Smyrna times., 1896-05-06

of the native acutness which Lawrence
partially repressed since his retirement
from politics again cropped out, and
he decided that it was time to make
dexterous stroke. He took young
Osgood into his confidence.
''LOrain, he said, one night, look
ing at the young man sadly, GIVE
made a good many mistakes i'll my
life, but the greatest of all was my ne
glecting to marry in my early days.
There's nothing so conductive to hap
piness and prosperity as an early mar
riage. Think over it, my boy, and if
you find a face and character that
please you and that give promise Of
making you happy, don't mock fate by
throwing your chance to the four
winds. You wouldn't mind marrying
by the time you are of age, would you,
LOrain?"
Lorain laughed.
'No," he returned, 81 guess not.
Find me some one to love and will
do the rest. 1 half believe you are
right, Mr.. Lawrence. Early marriages
are undoubtedly to be commended"
Lebanon was beside itself with curl
osity when John Lawrence's sister-in-
law and her daughter came down to
the old place from the city to keep
house for him. There had long been a
rumOr current that Lawrence was not
as generously disposed toward his re-
latives as his circumstances would per-
NIT, and his sudden relenting was a
matter for much surprising. But all
guessing invariably ended in Lebanon
society cOngratulating itself upon the
acquisition of valuable addition to its
ranks in the person of John Lawrence's s
niece, who was a remarkable pretty
girl and who it was limited would in
herit the major portion of the polite
ally-acquired prosperity, Mrs. OsgoOd
was the only one woman who viewed
the newcomers with alarm. She had
never objected to the strong attachment
existing between her son and the re-
jected suitOr, but when it dawned upon
her that her effection was becoming a
family affair in which the niece was re-
ceiving all the homage naturally due
her from an earnest, romantic young
man, her fond mothers heart ached
with an indehnable dread, and she
trembled at the thought of another
woman reigning supreme in her boy, s
life.
just after Lorain was 21 the decisive
blow came. Lorain himself was the
only one to strike it.
"Mother," he cried, and he drew the
trim figure up close beside him, 'Ive
news for you glorious news. I'm to
to be married, mother, soon"
She did not cry out. She even
ceased to tremble, but she did not an
swer.
"Why don't you say something,
mother?" he laughed, raisin g her pale
face and kissing her. "Aren't you
glad?"
The joy that quivered in every line
OF his boyish face touched her heart,
and for his sake she tried to conceal
her pain.
81 had hoped I should not hear that
news for many year" she whispered:
'but your happiness has always been
mine, you know"
''Dear mother, he murmured fondlv.
''of course, you know who she is
Irene Lawrence. Her people are more
than delighted with the match. The
old man is especially elated, The fact
ia mother, think he has been the
prime mover in assisting me to win
her."
Mrs. OsgOod's memory took a sud
! den leap backward.
'Ah, yes" she sighed, rehectively;
81 shouldn't wonder"
They were married in the early
summer, and went away for a short
tour through the West The Sunday
after the wedding John Lawrence, pro
tected by dOuble-plate armor of self
assurance, made his second call on Mrs,
Osgood. He found her sitting near
the same window against whose light
her wholesome beauty had been sill
houetted on the occasion of his first
proposal. His heart was less hurried
than on the first day, but his method
of treating the errand on which he had
come was hardly less abrupt.
''Mrs. Osgood," he said, "do you re-
member q little conversation we had in
this self-same place six years ago?"
Great sobs lodged in her throat and
she coughed q reply. His own mem
0ry was very active then, and her
words, (Which time, please heaven,
will never come while L live," thun-
dered in his ears, and pronounced him
guilty of wrecking a mothers happi-
ness. They had taunted him a good
many times in the last few months,
but never SO loudly as then. But the
politician had ground his axe all but
the finishing touches, and he didn't in.
tend to let the grindstone rest at that
late day.
perhaps you'll reeolleet," he con-
tinued cautiously, ''that at that time
you told me l could broach certain
subject again after your son married.
Lorain has gOne"-she looked out to-
ward the garden where her boy had
worked that summer day six years be-
fore, and her tears fell fast. ''Mrs,
Osgood, !" and his voice was very gentle
and tender then, "are you still averse
to second marriage?" She looked
around on the empty house and the
empty garden, and then her ewes
rested on John Lawrence.
mo, she said, 81 don't believe