The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-08-10
80 II '7cOOwSM,es2.B S S.eNWvMl0V COZ

knee-cap and hooked about the faulLIar
room In a new spirit of criticism II
was a severely clean rooD, but rather
depressing inits heavy sPiendor. Dick
srovped at X all II looked UNIV Gloom
ing.
"A few flowers wouldn't III sagree with
those big vases" be vcntured. looking
away,frum his mother towards the man
tel ornaments above her head TO my
certain knowledge, those pampas
plumes lave been there six msnths
Things i x sort of dun-colored. don't
they, m er?"
At thi irectquestion, Mrs Lorimers
eyes travelled slowly from the dingy
mantei ornaments to Dick : dissatisfied
face:
There are no flowers in the garden
none in bloom. that is. Moreover, |
don't believe in assumption of any sort
. She is not coming here for "A visit She
is coming to stay. She mag as well see
US at first as she is to see us for all
time"
! Then we had better whistle in the
/ dogs and get out Of these white shirts"
said Lorimer, with n di,arming laugh.
/ Lorrie was the only one of the. tribe
who ever venturcd to comment on their
mothers dicsa or to turn her into gen.
tie ridicule. But She was not to be
TESTED with to-day, even by her first
born:
Don't be disrespectful, Lorimer. 1t
was not by my orders that you banished
the dogs. Raphael seemed to think
they might shock Mrs. John Lorimer's
city nerves | consider that what is
good enough for me shou d be good
enough for Johns wife"
Dick Lorimer had habit of per
tinaciously sticking to his text: I'm
questionably, hummer; and what made
me think about flowers was remember
ing how you told us about the fine do
ings and the gorgeous decorations when
father brought you here bride"
The faintest possible flush mounted
into Mrs Lorimer's sallow checks; her
eyes flashed, and her square jaw be-
came, if possible, still more square.
THAT was different Times were
different Everything was different
1t was my sisters who did it. John has
no sisters. Moreover, your father never
took me anywhere as a bride. | brought
him here White Cliffs was my fathers
wedding gift to me. And-and-" she
turned her eyes wistfully upon Lor-
liners handsome face, while | meant
to do the right thing by all of you
boys, | wanted I.orimer's wife to be
the one to take the reins when am
gone"
Lorimer put out soothing hand. 1t
stayed the fast-fying knitting needles
for brief while.
white Cliffs will need no new mis-
tress for long years to come yet,
mother You are worth any two of us
to-day"
Say dozen of u.s." said Dick, lib
orally. But to return. Don't you
think, all of you, that few camellias
would set the old room off handsome
Typ"
There's bushels of them in bloom
over at Glenburnie-" This from RATE.
lenburnie!"
Lorimer turned warning glance
upon Eaie Mrs. Lor .lners,unl repeat
ed the word in a thick voice:
''Glenburnier'
She had folded her trembling hands
In her lap and turned wondering ewes
on the daring suggester of this plan for
identifying the White Cliffs sitting
room.
Rafe stood his ground with outward
composwe:
"1es'm, at Glenburnie rode past
there yesterday, and the japonica
bushes were loaded down with bios
sons"
They sell the flowers" said Richard.
combatively, land we are as free to buy
them as anybody"
''She sells the fowersr' Scorn, sur
prise and disgust struggled for the mas
terry in Mrs. Lorimers voice.
"4es, ma'am Why note"
The frown on the mistress forehead
deepened. Lorimer looked beseeching-
iy at the boys. Did they not know as |
well as he did how hard their mother
had struggled for the stoicism she
would need for this coming ordeal?
And was it not pity to have it shat
tered by dragging Glenburnie into such
prominence? There was
an ominous silence.
Dick got up, and, after moving aim
lessly about the room for a second, NUT
tered something about reporting prog
ess," and made his escape. Rafe, going
over to the window that gave him the
II