Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-06-17

11SGAs
shall 1 relieve you tonight" the
stately Mrs. Phillips questioned, as she
stood for moment at the head OF the
table, and l, only too glad to choose
more quiet seat, gladly answered In the
affirmative. Never could consent to
! ask her to take the second place. All
that night, the first in my husbands
! home, that cold, calm face, with its
| framework of gray hair, mingled In my
dreams, and with the mornings break
! ing came the realization that the first
cloud in my married life was the pres
ence of my husbands mother. L listened
with absolute awe as Hugh would rattle
Oh to her in his merry way, Outlines
waking a smile round the stern mouth,
and l felt that she regarded my glrllsh
presence as reveling in youth she never
had known. So six months went by The
! shadows deepened until the hours Hugh
|! spent away from me were hours of mis-
cry, and 1 seemed to myself like some
wretched prisoner, barred and helpless.
1t was some six weeks before her
birthday that l once heard her express
wish that she had picture of her boy
flor SO she ever called Hugh), and in
stantly a resolution was formed in my
brain. 1 had always had talent for
painting. Before my fathers death ii
had been my delight and his pride, and
determined upon carrying miniature
of Hugh l possessed 10 an artist knew
well, and ask his assistance in trans
ferring the likeness and painting Por-
trait. Perhaps l thought as my work it
4xD,r- ND ma n
the next morning started out, and, to
nv inexpressible delight, l found my
desire feasible, and received the artist
permission to use his studio for four
hours each day-the hours l knew Hugh
would be away from home. 1t was not
long ere | saw that Mrs. Phillips
watched my coming and going with sus-
picious ewes, but l, picturing her
Fhamed look of surprise when she found
nv mission, went silently on my way
until the picture was almost completed,
and | had received the artists congratu-
lstion upon my success, when, entering
the house flushed and happy, L over
heard her voice in the library address
ing my husband:
Pour hours every day, Hugh, she is
absent. What can be her purpose?
told you when you brought young,
giddy thing into this house you would
regret it. 1t is your duty to see where
she goes and what she does"
1T is no mans duty to watch his
wife, mother Hugh replied. I'm Helen
1 place implicit trust, and should L ask
her her errand, have no fear to listen to
her answer"
But l could hear no more, as, with
flashing eyes and head erect, entered
the room.
"Since entered this house six months
ago a happy bride, joyous girl, 1 have
met, madam, at your hands, with in
suits and scorn, which have suffered
in silence. AS my reward you now try
to take from me the last thing left me
my husbands confidence. What my
mission has been you shall know to-
morrow. Accept it as my gift-the gift
of an injured woman to cruel injustice.
Hugh" turning to my husband) 1.-The
same house no longer can hold us two.
Choose between u.s." and 1 turned and
left the room.
My husband, following, strove to calm
me, but in vain.
II will not live with your mother"
said. IF you must have her share your
home 1 will 60"
Darling, 1 cannot ask her to leave it
when old age is creeping upon her. She
does not know you yet. Wait! Have
patience yet little longer, and you
will find your way into her heart, and
once there, you will know how really
warm it is, which she conceals beneath
a cold exterior"
HE has chosen between US. He will
not give her up" With this thought
Rugged to my heart for comfort, l saw
him leave me next morning with an
anxious frown upon his brow, and l,
quickly gathering together a few
things, called carriage and was driven
rapidly to the depot from which 1 had
determined to take the first outgoing
train. My plans were all formed. L
would go to the house of my old nurse,
who would care for me in my coming
trouble, and if 1 died there would be
none to regret me, since even Hugh had
given me up.
my babe, my bonny child!" Oh, how
the words of motherly greeting fell on
my heart as she clasped me in her arms
when alighted at her door, and told
her in broken words as much of my
story as thought necessary. But as the
weeks grew into months, and l spent
long, busy hours in fashioning the tiny
garments the little stranger coming was
to fill, softer memories began to creep
into my heart, and dim wonder as to
whether 1 had let my pride gain too
much ascendancy, and if Hugh really
had given up his mother for nv sake,
could still have loved him so we'll? So.
drop by drop, the gentle dew of repent
ance fell on my heart, and tear after
tear upon my work, until there came
day when all was done-a day when
child's cry broke for an instant upon my
ear as if a sound from Heaven had |
reached me, and then darkness closed |
round. and knew no more.
In the anxious time which followed / |
was aware of some one near me with |
Hugh's eyes, some one with Hugh's |
voice, and / would try to catch and bid |
IT stay, but in vain, until one morning |
the mists cleared up, and l opened my /
eyes TO see his dear face bending over /
me, but he sealed my lips with kisses, |
as he murmured:
Not word, my darling. We can
not expect 4 woman's wisdom from a /
child, but our little mother must grow !
wise now for her baby's sake"
Then with