Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-06-08
ssBURe W. VA. SATURDAY. JUNE 8, 1895.
ooh, yes, there is, only you have

not found it yet. And do you know
Ronald, mamma and / have been
talking of your going to America 2"
| The suggestion was not new te
the young man ; his own heart had
been giving him the same advice and
the subject, once broached, soon as
snmed tangible form. 1t was thor.
oughly discussed and arranged, and
Ronald's place taken in q steamer
leaving two days before his month
of grace expired.
During all his trials and prepare
tons, Ronald's home--never hap
Ply one-had been becoming more
wr, tched. His mother wearied him
with alternate reproaches and en-.
treaties, and his friends pitied or
abused, advised or laughed at him.
Still the last night he was to spend
under his mothers roof he made an
other effort at reconciliation.
~ have miserable headache to-
night" he said. kiss me, mother,
for the sake of old times"
"Certainly, Ronald, if the kiss i'm.
plies that you have recovered your
senses and are willing to follow my
plans for your welfare"
81 cannot give up Eva, mother"
"You are old enough to choose be-
tween US. fit is Miss Sorley her
kisses must suffice YOU"
"At least, mother, shake hands,"
"You are sentimental Tonight
thing have no use for in this world.
Obedience is the test of love-"
'"Well, good night, mother p
"Good night, SIR"
And thus they parted.
Hard as his parting was with Eva
it did not sadden him like the un-
natural "Good night, sir" of his
mother.
After Ronald's departure Eva
waited hopefully and happily for the
good news she was sure would
come. Nor did she wait in vain.
In two years Ronald had complet-
ed his study of law and opened
small Office in a fourishing town in
Western New York.
For some time his practice was
small, but at the end of the fourth
year he was making more than
enough to claim the redemption of
Eva's promise.
Mrs. Sorley accompanied her
daughter to America, and lived many
happy years with the young couple.
Ronald is warm defender of that
much abused character mother
in-law.
AS the years wore on the little cot
I'LL IL UecaIne Lne pIiuo VI ouS VV"",
and Judge Mitchell's house and
gardens, his horses and his servants,
are certainly evidences OF an income
vastly above the $500 year he re-
fused to accept as equivalent for
manhood's noblest rights and privi-
leges.
Ronald is a portly, middle-aged
man now, and Eva, though still beau
tiful, has lost the early bloom of
youth, but up and down the long
piazzas, and through the shady ar
cades of elm and chestnut, beautiful
boys and girls play, walk or read,un
controlled by any element but a
wise and patient love. For Ronald
has still sad remembrance of a
home cherries and loveless amid all
it's splendor. of a childhood unbless-
ed by fairy love or mothers kisses,
and of a youth in which everything
was to have been sacrificed for in
tcrest and ambition.
Mrs. Mitchell still lives. If her
heart ever softens toward her son,
she never suffers it to make any sign.
She is apparently as indifferent to
his later honors as she was to his
early struggles and trials. 1t is
likely even that she may outlive her
busy, hard-working son, whose brain
and heart carry the cares and sor-
rows of many besides bis own, for
The good die first,
And they whose hearts are dry as summer
dust
| Burn to the socket"