Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-05-21

o64An ACL g G1 4Olcl-
-Ralph. my dear son" she began
@you have always been my favorite-
When you were a little boy in knicker-
bOckers 1 dreamed OF the time when you
would be honorably settled IN life, with
"a woman who was worthy Of you at your
side, esteemed by everybody and uphold
ing the splendOr and dignity Of your
family
Mrs. Warringham's emotion, her soft
tones, the tears glistening in her eyes,
was such an extraordinary occ urrence
that It could not but make the deepest i'm
preston upon Ralph He had never seen
that naughty woman weep, and the ex-
preston OF his face betrayed how deeply
he was touched
Mrs Warringham saw her advantage.
In the same appealing tones she con-
tinued:
@Are all these hopes to prove idle,
Ralph? You know well that you can
not keep your position with a wife who
has been an actress. Think Of the
humiliatlons you would have 10 endure
when the houses in which you yourself
are welcome are closed to your wife
when your friends would refuse to bring
their wives and daughters TO your housed
Think of it. Ralph"
@What are the sneers of false friends
compared TO the happiness of two true
hearts, whose mutual love is sufficient
to them" the young man exclaimed
@And your mOther?"
Mrs. Warringham withdrew her hand
which Ralph still held. She pressed her
handkerchief against her eyes and aetu-
ally burst into convulsiYe sobbing.
The young man was amazed, almost
terrified He felt extremely miserable.
How great must be the grief that could
thus melt the icy armOr of self-contain-
ment which hitherto surrounded this
woman's heart
Mrs. Warringham had never encour-
aged outward manifestations of affec-
ton on the part Of her children. nor had
she herself INDUCED in behavior which
she considered undigniiied. She had
hardly ever, at least since they had out
grown the nursery, bestowed a caress
upon them. But Ralph regarded her
with feryid, chivalrous attachment, in
conformity with his ardent, generous
nature.
And this same adored mother was
overwhelmed with grief. struck to the
very heart by an act of his
Ralph was miserable. Yet what was
left for him to do? How could he COM
ply with her wishes? 1t would be like
giving up his own self. The situation
was terrible. He felt that it would be
useless to try whether she could be won
over to his view of the matter. There was
no romantic vein in his mothers compO-
sitiOn. The sentiments of a lover, who
deems the prejudices of reality as I'M
worthy of consideration, would seem
to her the rank delusions of a mailman,
There was another long pause, inter
rupted only by the sobs of Mrs. War
bingham
Much of that lady's emotion was gem
uine. Yet there was trace of purpose
in her vehement manifestation of it.
She knew that IL was the most powerful
weapon in her arsenal
Notwithstanding her pride, there was
in Mrs Warringham's nature not lacking
that cunning hypocrisy which women
know so we'll how to employ. She knew
that woman can easiest overcome the
masculine heart by show of weakness.
So far she had succeeded very well.
But now she made a mistake.
In her eagerneSs to follow up the ad-
vantage she had gained, she resumed:
Think of the life this woman has been
leadingi Think of her associations!
How can you think of making her your
wifei"
At these words the chivalry Of the
lover fired up again. He rose to his
feet and, in the most determined tones
at his command. exclaimed:
Mamma, I will not allow even you to
speak slightingly of my future wife,
@YOur wifeln
@My wife. ="
Mrs. Warringham was almost de-
spondent. But she determined to make
one more effort
SWELL, SIR" she said, resuming her
GOODNESS and dignity; @you will have 10
choose between that woman and your
mother"
GNfotbarfn
The word was spoken with such
depth OF grief, there was tone OF such
extreme misery in it that IL touched the
heart even of this cold woman, but she
resisted the impulse to throw her arms
around her sons neck and bid him fol-
low the voice of his heart. With tones
icier than before she said:
There is no other possibility. Choose
between me and her"
In vain Ralph tried to reason with his
mother. In vain he pleaded that, what
ever might be true of other actresses,
Miss Lyon had passed undefiled through
all the temptations that surrounded her.
She would surely learn to love her, he
said, If she would only permit him to
introduce her.
What answer could there be TO such
protestations but a skeptical, half-con-
temptuOus smile?
his vain enQeHNOES GGaSEu ldSI- OF
some minutes he stood mOtiOnless behind
his mothers chair, gazing at a picture
on the wall without knowing what 1t
represented Mrs. Warringham watched
him through the mirror in front of her.
Intense anxiety was depicted on her face.
During these moments of fierce mental
struggle the thought never entered
Ralph's mind what the financial conse-
Quences of a break with his mother
would be TO him. 1t was only the strug-
gle between his love and filial affection
that caused him indescribable agony.
Love conquered at last, as it always will.
But was the victory worth the price?
With an expression of utter hopeless
ness he turned at last and walked across
the room where he could see his mothers
face. Its rigidity inspired him with little
announcement. Not a trace of her
former emotion could be seen in it
ais that your last word, mamma?"
@Ay last word. Choose.
The words came hesitatingly from the
young mans lips, and his breath was Ia
bored as he answered:
Il have no choice. Mother, FAREWELL"
He rushed from the ROOM
He did not hear the wall that burst
from the bosom of the mother who had
sacrificed her child to her pride
TO BE CONTINUED.
How Jay Gould Travels.
was talking with Western railroad
man about Mr.. Gould's Western tours Of
inspection, when he said TO me: ~Mr.