Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1893-05-20

looks upon me as perrec: pirate, trying
to ge. away her only son. Ba, shall
conquer her preiudices-only SEQ if l
don't."
"Eou're al angel, Alice!' cried the
lover.
Aud Alice told him he was talking
nonsense, which perhaps he vas.
Scarcely week hal elapsed, when an
elderly lady, round and comfortable OF
visaSe and plum of figure, with green
veil pinned over her brown felt bonue.
and covered basket on her arm, s,oo
knocking at Mrs. Stayaer's door, which,
after the fashiol OF city fats, Amos. al.
joined that OF pretty Alice Hooper.
1t was Mrs. Wilde.
"Iush sh-sh' she Whispered to old
| Mrs. Staynec, when that venerable fe-
male would have uttered cry Of hos.
pitabte surprise. ~ doa't want nobody
70 know Tn here. I've Just run up to
do little shopping, All | knew you'd
make me welcome"
''Bat Miss Hoope--7ou'll lie. me call
her7' gasped the old lady.
| '"Not for tho world" criel Mrs.
Wilde. "Do you suppose l want to be
paraded before strangers in this old
travelling suit, all powdered with dust
ami cindcrs1 All want is a chance to
set down and rest, aud drink a cup o
tea. Things has chan ngcd yes, they've
changed. Hushl What's tha,.'
1Don't be skeered, Mrs. Wilde" said
Mrs. stayner, In an encouraging whisper.
eve hear all sorts o noises in this flat
And, sure's live, it's your son Marcus,
comin' up to apnd the evening with
Alice Hooper! Now you'll go in, sure,
OF let me sand for theml"
Mrs. Wilde caught at her friends
dress.
"Not for the world!" she cried again.
sI-1 don't want them to know I'm here!"
and she retreated back into the tiny sit.
ting room of the fiat. "BIess me, what
corner cupboards Of rooms these are!
All | want is to lay down On the sofa and
rest little, and if you'll make NJ, Gun
O good, strong green tea, Maria Stayner,
III be greatly obligel2"
hrs. Stayner hurried into her kitchen.
''Somethng must ha' happened" said
she. 81 never saw Mrs. Wilde look SO
hurried and upset sfore. I do wonder
what it is?"
Mrs. Wilde herself stood close to the
pasteboard like partition that separated
the two suits OF rooms, white aud trem-
bling.
'I'm q regular conspirator" mutterei
she to herself. "Id ought to be hung |!
But-but l must know if that girls
worthy of my Marcus Lowell Hush
That's sweet voice, and how-just like
woodthrush's note! He's kissin'
herl l do b'lieve she's GLAD to see him
but"
She feld up her finger, all alone though
she was, aud took a step or two near,
the thin partition. (
She trembled; the color came and ,se5.
on her old cheek.
Giles talkin' now" she muttered
every line aud feature of her face on the
alert. "He's tel.in' her. Oh, most
wish now that hadn't. No, l don't,
neither. couldn's be KEEP. in the dark.
must know must hear with my own
ears before l can be satisfied! Hes m5
boy-he's my only son--an1 me q
widow
She leaned + forward and tire n bic NOR,
than ever as Marcus's voice sounded, il
perturbed accents.
"Darling," ne said, 81 don't kno7
how I'm going to tell you, but-5us I'm
afraid our marriage will have to be pu
: OF. I've jus, had letter from m
mother. 1t seems she has close1 tn
house and IS coming 10 New York
probably to me. It must be- that .aos'
Tallahassee bonds have proved failure
never quite liked them. She told IN
, she was going to sell them. bissae caa'
have done SO, Or"
His husky voice failed hin. A no
meat's silence easaei, during which Ms
Wilde stood more imnovao.e than eve.
her ears strained to saA' a,nos: lis:ea
ing capacity.
Now shall know" she uu,nure,
to herself.
'sThea of course. Marx vou aai
49, .l -