The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-11-19
By Marion v HoIlis.TG @

youth, with eager eyes and clustering |
hair, rides slowly along, looking some |
times at the sky above him, and some |
times at the blooming flowers. A gal
liant, princely boy, with the face of a cava-
ler, and the frank, grand smile OF a
crowned king.
As he comes riding over the shadows
under the trees, the watcher by the gate
sees him at last, and heaven is merciful
to her that the sight does not strike her
dead.
Then a great mist came before her eyes
and dazzled her, a mighty sound as of
rushing waters filed her ears, torrent of
love rushed through her heart, making
her tremble like leaf in the wind, for he
had stopped at the gate, and was speaking
to her.
She looked at him helplessly; her lips
parted. but were dumb: her eager, yearn-
ing eyes were fixed on his face; her white,
nervous hands clutched at the bar Of the
gate.
Il must steady myself" she thought
Il must remember by my own act | am
dead"
Good morning. Mrs. Rivers" CHEEKY,
rich voice was saying; Lady Beatrice
asked me to call and give you these
Her own son-heaven help her.-her
only child. She longed with desperate
longing to fling herself under the horses
feet and let him ride over her, leaving
her dead.
He flung the reins aside and dismount-
ed.
Il will fasten my pony to the gate he
said, "and come inside, if you will allow
me- Mrs Rivers 1t is very warm, and
I have ridden fast
All, if she could but speak to him. If
she might but cry out: Rupert, l am
your mother. l am Niolante Selwyn"
But the white parted lips were still
dumb
He, looking It her, thought her strange,
sad and quiet; but the widows cap and
the mourning dress accounted for that.
You will not spoil me Mrs. Browne
did. l hope said the laughing voice. She
used to make such grand lemonade for
these warm days
II will give you anything | have"
she said with trembling energy.
! He looked at her with little SURPRISE
! Good and kind, but nervous" was his
mental comment.
I VIII you really come into my house,"
/ she asked family, seeing that he went to-
ward the door.
That | will, with many thanks for tho
shelter" he said. leading the way into the
/ pretty little parlor, where Lady Beatrice
had sat 50 lately Il am glad of a
rest" said the boy. throwing himself on
! the couch. 1T is awfuily hot Mrs.
/ Rivers; how cool you look here. | should
4 like 4 glass of water"
/ Nay" she said softly; Il have some-
! thing nicer than that for YOU" /
! And she ran to the basket loaded with
| fruit. that Lady Beatrice had sent. Her
| hands trembled as she took from it a
! bunch of purple grapes, and sunny,
! blooming peach. She laid them on n
| plate, covered small tray with dainty
/ white cloth and took it to him.
! How kind you are" he said eagerly;
! but L am robbiug YOU"
| NO, no. she told his hastily. 1t was
a thousand times more pleasure to her
| that he should enjoy them.
And enjoy them he did. She sat down
near, where she could watch him eating
| the luscious grapes. How her heart
! yearned TO him. her fingers tingled to
/ touch the bonny head, with it's clustering
curls, her lips burned 10 touch his face
| once-only just once. She lowered round
! feast her eyes enough on that frank, hand
! some face; all her soul was in her eyes
/ ana on her lips.
These are nice" he said ITO tell the
plain truth, Mrs. Rivers, | do not get
many grapes at home. Lady Beatrice
thinks boys should be brought up like
young Spartans."
Lady Beatrice:" she repeated.
"le s,' he continued; my fathers wife.
lon know Lady Selwyn is not my moth
er." he added eagerly
Not your mother" gaspcd the white
lips
"oh. no he replied: my own mother
IS dead. She was killed in p railway acci-
| dent at Sedi. in Italy. Nv mother was
as beautiful as an angel, Mrs. Rivers"
She murmured some reply: she never
knew what.
Yes" he continued decisiveIy; she
! was just as beautiful as an angel re-
member her face quite We'll | used TO
dream of it for years; dream of it now!
Such loving eyes, such sweet lips, and
She used to kiss me So She used to hold
me in her arms. and kiss me as though
her heart was breaking, | do miss my
! mother"
The handsome face grew sad and the
clear eyes filled with tears
No one is quite like your own mother
he said; ''and mine loved me. My father
often tells me how she used 10 teach me-
and fear for mo: how she always longed
10 see me Il good and great man. So
mean to be. My mother is among the
angels; but she shall see how | loved her"
She can bear no more; she is weeping
wildly now. kneeling at the foot of the lit
lie couch, her whole figure shaken with
deep-draWn bitter sobs, and he is stand
ing over her in deep amaze.
hat is the matter, Mrs. Rivers =
| what is wrong:'
BY an effort SO violent that il almost
killed her. she controlled herself and rose.
II am ashamed" she said. "of giving
i way 50; hut | had son once. and | lost
! him-you made me think Of him
You have lost son, and | mother :
he said. Which is the greater trouhlt
Of the twoE"
Mine" she said softly Shall Won
come 10 see me often, Master Rupert"
Yes he said. Il always liked coming
To see Mrs. Browne. ana | shall be Just
as pleased TO see you. Whenever mt
father IS away. and Lady Beatrice is ii;
one OF her 'humors, rs the servants calf
them, | ike to ride over here Ny lad!
used to think sound box on the ears q
| remedy for every fault l had My father
! however, did not agree with her.
Il should say not" she cried indignant.
II.
He laughed again
A womans hand could never hurt me. -
he said proudly. Good morning. Mrs.
Rivers. / will come again often, if YOU
viii let ne
Come when you will" she said; and
then their eyes met. The boy started
Who on earth are you like. Mrs Rjv-
/ crs* he cried. 4 have seen you before
am sure; or else some one like YOU"
She drew back in alarm.
Chance resemblances are common
enough. she said quietly. Il can only
hope my face reminds you of some one
-.i1