Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-06-09

4 kiss upon her faded cheek.
Now, are you ready2" he con-
tinucd. II have ordered carriage
and it should be here by this time.
You sec we want to call for that
young lady wish you to meet, and
therefore we must be quick. :
Il am ready bis mother an
swcrod, and shell be only too
glad to meet the young lady.
When William returned to the
ballroom he entered with his mother
on his arm and half sheepishly
walked up to tho hostess and pre-
sented her, and then looked out for
an obscure corner where she might
sit unnoticed, and where her old
fashioned sayings and ungramrnatic-
al expressions would not attract at
tention. After seating her be again
entered with snowy girl, sparkling
with jewels, to whom, however, he
never mentioned his mother, fearing
her ideas of gentility and modern
elegance might receive shock from
which recovery might be difficult.
Fred Nichols, on the contrary, en-
tered the room with his mother on
one arm and beautiful girl, splen-
didly yet modestly dressed, on the
other. Conducting both to seats he
led up his friends as he met them
and introduced his mother with
much grace and as proudly as if say
ing: 'All l am l owe to this excel
lent mother And he walked about
with her showing her as much, if not
more attention even than the attrac-
tive young lady to whom he was
evidently engaged.
81 do not see Mrs. Wilson, said
his mother on one of these occasions.
Il am afraid she did not come. |
have seen William several times with
a tine-looking young lady, but his
mother not at all.
eve will walk through the rooms
again, responded Fred, 81 am GER
tain she came.
They found her at last, sitting con-
tentedly, but with a somewhat
worried look on her face, as if she
was not enjoying herself as much as
she had expected.
I'VE have been looking for you
everywhere" said Mrs. Nichols.
why do you not come out among
US and watch the young folks max
ing themselves happy2"
ooh, they are all strangers to
me, she answered quietly.
go they were to me-" said Mrs.
Nichols, ''but Fred has been intro
ducing me to so many that now I
feel thoroughly well acquainted.
A look almost of pain passed over
the pale face of her friend. Her SON
had been but once to see her during
all the evening and that was to tell
her not to show her handkerchief so
much as it had an old-fashioned
mark upon it. He had brought no
one to her, nor even introduced the
stylish young lady to whom he was
paying such marked and devoted. at
tentioD. That lady was intensely
fashionable, and he was minded
enough to fear that an introduction
to his mother might iniure his suit.
"Are you not going 10 take your
mother down to SUPERB asked Fred
of William as they met, the former
having his mother and his 6ancee on
either arm, and the latter being only
accompanied by the young lady of
his choice.
II am going back for her after
wards" he replied, having shame
enough to blush furiously.
His fair companion looked up at
him in surprise. What, is your
mother here?" she asked II should
so like to meet her"
II shall bring her presently" said
William. 3D.
But the harm was done. When
the young lady saw the plain, old
fashioned woman, with her lovable
old face and homely common sense,
she also discovered the heartlessness
and unworthiness of the son who, by
his actions at Least, protested to love
her, and from that moment he lost
all charm in her eyes.
Fred's betrothed, on the contrary,
saw an additional merit in the son
who could, in the face Of heartless
fashion, respect gray hairs and be-
stow Of his love so much upon the
plain, uneducated mother who bad
reared him 80 well, setting him
above all petty pride and all little
ness of character.
She looked at him with moistened
eyes, and with feelings that would
have been more precious to him than
anything else in all the world, could
he have known them, and with
thoughts in her heart sweeter to-
wards him than her sweetest words.
Banner of Gold.