The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-09-09
for Trank, too, should plead with You

quest. Nay, DO not tnlnk me hard and
ungrateful for the honor you have done
me. You do not know how much the
refusal costs me.o
Jaell She called him, as she used to do,
by the old familiar name. He was too
good soldier to retire before such an
ill-defended position as this. ~ ~
"Then II the only obstacle to my suit
is your sons possible objection, may
Il"
She interrupted him, with the same
look on her face that he had seen there
nearly five-and-twenty years ago, when
he had asked the same question.
''No, once and for all, dear friend, it
can not be. Believe me have not
made up my mind to refuse the love Of
man of your worth and true nobility
Of character, without hours of painful
thought. You must take my answer as
final" MN.
"Then, goodbye, Maryl' he said, for
they had now reached the garden-gate,
and without another word he left her.
Half an hour later, Frank came in.
''Is dinner ready? Where is Colonel
Hopkins, mother?" were his first ques-
tions.
Now, though the pretty widow had
bathed her eyes and used all the little
arts of the toilet, with which women
are so adept in concealing the traces of
their emotions, there yet fingered in
Mrs. Besant's face tell-tale sign Of
sorrow that caught her sons attention
in moment.
Mother" he said, putting his arm
around her waist, ''there is something
wrong. Where has the Colonel gone2''
II am afraid he has left us-perhaps
he is at the hotel-there is no train
North till this evening"" was the in
coherent answer, while the lady's
cheeks blushed furiously.
"Gone to the hotell Have you and he
been quarreling?"
"No."
''Not quarreling but not agreeing,
perhaps? Now, darling mam"-very
coaxingly-''you and are little more
than mother and son, for we have been
boon companions ever since l can re
member, then is 1t not little late In
the day for one of us to have a secret
which the other can not share?"
A fond pressure Of the hand was his
reply.
have you no secret tnenY
"Not one you ought to know" +,
nor one 4 ougnt not 70 KNOW, am
sure. Forgive me II l seem abrupt
CARING motner, Dut mas Coionel HOP
kins Gins asked you 70 pe nis witeY w.
res, FRANK. Inc answer was IN
tone scarce apoye Whisper
Ard you seidy
sah NO, fInnk. ~ 49,,
because you did not love himT
nAt Is nos ? IaT qpesuon. Iou
really must content yourself WIN your
own love adventures, Frank, without
inIiter1iering Ii1 win the indiscretions OF
your elders. .. :,
sne tried hara 70 get up nghtlaugn'
out ~ was . iauure.
Mpther, you must answer moi
Whist shall say7"
The truth
Now, suppose l had told him Yes
what would you have said9'
THAT you were mclty woman and !
happy man. An, mother, you 40 not
know the real worth OF the man you've
turned away"
"Oh, Frank"
II say" he continued, hotly, you
don't know what gentle, lovable,
pure, brave, honorable man he is-the
noblest fellow l ever met, except my
father"
II knowit, Frank the widow sighed,
with such conviction that light dawned
on her sons doubts.
"Ahl you do love him, after alp
"Well, perhaps-really, Frank-you
are odious to-day-but / will confess
that think the Colonel"
spare your bushes, mamsie" Frank
cried, gleefully, "for ! am of to bring
him back" And before she could in
terpose he was gone.
Mrs. Besant was In pretty state Of
dismay. at her son's imPetuosity;; She
uecialeu 70 nerseii Una. she wouid start
Ior @ ,ne breh.woous az once ana spend
tne aay win themi tnat II she did stop
at nome ~ wouid only DC because IL
was was heI du'y 70 preside a. her sons
tapie wnen ne haa guests that sne
would pc barely ciyil 70 that horrid
JACK hopkins, VINO naa placed ner IN
s.ch q ridiculous posltlon, ana tnen-
sne went 70 ner mirror ana aecked her-
ser WIN a olt OF rivpon OF tne color sne
knew was ioVed Dest Dy that obnoxious
gentleman.