The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-06

gratefully resolved to be more and moro pa
tient with II. and give him time for the change
that was sure to come She interpreted thu
| look OF stormy usefulness he wore ms an ex
preston Of his perplexity In the presence o.
the contradictory facts and theories.
| NO" she said. Il expected to do that. Yor
know I've seen them 30 very lately. and witt
this about Louise on my mind =. How ar,
they? That poor Adeline -. I'm afraid IL.
killing her We're you able to do anything fol
themf''
"Ah. don't know" the young man sighed
| They have to suffer for their misfortunes
| too"
1t seems to be tho order OF Providence
said Mrs. Hilary. with the resignation OF the
| philosophical spectator.
mol" Matt protested. ITS the disorder oil
improvidence. There's nothing OF the Divine
Will in consequences SO unjust aud oppressive
Those women are perfectly innocent: they've
only wished to do right. and tried to do it but
they're under a ban tho same ns II they had
shared their fathers guilt. They hnvo no
friends -"
well. Matt said his mother, with dignity.
Il think you can hardly say that. I'm sure
that. MS far Us we arc concerned. we have moth
ing to reproach ourselves with. think we've
como to tho extreme to show our good will
Come: don't like your saying this!'
Il bog your pardon. certainly don't blame
you or Louise or father. l blame myself-for
cowardice-for-for unworthiness In being
afraid to say-to tell you---- Mother" hc burst
out suddenly. after halt, "lve ask cd Suzette
Northwick to marry me-
Matt had tried to imagine himself saying
this to his mother and tho effect it would have
ever since no had loft Suzette's absorbing
presence; all through his talk with putuey
and all the way home. and now throughout
what he and his mother had been saying Of
Maxwell and Louise. But it always seemed
impossible and moro and more impossible. so
TINT when he found the words spoken In his
own voice it seemed wholly incredible.
CHAPTER XX.
The effect Of thing is never quite what we
have forecast Mrs. Hilary heard Mats con-
fession without apparently anything OF his
tumult in making it. Women. after all. dwell
mainly in the region OF the affections: even
the most worldly women hive their likes and
dislikcs. md tho question of tho sort Matt had
sprung upon his mother IL first u personal
question with them. she was not very worldly
woman: but she liknl her place in the world.
and she preferred conformity and similarity:
the people sho was born Of and bred with were
the incest kind OF people. and she did not see
how any one could differ from them to advan-
tage. Their ideas were the best, or they
would not have had them; she. herself.
did not wish to have other IDEAS
But her family was more. far more. to
her than her world was. She knew that in his
time her husband had not had tho IDEAS of her
world concerning slavery but she had always
contrived to honor the ideas Of both. Since
a
concerning what he called the industrial sa-
very. she contrived. without the sense OF in
consistency. to suffer him and yet remain with
the world. She represented in her maternal
tolerance the principle actuating the Church.
which includes the facts as fast as they accom-
plish themselves. without changing any point
OF doctrine.
Then you mean, Matt" she asked. that
you are going to marry herr"
Yes said Matt. that is whit mean"
and then something in his mothers way OF
taking it notified him on Sues behalf But
don't know that my marrying her necessarily
followed from my asking her l expected her !
to refuse me-"
Men always do: don't know why" said |
Mrs. Hilary. But in this case 1 can't mag
inc it."
Cant imagine 1t? can imagine it," Matt |
tee his resentment.
Then. it's quite settled. you don't wish
mo to say anything2"
L wish you to say everything. mother-all
hat you feel and think-about her and the
whole affair. But don't wish you to think
can't let you think-that she has ever by one
ook or word. allowed me to suppose that my
,fYer would be welcome"
"Oh. didn't mean that" said Mrs. Hilary.
She would be too proud for that. But I've no
,oubt it was welcome" Matt fretted In silence,
'ut he allowed his mother to go on. She is
'ery proud girl. and I've no doubt that Whit
hes been through has intensified her pride"
" don't suppose she's perfect" said Matt.
I'm not perfect. myself. But don't conceal
Ter faults from myself any moro than do my
wn. / know she's proud don't admire
ride: but l suppose that with her 1t can't be
lelped"
IL don't know that object to IT," said Mrs.
Hilary. 1t doesn't always imply hardness: it
'oes with very good things sometimes That
auteur OF hers is very effective. I've seen 1t
AIRY her through with people who might
ave been disposed to look down on her for
ono reasons"
II shouldn't value 1t for that" Matt inter-
upted.
mo. But she made 1t serve her instead OF
hose family connections that every one else
AS"
"she will have all Of ours. hope motherw
latt broke In. with q smile: but his mother
'ould not DO diverted from tho point she was
laking.
And that It always seemed 30 odd she
houldn't have. I'm sure that to soc her come
ito room you would think half Boston, or
II the princes Of the blood. were her cousins.
he's certainly magnificent creature"
Matt differed with his mother from the
round up In oil her worldly reasons for ad-
firing suzette. but her praises filled his heart
} overlooking. Tears stood In his eyes and !
Is voice trembled: !.
"she is-she is-angelically"
well. not just that type, porhaps." said !
RS Hilary. But she is good girl. No one
IN help respecting hor: and I think she's I
Yen moro to no respected for yielding to that {
Dor old maid sister Of hers about their prop !
,ty than for wishing to Givo 1t up" !
=. Yes. Matt breathed GRATEFULLY. !
" But there. there Ii ti,S.reai Skeleton. Matti
lzette would grace the highest POSITION. But u
Or father! What will people say 2"
=" Need we mind TINT. n,othery' /