The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-04-25

"This is no matter Tor cheap wit,
Ralph" she said with an impatient toss
of her head, while her eyebrows con-
tracted. "Let US talk seriously"
u am talking seriously, mamma. I
have declared my love to Miss Lyon, and
she has promised to become my wife"
A look of fiery indignation met his
eyes Mrs. Warringham resembled
more than ever .wrathful goddess, as
she sat erect in her chair.
aAnd you dare tell your mother that
you mean to make such q creature her
daughter-in-law?"
II dare tell her that I mean to marry
a lady who is in every respect worthy
the regard and love of my mother"
"Ralph, are you lost to all sense OF
honor?"
The young mans face grew dark, but
his determination was unshaken.
u am acting strictly honorable in
marrying woman against whose char
acter not the slightest objection can be
raised-a woman, moreover, whom !
love with all my heart and who returns
my love with equal fervor.
The young man had grown enthusias-
tic. as he always did when he was led tc
talk of his love. But his mother was
the last person on earth to be impressed
with the youthful en- thusiasm Of lover
aYou are too old to indulge in boyisb
sentimentalities You must see that
such marriage is impossible"
aAnd why should it be impossible?"
u must ask you a second time to treat
this matter seriously. Have you for
gotten your position in society and that
Of your family?"
Il do not see how my position in soci-
ETY. should be threatened by my marrying
o lady who Is worthy and able to be one
Of society's greatest ornaments"
@Ralph, you are feverishly excited.
and hardly know what you are saying.
Tomorrow you will think differently"
u assure you, mamma, that 1t Is my
fixed purpose to marry Miss Lyon"
Mrs Warringham now determined to
try how far her authority would 60. In
the SO 7erest tone at her command she
thus addressed her son:
"And I assure you that J. shall never
give my consent to such a preposterous
folly"
Ralph hesitated a moment before he
replied. His mothers determination by
no means rendered his own decision less
irrevocable, but he desired to clothe his
answer in words that would give her the
least offense.
u am very sorry, dear mamma" he
rejoined, ato do anything that is at all
distasteful to you. But" And here
the generous fellow became again enthu-
siastic. He seized his mothers hand,
and his voice assumed pleading tone.
ut is the happiness Of my life that is at
stake I could not live without the
woman whom I love. 1 know that my
mother will not be averse to anything
that is necessary for her sons happiness. 1"
Mrs. Warringham perceived that her
authority was of no avail in this case.
But Ralph's emotion reminded her that
she had another weapon which might
provo far more powerful. 1t was her
last resource.
For brief while there was silence.
Mrs. Warringham avoided the gaze Of
her son, and turned her head as If to
look out Of the window. There was
nothing to be seen outside but Speck OF
blue sky that was slowly being covered
with grayish clouds.
Ralph sat motionless, his body lean.
ing forward, his right hand, which still
clasped that Of his mother, resting in
her lap. When she turned her head
again her eyes were moist.
@Ralph, my dear son." she began,
syou have alwa , been my favorite.
When you were I. little boy in knicker-
bockers dreamed of the time when you
would be honorably settled in life, with
q woman who was worthy Of you at your
side, esteemed by everybody and uphold.
ing the splendor and dignity OF your
family"
Mrs. Warringham's emotion, her soft
tones, the tears glistening in her eyes,
was such an extraordinary occurrence
that it could not but make the deepest i'm
preston upon Ralph. He had never seen
that naughty woman weep. and the ex.
preston of his face betrayed how deeply
he was touched.
Mrs. Warringham saw her advantage.
In the came appealing tones she con.
t:nueG.
"Are all these hopes to prove idle,
Ralph? You know well that you can
not keep your position with wife who
has been an actress. Think Of the
humiliat' ons you would have to endure
when the houses in which you yourself
are welcome are closed to your wife
when your friends would refuse to bring
their wives and daughters to your house!
Think of it, Ralph"
"What are the sneers Of false friends
compared to the happiness OF two true
hearts, whose mutual love is sufficient
to them," the young man exclaimed
aAnd your mother?"
Mrs. Warringham withdrew her hand
which Ralph still held. She pressed her
handkerchief against her eyes and actu-
ally burst into convulSive sobbing.
The young man was amazed, almost
terrified He felt extremely miserable.
How great must be the grief that could
thus melt the icy armor Of self-contain-
ment which hitherto surrounded this
woman's heart
Mrs. Warringham had never encour-
aged outward manifestations Of affec.
ton on the part of her children, nor had
she herself !ndulgcd in a behavior which
She considered undignitied. She had
hardly ever, at least since they had out
grown the nursery, bestowed a caress
upon them. But Ralph regarded her
with fervid, chivalrous attachment, In
conformity with his ardent, generous
nature.
And this same adored mother was
overwhelmed with grief, struck to the
very heart by an act Of his.
Ralph was miserable. Yet what was
left for him to do? How could he com
ply with her wishes? 1t would be like
giving up his own self. The situation
was terrible. he felt that it would be
useless to try whether she could be won