The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-24
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me before. Let us continue thar whole
some silence. Let me take my wife
and go"
suppose your wife and l We're TO
settle that question. She is the dear
est little woman in the world. | only
wish | had her for my daughter. Wom-
en- understand women best" She added
with a gentle smile. II think. my dear
bo.r. you had better walk away"
Roderick did not walk away. but he
suffered Mrs. Grierson 10 20 oyer and
speak To his wife. Finally. the ice
once broken. they We're able 10 talk
over these painful things all three to-
gether. The younger ones poured out
their grief and wrath: at least Rodcr-
lex lid: silence said nothing. The old
er woman listened patiently and ten
derby. yet took a little The opposite
side, for there are two sides To every
subject, and those are the wise>t peo-
pie who in youth can see with old-in
= with young eyes.
Deep rs her sympathy was. seventy
views things a little different from
tWenty-Scven. The warm. motherly
heart could not choose but put itself in
the mothers placc-the mother who
had 40 wholly lost, or persuaded her.
self she had lost. her beloved and only
son.
Il have known Mrs. Jardine ever
since her MARRIAGE Mrs. Grierson PIX
planned to Silence. "She is a woman
of strong prcjudicos. strong passions.
but generous ana kindly: doing wrong
things sometimes. rs we all do. but do
inc them with the best intentions.
which not all of us do. But ! beg your
husbands pardon for criticizing his
mother, who is So totally opposite TO
his wife that. on the principle that eX-
rene meet, | should not wonder if,
when you do meet. You We're 10 like
one another amazingly"
Roderick made no answer: but
whether he believed it or not. the idea
certainly seemed to comfort him. He
listened with patience that surprised
himself to Il further homily and many
gentle arguments: ending with one
which youth is slow 10 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. Roderick consented that
Mrs. Grierson should write a brief
note to his mother, mentioning formal
ly what guests she had in her house,
and how happy she would bc 10 see
Mrs. Jardine, were it convenient and
agreeable"
The ext six hours. spent within
doors-they shrunk from the chances
of the road without-wcrc 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. 4 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-
W upon the mountains, beyond
which lay Blackhall and home.
Il almost wish we We're at home"
she whispered: and he had put his arms
Mrs. Grierson entered with a letter in
her hand.
Read that. my dears. 1t is, l own,
rather surprising.'
1t was-from a mother. Mrs. Jar
dimes compliments to Mrs. Grierson.
and she does not intend going out to-
day: but ii Mr.. Rodcrick Jardine has
anything 10 say to her he may come.
provided he comes alone. at ten o'clock
tomorrow
These brief lines were passed round,
and then the three regarded onc an
other. doubtful who should speak first.
and still more doubtful what Ia say.
AT last Kodcrick. pressing his hostess
hand. babe her not To be troubled,
She had done her best. But You see.
dear Mrs. Gricrson, that l was right.
We had better 90 home
And not go and see your mother:'
"Ccrtainly not without my wife.
Dear" turning TO her affectionately,
I'VE did not have il In our Swiss mar
riaCe service. though. | believe. IL is in
the English one: but there is a text
What God hath Joined together let no
man put asundcr.' | do not mea TO
be put asunder from my wife-not
ven b! my mother"
He spoke smilingly. caressing her
the while, but silence burst into tears.
And it is | that have been the
Of this-I, who Docs she know.
Roderick, that my mother is dead?
And would any one whose mother is
dead wish 10 Keep a son away from his
living mother: Go To her with or with
Il me-only GO
Kodcrick thought differently. To
him it appeared the most arrant COW
ardicc: dcScrtion of the wife he had
deliberately chosen; acknowledgment
OF an error he had never committed.
Besides. it was a weak trucking to the
siln-tl. Mnnlfninr .iIn