Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-03-28

VNNi theo' puihlul tHlllkS ull lHItt TO-
gether, The younger ones poured out
their grief and wrath; at least Roder.
lex did; Silence said nothing. The old
err woman listened patiently and ten.
Derby yet took n little the opposite
side, for there are two sides to every
subject and those are the wisest PEG
pie who in youth can see with old--ln
age with young eyes.
Deep as her sympathy was, seventy
Views things little different from
twenty-seven. The warm, motherly
heart could not choose but put itself in
the mothers place-the mother who
had so wholly lost, or persuaded her
self she had lost, her beloved and only
son.
81 have known Mrs. Jardine ever
since her marriage" Mrs Grlerson ex-
planned to Silence. "She Is a woman
Of strong prejudices, strong passions,
but generous and kindly; doing wrong
things sometimes, as we all do, but do
Ing them with the best Intentions,
which not all Of us do. But beg your
husbands pardon for critIclzlng his
mother, who Is so totally opposite to
his wife that, on the principle that eX-
tremes meet, should not wonder II,
when you do meet, you were to like
one another amazingly"
Roderlck made no answer; but
whether he believed 1t or not the idea
certainly seemed to comfort him. He
listened with patience that surprised
himself to further homily and many
gentle arguments; ending with one
which youth Is slow to understand,
that life Is too short for anything but
love and peace.
Yielding, at last, to her earnest en-
treaty, and to the mute appeal of his
wife's eyes, Roderlck consented that
Mrs. Grierson should write brief
note to his mother, mentioning formal
ly what guests she had in her house,
and how happy she would be to see
Mrs Jardine, "were 1t convenient and
agreeable"
The next six hours, spent within
doors-they shrunk from the chances
Of the road without-were not very
happy hours to any Of the trio.
1t was nearly night--a red, stormy
sunset fading over the sea, the white
horses" rising, gale beginning to
blow and dash the waves wildly
against the rocks under the drawing
room windows. Roderick and Silence
had been watching the twilight shad-
ows upon the mountains, beyond
which lay Blackhall and home.
IL almost wish we were at home"
she whispered; and he had put his arms
tenderly round her, when suddenly
Mrs. Grierson entered with letter in
her hand.
"Read that, my dears. 1t Is, I own,
rather surprising"
1t was-from n mother. Mrs. Jar
dimes compliments to Mrs. Grierson,
and she does not intend going out to-
day; but If Mr. Roderick Jardlne has
anything to say to her he may come,
provided he comes alone, at ten o'clock
tomorrow"
These brief lines We're passed round,
and then the three regarded one an
other, doubtful who should speak first,
and still more doubtful what to say.
At last Roderick, pressing his hostess
hand, babe her not to be troubled,
She had done her best. "But you see,
dear Mrs. Grierson, that was right.
We had better go home"
"And not go and see your mother?"
Certainly not without my wife.
Dear" turning to her affectionately,
1--WE did not have 1t in our Swiss mar
rlage service, though, believe, 1t is In
the English one; but there Is q text
What God hath joined together let no
man put asunder.' do not mean to
be put asunder from my wife-not
even by my mother"
He spoke smilingly, caressing her
the while, but Silence burst into tears.
"And 1t is that have been the cause
Of this-I, who Does she know,
Roderick, that my mother Is dead?
And would any one whose mother Is
dead wish to keep son away from his
living mother? Go to her with or with
out me-Only gOT'
Roderick thought differently. To
him 1t appeared the most arrant cow
ardice; desertion Of the wife he had
chosen; acknowledgment |
Of an error he had never committed. |
Besides, 1t was weak trucking to the
stronger side-the weather. side.
For you may not know it, Mrs.
Grierson, though 1t seems to me that |
everybody does get to know every
thing, especially at Richerden) my
mothers money is all in her own
hands; and I--we--are as poor as
church mice"
Mrs Grierson smiled. "AIoney is Il
good thing and bad thing, but not
half such an important thing as some
folks imagine. 1t need not hinder a
man from going to see his own
Roderlck WINGED slightly, "Then you
think my pride wrong?"
Not pride for her." with a tender
glance at Silence. But as for yourself
"a man satisfied of his own real mo-
tives should be Indifferent to any i'm
puted ones. That is not his concern at
ALL"
"You are right admit 1t. Still, as