Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-04-25

Railways talking Of her family and
evidently considering ii the most impor-
tant family in all Scotland. She had three
daughters-one married to a man named
Thomson-ugh! nice son-in.law to have!
You should have seen him in the draw
ing-room after dinner. But she never
spoke Of any SON"
"You don't say so! That coarse, ig-
norant, vulgar womanW
AT this tallS-heard quicker than IL
takes to write, and impossible not to hear,
for the speakers were behind the curtain
Silence looked at her companion, whose
eyes were cast down on the carpet Max
ing some remark quite foreign to the sub
ject, Lady Symington rose; then, seeing
the poor little scarlet face, she let all
polite pretenses drop.
'My dear, les absens ont touiours
tort Let it pass; we will move away"
"How can l let it pass? 1t is not true.
And she is his mother. 1t can not be
true"
IF it were," said the old lady, quietly,
ut could not affect any right-minded peo-
pie. Your husband is what he is, jar
dine Of Blackhall, and the very image Of
his father"
STILL mother is mother always. l
had one once"
In another moment, putting aside Lady
Symington's OBTAINING hand she stood be-
fore the two ladies,
81 beg your pardon, but overheard you.
| could not help overhearing. You mis-
take. Mrs. Jardine, my mother-in-law, is
Il very good woman. Her children love
her much. Uneducated she may bc-hor
father was a working man-but coarse,
vulgar it is impossible"
whether or no, said the young Lon
don lady, equally touched and surprised,
81 am sorry l said it. 1t is Il certificate
Of merit to any woman that her sons
wife should be 80 fond Of her"
The poor little face, pale with pain,
flushed visibly. 1T is not that-it is be-
cause Of the injustice. One should never
let an injustice pass if one can help it."
The eager voice, pathetic even in its
indignant pride, the manner so simple
and straightforward-Mrs. MacAlister
said next day that young Mrs. Jardine
was the oldest and most "unconvention-
al" young lady she ever knew; but there
was no installing her meaning, Both la
dies felt themselves, as the younger eX-
pressed it, quite shut up" and made no
end of incOherent apologies,
Silence accepted them smiling, at does
not matter, since only | heard you-not
my husband"
Just then, turning around, she saw Rod
erick standing beside Lady Symington,
and was quite certain, by the expression
of his face, that he had heard, or guessed,
everything that had passed
He said nothing-what was there to
say?-only came forward, bowling with
almost more than his usual rather state
ly courtesy to the two ladies', drew his
wifes arm in his, and making their adieus
to their hostess, took her away immedi-
ately.
Not until they had got out into the dark
the quiet, soothing, solitary night-did
he break out in passion of anger and
grief
"Coarse! Vulgar! How dared she say
it? Ignorant she may be, How could
she be otherwise with her up-bringing
But she Is, as you say, thoroughly good
woman. Thank you for saying it; thank
you, my darling, for being so generous
to my poor mother"
mot generous, only just" whispered
the soothing voice. IL could not be un.
Just to any mother least Of all to yours
They did not know her, these people, and
they were sorry. You heard them say
So"
81 heard all; 1 was close by; but how
could speak? Coward that l was! 1t was
you who were brave Again, thank you
my darling"
They walked on awhile in total silence
| then Roderick burst out again:
eyes, she is my mother, No unknd'
ness can alter that. And she has done
nothing really wrong--nothing that can
make me cease to respect her. Her
weaknesses-I know every one. 1t is
nonsense to say children should not soc
their parents faults; they must and do
But then there is the love that covers all
She loved me, too, once. If saw her
this minute, l believe / should forget
everything except that she was my mother
my dear old mother"
And great sudden sob, like boys,
betrayed what his wife had long guessed
the pent-up grief which even she could
not wholly heal
CTo be continued)