Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1895-05-24

CT snc was resolved TO try what n3f
influence could do to shake his tirmncss.
This is TO matter for choap wit,
Ralph, she said with an impatient toss
OF her head, while her eyebrows con-
tractel "Lct us talk seriously"
ii am talking seriously, mamma
have declared my love to Miss Lyon, and
she has promised to be ,ome my wife"
A look Of fiery INDIGNATION mot his
eyes. Mrs Warringham rescmbed
mo than ever a wrsthfu goddess, as
she sat erect in her chair.
@And you dare tell your mothr that
you mean to make such creature her
daughterin-law
81 dare tell her that mean to marry
lady who is in every respect worthy
the regard and love of my mother. z"
Ralph, are you lost to all sense OF
honor?"
The young mans faco grow dark, but
his determination was unshakcn.
al am acting strictly honorable in
marrying woman against who-e char
after not the slightest objection can be
raised-a woman, moreover, whom |
love with all my heart and who returns
my love with equal forvor
The young maj had grown cpthuS'as-
talk of his love. But his mother was
the last person on earth TO be impressed
with the youthful en- thusiasm of lover
"You are too old to indulge in bayish
sentimentalities You must SEQ that
such a marriage is impossible "
"hn1 why should It be impossible?"
81 must ask you second Zine to treat
this matter seriously. Have you for
gotten your position in society and that
of your fam,ly?"
al DO not see how my position in soci
ETY. should be threatened by my marrying
a lady who is worthy and able to b, one
of society's greatest ornaments"
"Ralph, yo1 are few ri hy excited,
and hardly know what you are saying
Tomorrow you VII think differently"
"i assure you, mamma, that it is my
fixed purpose to marry Miss Lyon.
Ms Warringham now determined TO
try how far her authority wou d 60 In
the sevcreSt tone at her command she
thus addressed her san;
"AEd | assure you that I shall never
gve my consent to such prepos;crous
folly"
Ralph hes,tated moment before he
replied. His mothers determination By
no me ans rendered his own decision le s
irreyOcable, but he cesired TO clothe his
answer in words that would give her the
least offense.
81 am very sorry, dear mamma" he
rojoined, "to do anything that is at all
distastcful to you. Eut--" And here
the generous fellow became again enthu-
siastic. He Seize1 his mothers hand,
and bis voice assumed pleading tone.
"It is the happiness of my life that is at
stake. | could net live without the
woman whom l love. know that my
mother will not be averse TO anything
that is necessary for her sons happiness.
Mrs. Warringham perceived that her
authority was of o avail in this case.
But Ralph's emot'on reminded her that
she had another weapon which might
prove far more powerful. 1t was hci
last resource.
For a brief while there was silence.
Mrs Warrngham avoided the gaze OF
her son, and turned her heal as If to
leol out OF the window. There was
nothing to be seen outside but spcck of
bue sky that was slowly being covered
with grayish clouds. l..14s--4. l-.sla
Ralph sat motionless, his body lean
ing forward, his right hand, which still
clasped that of his mother, resting in
her lap When she turned her heal
again her eyes were most.
"Ralph, my dear son." she began,
sou have always been nv favorite.
When you were a little boy in knicker-
bockels dreamed of the tme when you
would be homo ably settled in life, with
a woman who was worthy of you at your
SIDE, esteemed by everybody and Uphold
ing the splendOr an1 dignity of ycuI
family
Mrs. Warringhan's emotion, her soft
tones, the tears giistenng in her eyes.
was such an extraordinary occurrence
that it, could not but make the dee aest i'm
preston uron Ralrh. He had never seen
that naughty woman weep and the ex.
preston Of his face betrayed how deeply
he was touched
Mrs. Warrn yham saw her advantage
In the same appea ing tones she con
tnued:
"Are all these hopes to prove idle,
Ralph? You know well that you can
not keep your position with wife who
has been an actress. Think of the
humiiat 'ons you would have to endure
when the houses in which you yourself
are welcome are closed to your wife
when your friends would. refuse TO bring
their wives and daughters to your house!
Think of it, Ralph"
"What are the sneers of false friends
compared to the happiness of two true
hearts, whose mutual love is sufficient
to them, the yonng man exclaimed.
"And your mother?"
Mrs. Warringham withdrew her hand
which Ralph still held. She Iressed her
handkerchief against her eyes and actin
ally burst into cOnvulsive Sobbing
I he young man was amazed, almost
terrified, lie felt extremely miserable
How great must be the grief that could
thus melt the icy armor of self-contain-
mcnt which hitherto surrounded this
woman heart
Mrs. War-ingham had never enccur-
aged outward manifestations of affcc-
tion on the part of her children, nor had
she herSeG INDUCED in a behavior which
she considered undignifed. She had
hardly ever, at least since they had out
grown the nursery, bestowed q caress
upon them. But Ralph regarded her
with a feryid, chiyalgOus attachment, in
conformity with his ardent generous
nature.
And this same a1orol mother was
overwhelmed with grief, struck to the
very heart by an Ge' Of his
Ralph was misc: abe Yet what waa
left for him to do? How could he com.
p,y with her wishes? 1t would be like
giving up his own self Tic situation
was terrible. He felt that it would be
oless to try whether she could be won
over to his view Of the matter, There was
no romantic vein in his mothers compo-
sition. The sentiments OF lover, who
deems the prejudices of reality as un-
worthy of consideration, would seem
| to her the rank deluslons of mailman,
There was another long pause, inter
rupted only by tho sobs Of Mrs War
ringbam
Much of that lady's emotion was gen.
uine. Yet there was trace of purpose
In her vehement manifestation of it.
She knew that it was the most powerful
weapon in her arsenal.
Notwithstanding her pride, there was
| in Mrs. WaEingham's nature not lacking
| that cunning hypocrisy which women
| know so weE how to employ. She knew
that woman can easiest overcome th,
masculine heart by a show Of weakness
So far she had succeedcl very we'll