Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-11

An eXasperated cry broke from Mrs. Kid
naird, who had now gained her feet
You're insolent," She cried. you're out
rageousi told you my daughter was Ill
And now, sir, command you to leave these
apartments"
But Alonzo scarcely heard this voice. for
another, faint. sob-broken, and somewhat
distant had fallen on his ears. He still held
the curtain sideways when Mrs. hennalrd
ssprang toward him and tried to wrest 1t
"Do you cali yourself a gentlemanf" she
gasped, as he thwarted her attempt.
"Do you call yourself motherf" ne re-
piled. And then Kathleen glided quickly
through the open doorway, pale and trem-
bling, though quite fearless.
Alonzo at once receded. From that IN
stant his mien and voice became judicial IN
the calm. 1t was he who broke silence after
the trio had thus met.
"Tell mes' were his first words to Kath-
leen, "why, when 1 came here, did you per-
placer.
Kathleen, with compressed lips, remained
spe eechless.
"Teil me-" Alonza repeated.
The girl shot look at her mother.
"This man has behaved like rufnan," !" now
rang from Mrs. Kennaird. go back to
ryour room, my dear, and show him that you
Will not see me insulted."
But kathleen had now turned her gaze
upon her lover.
"Mamma wished to meet you before did, :"
she said. ~ had not expected you. Your
she orooped her eyes as that last sentence
faltered feebly into silence. Alonzo took
two or three swift steps toward her, and
then paused.
what purpose could be served, !" he ques.
toned, "by your mother meeting me hrstP"
"None-none," she stammered.
"Are you not my promised wffef Is 1t not
settled that we shall shortly marry? Have
not offered to break our betrothal, and nave
not you-?"
1--WE insisted that it should be kept"
nd c l1a sf frnf falnn 1nNt1, hof lie N
He advanced and caught them in both his
own.
81 will believe your' he cried. 81 will be-
lieve that you never once swerved from me-
It's all that evil genius of yours-that de-
plorable mother"
"Ahr' said Mrs. Kennaird, in severe re-
proach to her daughter, "can you be will
Ing, Kathleen, to let me suffer such indig-
'fYour mother has Just told me, Kathleen, :"
hurried Alonzo. while he still clasped the
girls hands, "that our engagement must
cease"
eyes, those were my words, DEAR" painted
Mrs. Kennaird, Il don't deny them. You've
heard me say them to yourself quite often Of
late"
"Too often. mamma" came the answer.
"And I've always begged you not to try and
move me, but you would keep on trying. and
it has done no good" She let her beautiful
turned to Alonzo.
"YouU make this sacrifice, Kathleen?"
hotlv demanded her mother. you'll marry
a ruined man-you, with your ideas, your
ambitions?"
yes, yes mamma"
81 don't want you to look on 1t as sacri-
close to her cheek. "And have you such
grand ideas, ambitions? If this be true, why,
perhaps then, as wrote you, it's better to"
"No, no." she interrupted him, and
snatched her hands from his only that she
might throw both arms about his neck And
now, half whispering in his ear, she said
what served for him as an ugly counter
stroke to the pang of happiness just dealt
him.
"When 1 see you, Lonz, I'm SO strongl All
doubts of our future vanish. can't help,
You know, being her daughter. There are
times-I've told you of them-when she
seems to govern me against my will. And
then she's my mother, and l love her. If I'm
disappointed-if I'm fearful of just how l
shall be able to bear it all-if moments come
to me when, as your letters limited, feel that
our life together may have lost something Of
of the expected SAVIOR and ease and grace
fulness my fancy clothed it with; be lenient,
be forgiving. viii you not, for my SAX He"
He withdrew himself from her, and at once
said. with tones that bore no trace OF con-
cealment:
"To me, Kathleen, our life together would
now be even happier than before. And if
those moments do come to you at this early
period, what may not occur when you're the
wife OF a poor man "a man who means to
work instead of idling. and can give you
that other luxurious existence you foresaw
and counted on?"
Everything horrid and forlorn may hap
pen in the case you've pointed outr' ex-
claimed Mrs. Kennaird. "If Kathleen marries
you she will make you the worst of wivesr'
Alonzo had for brief while forgotten the
very presence of that lady who had just de-
clared it with such emphasis.
"Oh, it's you agaln!" he said, and his coun-
tenance grew one cloud of disgust. For
Gods sake cease your prosecutions Of this
poor girl, whose greatest misfortune is the
fact of her being your child!'
"For shame!' broke from Kathleen. "What
you say is false!' And at once she moved
toward her mother, who swept an arm about
her waist with glad cry.
''OLly few minutes ago, my darling"
Mrs. kennaird now eagerly said, che had
the insolence to tell me that unless you
treated me with scorn-scorn, mind you.
my deari-he would give you up!'
kathleen flushed, and curled her lip. eff
he wants me to hate you," she said, "he will
find himself woefuily in error!'
81 don't ask anything so unnatural" ;" here
struck in Alonzo," as that you should hate
your mother. But l demand of you
that you shall both hate and despite her
past life: I've taken pains to inquire. She is
one of those women who go about the world
making themselves firm and sworn foes of
the sanctity Of marriage.
daughter. "And you'll stand this7 You'll
marry the man who can SO SANDER your
mother"
"Truth and SANDER live miles apart" said
Alonzo. "Kathleen," he went on, with his
entire mein racked by agitation, "if you
come to me ut all you must cume with no
mere worldly regrets"
"You must comet Listen - listen ~
Knocked Mrs. Kennaird, while she drew tho
girl closer TO her breast. "Was there ever
such an autocrat? He's repulsed you once,
my dear; will you let him do SO again9
Where is your womanly spirit?"
Its here" said Kathleen, drawing her
self up and touching her bosom with one
hand and giving Alonzo the haughtiest look
he had ever seen bred in those ltmpid eyes,
"There's an end of everything between you
and me-" she went on. ''I hope may never
see you again: but if we should meet be
sure I'll never speak to you. Come,
mamma"
The two women left the room together,
and each gave him a glance across her
shoulder. Mrs. Kennaird's, which was one
of disdainful triumph, he did not see; but
Kathieen'S which brimmed equally with
anger and melancholy, haunted him through
many future day.
To be Continued Ysezt Stz,ddy.l