Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-05-05

And, bure's live, it's your son Marcus,
comm up to spend the evening with
Alice HoOperI Now you'll go in, sure,
or let'me send for theml"
Mrs. Wilde caught at her friends
dress,
sNot for the worldl" she cried again.
eT-I don't want them to know I'm hereW
and she retreated back into the tiny sit
ting room of the fat. "Bless me, what
corner cupboards of rooms these arel
All wan. is to lay down on the sofa aud
rest little, aud if you'll make me cup
O. good, strong green tea, Maria Stayner,
I'll be greatly obligell"
Ms. Stayner hurried into her kitchen.
"Something must ha' happened" said
she. 'I never saw Mrs. Wilde look so
aurried and upset afore. l do wonder
what it iSl'
Mrs. Wilde herself stood close to the
pasleboard like partition that separated
the two suits OF rooms, white and trem-
bling.
,Tm a regular conspiratori" muttered
she to herself. "I'd ought to be hungl
Bht-but l must know if that girls
worthy of my Marcus lovel Hushl
That's a sweet voice, and how-just like
a woodthrush's motel He's a kissin'
herl do b'lieve she's glad to see him;
but"
! She teld up her finger, all alone thougt
She was, and took step or two nearer
the thin partition.
She trembled; the color came and went
on her old cheek.
gIle's talkin' now," she muttered,
evP.y line and feature of her face on the
akt. "He's tel!in' her. Oh, l most
''ish now that hadn't! No, don't,
neither. Icouldn': be kept in the dark.
| must know must hear with my own
ears before eau be satisfied He's my
boy-he's my only son-and me a
widow"
She leaned forward and tremble1 more
than eyer "a Marcus's voice sounded, in
perturbed accents.
Darling" ne said, "I don't know
how Pun going to tell you, but-9ut I'm
afraid our marriage will have to be put
off. I've just had a letter from my
mother. 1t seems she has closed the
house and is coming to New York
probably TO me. 1t must be that those
Tallahassee bonds have proved failure.
| Inever quite liked them. She told me
she was going to sell them, but she can't
have done so, or"
His husky voice failed him. A mo-
ment's silence ensued, during which Mrs.
Wilde stood more immovable than ever,
her ears strained to their utmost listen
ing capacity.
"Now / shall know" she murmured
to herself.
"Then OF course, Mark, you aud l
must wait" said the sweet, thrush-likc
voice. "I know you love me, but your
first duty is to your mother. Don't yon
remember the old Scotch ballad, dearl
"'True loves ye may bae mony an oae,
But mithers, nser anither!"
"But, Alice" protested the lover,
"we were planning to be married iu the
spring."
"We must wait, Mark. We are young,
and dearly as love you, | can but feel
that she-your mother-ha' the first
claim. Oh, Mark, don't you understand
that | can comprehend how mother
feels when some outsider steals away
norton of her sons hearth There's nc
sacrifice that I can make great enough
70 atone for the misc lief l have invol.
unfairly wrought her"
"But," urged Marcus, "we might be
married, and she could come to live with
us. Couldn't it be arranged sol"
son, if it only might, how glad and
willing I should bel" breathed the soft
voice. "But she would not consent to
that. and she has the first right to her
sons home. And perhaps in tims eau
manage to make her love me little, SO
that we eau all be happy together"
"Alice," exclaimed the young man,
"if you could only 60 to her and tell
her this with your Owa lip'l But she
won't sec you"
"Wait, dearcst-waitP so>bsl the
girl. ''All will come right ln gool tlme'
Remember she is your mother"
Mrs. wilde's hands were tightly
clasped; tears were running down he'
cheeks.
She opened the door and passed ou
ipto the hall, knocking urgently at the
adjoining portal.
"Caildreu," she said, her voice
choked with emotion, "ycu neednt
wait; I've heard it all. IL won't stand
in the way of your happiness. I'm
base conspirator. / only wrote that let
ter to try Marcls's love aud Alice's 10y
atty. / did shut up the hcuse, but oaly
for a little while. The Tallahassee
bonds have sold at premium, aud I'm
going homs to make the old house pretty
for your bridal trip. Kiss M, AIic'l |
know I'm a wretcie eaves1roPoer, but
my heart did ache SO to to be sure that