Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-08-12

after all. How imperious and impetuous
she wasi John is her own son. But she
was less generous in imparting her brains
to her firstborn-he never had half her
mental resources. She used to read many
abstruse and improving books in the old
days. and she could talk politics or phi
losophy or religion with anybody, though
doubt whether she was ever more reli-
gious than the proprieties of her position
required.
Of late years she has eschewed the
higher walks of literature and has aban-
doned herself to novels, and even in her
choice of these she has gradually subsid-
ed from the classic lueubrations of Wal
ter Scott to such humble wayside flow
FRS as are to be culled from the Seaside
libraries, varied occasionally with an
odd volume from the Partisan publica-
tons of Calmann, Levy & Gle. For my
part, so far from blaming her. applaud
her good sense. An amusing novel is
like the best kind of gossip. Gossip is
proper to those whose days of youth and
activity are over, and as we see scarcely
any company no other gossip than that
of novels is accessible to the dowager
Lady Mainwaring.
Well, then, when mother approached
me with the manner which | have de-
scribed, | knew at once that we were
about to discuss domestic matters, nor
was much at loss to divine what tho
particular matter would probably be.
John and Sinfre had gone out for ride
We We're about to converse concerning
Sintire and John. Mother seated herself
in the large japanese armchair-the one
made of split cane or bamboo. She just
fills it comfortably. She is very much
broader than she used to be, and her once
delicate complexion has acquired a sub
stantial and permanent ruddiness. 1t
sometimes seems as if mother had not so
much enlarged as actually become pos
sessed of a different body from that in
which she spent her youth. If it were
not unbecoming to speculate about the
skeleton of ones parent, l should be in
clined to think that her present osseous
framework had been designed for Brit
ish fshwife Except for this physical
expansion, however, she remains at least
as aristocratic as ever.
Rembrandt, or perhaps Rubens, would
have made a splendid portrait of her.
Her eyebrows are set high in her fore
head: the spaces Immediately above and
below the eye are full, showing fluent
command of words; her nose is a mod
crate but unmistakable aquiline; her up
per lip is thinner than the lower, which
is mol1ed on Il resolute chin; her gray
hair is covered with black lace cap, the
wide strings of which fall down on
either side her checks; her summer COS
tune is ordinarily of some substance
which will venture to call black grena-
dine, with lace embellishments and some
glimpses of white ruching at the throat
and wrists; it makes no attempt to
mold itself closely on her form, and its
antiquities are imposing as well as pru-
dent. Poor mother must suffer greatly
from the heat, but she never permits
herself to complain of it She even fans
herself sparingly. as if she We're still de-
termined to be the cool and slender crea-
ture of 30 years ago. There is heroism
in these little things, none the less be-
cause it gains no renown.
Our conversation led to no definite re-
suit Mother wanted John to marry,
and she shares the general infatuation
regarding our Cousin Sinfre, and yet |
could perceive that her mind was not
entirely at ease. The forces of tradition,
of convention, of temperament, were
working in her against her special and
arbitrary affection for this strange young
woman. Reason prompted her to dis
trust, or at least to wait and prove,
while instinct, or something like that,
urged blind acceptance. Between the
two my excellent parent was unwonted-
ly perplexed.
Lord Cedarcliffe is so impetuous and
so unused to restraint" she remarked.
She still calls him by the pet name he
used to bear in the nursery when she is
especially moved about him. The re-
public would be amused if they knew
how many odd scraps of feudahsm and
monarchical tricks are to be picked up
about this house. perhaps he would
not be so set upon this if Sinfire seemed
more willing TO meet his views. It's
very odd, don't you think, that she
should hesitate? She can't be sincere,
and yet
1t isn't so very odd," said l. ''She
has penetration, and she recognizes
Johns impetuosity as plainly as you and
do. don't dispute that she wishes to
marry him, but she wishes also to be
sure that he loves her outside of his i'm
petuosity."
John is incapable of a trivial attach
ment," returned mother impressively.
IF he We're capable of it, Cousin Sin
fire is taking the bestmeans to make him
serious, replied. Il don't doubt it will
come ont all right in the end-on the as
sumption of course that their marriage
is the right thing"
Don't You think it is the right thingT'
she asked quickly.
well, if you don't think so. advise
you not to let them know it.
1T is true we know comparatively lit
tie about her." said mother after pause.
There is really nothing except my poor
brothers letter and her own account.
But it would be absurd to doubt either.
I should not think Of such thing"
That is TO say, she does think Of it, but
could not draw me into either encourag-
ing her suspicious or opposing them. As
a matter of fact, don't know that il
makes much difference whether Sinfre
be really what she purports to be or not
She is a fine creature, capable Of being
the mother of noble race. All the rest
is rather an object of curiosity than OF
practical Importance. But suppose it i:
Johns fortune she is after and means
when she has got it to disappear? Well,
that would be Johns business. If be
couldn't keep her. he wouldn't deserve
her, for she has heart for the man who
has the stuff in him to win it.
But if she be an alveaturess how
came she in connection with my late I'm
Gle Edward ThsDsis no doubt that hi
had one daqf 6r at least. Really there
i no re- ia for any misgiving except
that abe lies seem p b withholding