Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-11-22

A strong minded. stern, naughty char
acter was this lady greeting her soma.
Many years previous. the only daughter
of IN admiral in the navy had .stooped,
as her family termed it, from her high
position. to marry young farmer several
years her junior.
Her family had disinherited her at
first. bat after lapse Of several years
had deigned to notice her, when it be-
came known her husband had been left
q fortune.
With decision Mrs. Byrns repudiated
their claims on her, and dropped them,
to their disgust, and in spite Of her hus-
bands intercession for them. he being o
kind hearted, sympathetic fellow, whom
she was constantly obliged to remind she
was an sdm'rsls daughter" lest he
should presume with her.
1t was said that Madam Byrne had
never truly loved the weak man to whom
she had given her hand; 1t was limited that
she led him Q hard life for ten Y ears; then
he died, leaving her q rich widow with
three children, one girl and two boys.
Rumor had it that she had told her hus-
band if he did not will his entire property
to her, she would marry again within u
year.
Be that as it may, he did bequeath her
AiS AoEsuno. AettlHS Ais cuAiufeu oe NJ ueE
mercy; perhaps that was why. though
suitors had tocked around her home,
mad I'M had never married again.
She had devoted herself to the educa-
ton of her children and the cares of her
estate. 1t was thing everyone UNDER
stood; no one ever cheated her but once.
She was careful not misery; she was
prudent, not mean; she was Just, not
affectionate.
A poor person never found her empty
handed; an unwise person never found
her without q remark that made him feel
his lack of wisdom.
She had reared her children coldly but
kindly; If they were good they knew they
from their mother. for goodness is it's
own reward" if they were evil, they
knew they would be severely punished.
In time of sickness they never gained
any sympathy from her, but they were
carefully nursed; and when they grew
older they felt her stern. cold nature
chilling to merriment and shrank from
her presence as one does from the judge
on whom depends punishment or for
giveness.
The boys, till they were sent away to
the house.
| If Kenneth did wrong, if he were DISC
bedient, he received his punishment; but
if Griffith sinned against the stern laws
| of this household, he hid his fault from
his mothers knowledge or laid the blame
on Kenneth.
The keen penetrating nature of the
woman made her understand all this
thoroughly, and yet-an illustration of
the shepherd turning from the ninety and
nine sheep that are safe, to seek ne that
| ru ~c% ,Nkh 1~,,4 l.. h~
strive to impress people that Griffith was
good.
She knew Kenneth had the nobler n a.
he seemed. and SO obstinate was her
character that she would not acknowl-
edge, even to herself, her esteem for the
one who would not cringe, and cover,
and lie to escape her anger.
When the boys went to school she told
them if they did not wish her to discard
them they must not do anything dis
honorable.
Il will forgive any boyish trick or joke
but if either Of you dare do anything
actually dishonorable, l will never see
you again she said, and they knew sh'
would keep her word.
When they went to college she hat
added:
Mark you that your life shall be tina
of Christian, and see that no young
girl has cause to bow her head in sorrow
for your sake. for if SO, your mother
doors will be closed against yon forever.
They had gone to college; they had re
turned; they had taken rooms in the cit,
during the winter; they had become wha
you see them.
As for their sister, perhaps her lif'
would have been pathetic had she been
different sort of person; but, shut GU
from other society, here in this grand ole
country home, with a mother whose mer'
pres ence crushed any enthusiasm or gay
ETY. or affection, the girl grew up to be
perfect prude, and what IN boy woule
have been termed "a prig.
She had an idea that she knew every
thing. and that her opinion was wanted
about everything.
She made herself SO exceedingly dis
agreeable that she was very much dis.
liked, and she drifted along toward old
maidism, till one of kenneth's fastest
most disreputable, and worthless friend
married her, against her mothers wishes
Mrs. Byrne did not disinherit he
daughter, however,; she even allowed he
to remain at home till the husband, sicl
of the mothers tyranny, resumed hi
position as theatrical manager in tn,
theater Of which the Brynes we're larg'
stockholders.
| ITO BE Continued