Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-04-02
She nodded.

smiling rejoinder. "But don't think Of
that improbable event It belongs
strictly to the far-away future"
That ended the politicians courtship
of Mrs. Osgood, and gradually the affeo-
ton which he had always cherished for
the mother seemed to be withdrawn
from her shrine and deposited at the
feet OF the son. Lorain Osgood was pos
sessed of his mothers ardent DISPOSE
tdon, 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-letter days in
Joseph Lawrence's calendar. When the
younger man was 20 some of the native
acuteness which Lawrence had partial
ly repressed since his retirement from
politics again cropped out, and he de-
cided that it was time to make a dex-
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
perity 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 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. I half believe you are right, Mr..
| Lawrence. Early marriages are un-
doubtedly to be commended"
Lebanon was beside itself with curl
osity when Joseph 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 rel
| atives as his circumstances would per-
| init, and his sudden relenting was q
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 limited,
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 ex-
| listing between her son and the re-
| jected sutton, but when it dawned upon
| her that the affection 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 indefnable dread and she trem-
bled at the thought of another woman
| reigning supreme in her boys life.
Just after Lorain was 21 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, 1--WE
news for you-glorious news. I'm to
he 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
er?" he laughed, raising her pale, drawn
face and kissing her. aren't You
glad?"
The joy that quivered in every line
of his boyish face touched her teart
and for his sake she tried to conceal the
| 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, fond
| ly, "of course you know whom she is
Irene Lawrence. Her people are more
than delighted with the match. The old
man is especially elated. The fact is,
mother, think he has been the prime
mover in assisting me to win her."
Mrs. Osgood's memory took sudden
leap backward.
"Ah, yes" she sighed, refectively, "I
shouldn't wonder"
| They were married in the early sum-
mer and went away for short tour
through the west. The Sunday after
the wedding Joseph Lawrence, pro-
tected by a 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 silhouetted
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 a little conversation we had
in this self-same place ixyears 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 / live" Numbered in his
ears and pronounced him guilty of
wrecking a mothers happiness. They
had tainted him a good many times in
| the last few months, but never SO loudly
as then. But the politician had ground
his AK all but the finishing touches and
he didn't intend to let the grindstone
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