Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-01-31

said, in her cold gentle voice. 'Do
you wish me to- have these things?
am very much obliged to you. |
ordered some before l left London,
but i believe 1; Is always better to
have a reserve stock of everything"
Il thought / would like TO see a
child OF yours In the little things,
faltered her mother.
A horrible feeling came on Gwen
that her mother was about 10 cry
She took out one or two of the things,
"gEhat is lovely lace" she said hur-
r,edly, "better than any the woman
showed me. had no idea you had
any interest in such matters"
Then one fervent wish took posses.
sion of her that her mother would
complete her gift and go but she was
not to be delivered just yet,
Mrs. Warning was ON her way to the
door with bowed head, when suddenly
with a short smothered cry she turned
and faced her daughter She saw the
quick recoil in the girls face, and
with a supreme effort the small fragile
Gwen" she said. looking AT the
rail- woman brooding gloomily above
her, then set the basket ON the bed
will you try to suffer my love, dearg
cannot ask you for yours, | have not
earned it never knew what II was
to be mother till too late. But, dear,
take the love | bear you gently. don't
reooil from me as you did just now"
Gwen winced-''as you've done many
times. | will not intrude on you, dear;
| have made a mistake to-day in
asking you to accept those things"
NO, no, mother" Interrupted the
! girl.
Eyes, dear | have; do not reproach
you, hut you are hard. and that fault
is mine more than yours. When you
We're n little child, Gwen, did you
ever wish for my lowell mean. the
i ordinary outspoken natural love that
women give their children?"
airs. Warning bent forward and look-
ed into her daughters face with wide
eager eyes.
Gwen looked into the upturned face
and her heart stirred with pity then
dreary feeling came on her that the
time was too solemn for lies.
Il longed for it every day that
lived" she said In a slow reluctant
voice turning away.
''Ah, and now it is too late! | did
cling to that last delusion, did hope
that in the careless vigor Of child
hood, in the fresh JOY of young
animal, you might have forgotten to
want the outward signs Of mother.loye.
Gwen, Gwen dear, let your child grow
into your heart with every breath.
and God keep you from suffering such
as miner
She stood up softly and was about
to go but Gwen stopped her
Mother" she cried, 'you couldn't
be expected to understand children;
YOU Were meant for intellectual uses
altogether 1t seems TO me hard and
unjust that You should now he hamp-
cred with these feelings Why can
YOU not 80 back to your old peaceful
life? You were happy In. It, now your
work is intcrfered with, and you are
not happy | wish | could do any
thing for you, | wish | could satisfy
your
"Ah, dear, you don't know how very
little love would still my pain. but
| don't think that even If You would,
You could give 1t to mel don't think
you understand, dear, what love IS
Mother" said the girl, in low
curiously soft tone, II do not"
Directly she had made the confession
horrible feeling of shame came on
her.
'She knows everything of me there
Is to know nowm she thought, with
duh ache, 81 wonder what use she
will make of It,"
After long wait she got some little
idea. Her mother came and stood be.
side her silently for a minute or two,
then she stopped down and kissed the
girls hand TREMENDOUSLY, took up her
basket with its burden. and went out
of the room and upstairs.
Gwen looked at the little dent made
by the basket on the bed, and rush
of loneliness flooded her.