St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-05-23
w. G. KENTZEL, Editor.

OF the young hopeful in question. Hs
wouldn't be l6 until the following h
ccmber. The prospect was not very
encouraging. Under the laws of the
state it was highly improbable that he
should take unto himself a wife before
he was Fl, and. viewing the matter even
from that extraordinarily favorable
standpoint. the old mans heart grew
heavy with apprehension as he though;
elapse before he could hope for frui-
tion of his plans.
so I may take that arewcr as final,
suppose:" h. suggested, x:cskly.
She nodded.
'And when your son ma :ies. thel..
take it, there will be no herm dor e
ii bring up this matter again."
NO harm. certainly not" was tile
smiling reioinder. '"But don't think cf
that improbable event. 1t belongs
strictly 10 the far-away future"
That ended the politicians courtsnip
of Mrs. Osgood. and gradually the affec-
ton which he had always cherished for
from her shrine and deposited at the
feet of the son. Lorain Osgood was pos
sessed of his mothers ardent dispOsi-
ton, untempered by her reserve, and
he returned the proffered friendship in
good measure. The boys 10th birthday
and four succeeding ones came and
went, making great red-ietter days in
n. n k~A
younger man was 20 some Of the native
acutencss which Lawrence had partial.
ly repressed since his retirement from
politics again cropped out, and he de
cided that it was time to make deN-
trous stroke. He took young Osgood
into his confidence.
''Lorain," he said, one night, looking
at the young man sadly, i've made
good many mistakes in my life, but the
greatest of all was my neglecting to
marry in my early days. There's moth
ing SO conducive to happiness and pros
pcrity as an early marriage. Think
over it. my boy, and If you find 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 wouldnt
mind marrying by the time you are Of
age, would you, Lorain?
Lorain laughed.
NO." he returned, Il guess not. Find
me some one to love, and will do the
rest. l half believe you are right, Mr.
Lawrence. Early marriages are Gn'
doubtetlly to be commended"
Lebanon was beside itself with curl.
osity when Joseph Lawrence's sister.
in-law and her daughter came down te
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 rel
atives as his circumstances would per-
init. and his sudden relcnting was a
matter for much surmising. But all
guessing invariably ended in Lebanon
society congratulating itself upon the
acquisition of a valuable addition to its
ranks in the person Of Joseph Law.
| rence's niece, who was a remarkably
pretty girl, and who, it was hinted
| would inherit the major portion Of the
politically-acquired property. Mrs. Os
good was the only one who viewed the
newcomers with alarm. She had never
objected to the strong attachment eN
listing between her son and the re
jected suitor. but when it dawned upon
her that the affection was becoming q
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 indefinable dread and she trem-
bled at the thought of another woman
reigning supreme in her Boys life.
Just after Iorain was 81 the decisive
blow came. Lorain himself was the one
to strike it.
Mother" he cried. and he drew the
trim figure up close beside him. 'Tve
news for you-glorious news. I'm to
lie married, mother, soon.'
She did not cry out. She even ceased
| to tremble, but she did not answer.
'Why don't you say something. moth
cr?" he laughed. raising her pale, drawn
face and kissing her. "Aren't yo.,
giad:''
The JOY that quivered in every line
Of his hoyish face touched her heart
ard for his sake she tried to conceal the
| pain.
Il had hoped should not hear that
news for many year" she whispered.
but your happiness has always been
mine, you know"
| Dear mother" he murmured. fond
IL, ''of course you know whom she is
Irene Lawrence. Her people are more
than delighted with the match. The old
RAN is especially clated. The fact is,
mother. think he has been the prime
mover in assisting me to win her."
Mrs. Osgood's memory took a sudden
leap backward.
"Ah, yes" she sighed, rcflectively, 81
shouldn't wonder"
They were married in the early sum
mcr and went away for short tour
through the west. The Sunday afte,
the wedding Joseph 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 heI
wholesome beauty had been silhouettcc
on the occasion of his first proposal
His heart was less fiurried 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 a little conversation we had
in this self-same place six years ago"
Great sobs lodged in her throat and
she coughed reply. His own memory
was very active then and her words;
(which time, please Heaven, will never
come while l live" thundered in his
ears and pronounced him guilty ol
wrecking a mothers happiness. They
had taunted him a good many times II
| the last few months huf never SO l0llfily