to share your home kingdom with
any one else; and there was no other
home to bring my mother to. But
now"
"Marius." cried Alice, ''it's quite
true what you say. You have put no
confence in me. If could trust you
to be good to my poor old aunt, could
you not have been sure that l would
love your mother"
Il am sure of it now. Alcic," said
the young man, still hol ding her hand
tenderly in his.
"And I won't release you from your
engagement, declared Alice, DISCUS
ing her emotion under a very effective
pretence of gay badinags. "'vs been