, 1898-07-25
be- dragged in the dust, is the mosne7 .,

be dragged in the dust? Is the mother {.
my son to be the plaything of these
empty headed society men? What am |
better than "A brute if l stand by with
out interfering? You shall not drag nv
name and honor III the dust. Your i'll
sane vanity, which is leading you into
all sorts of difficulties, must be curbcd.
Today l have a bill for $500 from your
dressmaker. There was a time, child,
when to please me seemed your great
est pleasure. That time has passed. But
what have l done to forfeit your love? l
have done my utmost to make you hap
py, and yet how I've failed!" And
Travers Dalmaine drew his coat sleeve
across his eyes, and there was silence
for the space of a minute.
During this speech his wife had stood
~motionless, her eyes downcast. She was
very pale, but otherwise showed no
emotion. Presently lie spoke again, but
his voice sounded husky and far away.
Beauty he cried, "for my sake
pause in your mad career, or if not for
mine for Ch%appie's."
Surely that appeal would have touch
ed any mothers heart, but Beauty Dali
maine heard it unmoyed. She slowly
crossed to the door, and turning she
looked definntly at her husband, and
her voice rang out with metallic clear
ness as she said:
II have listened to you patiently.
Now l am going to the play with Sir
Arthur Maynard" And then she van.
ished, and like one stunned her husband
remained ~vacantly gazing at the door
through which she had disappeared.
But Beauty Dalmaine did not go to
the play that night. When she left the
library, she slowly assembled the stairs
with the intention of fetching a fan
from her room. The servants were all
at supper, and the house was very still,
when suddenly a small voice broke the
stiffness, "Chappie wants movahI |" fol-
lowed by a sound Of sobbing.
Beauty paused. The sobs continued,
and again the little voice called: Chap
pie wants movah! God send Chappie's
movah!'
Swiftly she flew down the passage
and entered the nursery. The little lads
prayer had not been in vain. God had
heard it and used it as an instrument to
unlock the mothers heart. In q few
short seconds Chappio was in his moth
er's arms. The costly satin dress was
forgotten, and freely her tears were
mingling with his own. For the first
time in his baby life ho tasted the joys
of a mothers love. Hitherto she had
only been n beautiful, unapproachable
dream. Now she was q living, loving
reality.
An hour later, with weary footsteps
and an aching heart, Travors Dalmaine
climbed the nursery stairs, and on tho
threshold a beautiful picture gladdened
his sorrow laden eyes. By the cot of
their sleeping child knelt Beauty Dial
maine, her lovely face illumined with
tho light Of the newborn mother love
and her hands claspei in prayer. Softly
her husband crossed the room and laid
his hand tendcrly upon her head, while
she raised her dark eyes to his and
still kneoling said:
drawers, my husband, forgive me. |
meant to go, but Chappio wanted me,
and when | heard him say SO there sud
uciiiy hasheu IA hiS III uaih, ioNciSSs
future l was making for my little son-
our little SON." She corrected herself
softly, and then she was raised to her
feet, and n pair Of strong arlns EMBODIED
her and her husbands deep tones assur-
ed her she was forgiven.
For his sake we'll start again, my
darling" he added.
And for Chappie's fathers sake"
she whispered, as her white arms stole
round his neck. And the little sleeper
moved, and they looked down to see a
radiant smile dawn on his face and both
stopped and kissed Kim. Then hand i'll
hand they stole from the room.-Lady.