The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-05-04

breshing down that it shall be on my
side"
He did not give her time to reply, but
went out Of the room with a great bus
tie, and the next moment she heard him
giving directions to the servants about
his baggage A few minutes afterward
she heard him go out of the house, and
then came the sound Of her mother
voice calling to her.
"Mary. Mary, where are your"
"Here. mother. Do you want any.
thiDg2'
She ran down into the bright little
entrance hall, to find her mother, who
still dragged one leg little, holding on
to the doorpost of the drawing room.
"My poor child! My poor, darling
child What terrible newsl" she ,ex-
claimed. She was smartly and daintily
dressed and looked very pretty as she
stood there.
"What terrible news2" asked Mary.
For moment her heart stood still, for
she thought that her husband had burt
ed out all the truth in his anger.
"What news2' echoed Mrs. Hamil-
ton. "Why, that dear Edward has had
telegram which will take him away
from MS today instead Of next week.
Try to bear mp, my poor darling"
Eyes, will try, mother, said Mary,
feeling almost ready to let herself go off
into wild shrieks Of hysterical laughter
at the irony of the situation.
''In the FIRST flush of your married
happiness, too," Mrs. Hamilton said
n'ournfully as she dragged slowly back
again to her seat by the window "Of
course duty is duty, as l said to the
dear fellow
"And what did he say to ,that3"
Mary asked the question involuntarily.
"Oh, he is always SO full of his
quaint, bluff humor!'' replied Mrs.
Hamilton, smiling tenderly at the rec
objection. It's no use keeping mill
to turn, mother, he said in his hearty
way, unless one finds grist to put in
it. Dear fellow!"
Mary sat down at the other side of
the window and got out her embroidery
from the smart workbasket. Mrs Ham
ilton looked at her with astonished eyes,
first at her and then at the bit of dainty
work in her hands.
care you.not going to help Noun
cey?" she asked. twas point of honor
with Mrs Hamilton that Mary maids
should be called by their surnames, al
though both of them detested the Gus
tom.
mo, mother, Mouncey has all in
structions from Edward
For moment Mrs. Hamilton kept
silent. But at last she burst out impul-
sively "You are very strange, Maryl"
she cried. "When your poor father was
going away, always arranged every
little detail for him with my own hands,
but you sit there as coldly as if you had
been married 20 years instead of this
being your first parting with your hug
band, little more than a bridegroom.
1t must be owned that the girl felt
thrill of disgust go through her at her
mothers words A wild prayer half
formed itself in her heart that this first
parting might be the last, and an allur-
ing picture Of quiet grave with the
inscription ''Mary Conway, aged 49,"
on the headstone, slipped sweetly
through her mind. She even smiled,
heartsick as she was, as she answered
her mothers plaintive and wondering
words.
"Ah, but you see it was different
with you. mother; you married for Lowell
Edward doesn't keep me to pack his
things for him. Mouncey will do it bet
ter than I. F."
at is most strange, said Mrs. Ham
ilton. "but of course we express our
feelings 80 differently. You are SO like
your poor father and not in the least
like me. He was always so quiet and
as you are. -
lone cannot help ones nature. said
Mary, trying to speak with indifference.
"And of course we have known all along
that Edward would have to be away
coed deal. A few days more or less
make little difference.
"Ah, well, it is all for the best that
you do take things like that /" said Mrs
Hamilton. distinct reproach in her
tones. II should never have done for
sailors wife; l should have broken my
heart every time he went away
"God tempers the wind to the shorn
lamb, said Mary.
She felt that the remark was fippant,
even unfeeling, and yet the effort which
she was putting upon herself was so
great that it was only by the most &C.
we're determination that she was able to
keep herself calm. The thrill of COM
junction was, however, thrown away,
Tor Mrs. Hamilton's shallow mind was
not capable Of taking in two'ideas at
he same time.
"Ah, yes, truer words We're never
ipoken!'' she remarked >'T often Won
Ter what should have done if Provi-
lence had not sent dear Edward our
way. shudder to think what my life
would have been, ill and alone II day
Il that miserable little house in that
lreary, sordid neighborhood.
II should have made other arrange
nents. should have done my best
aid Mary little Indignantly.
"Yes, darling child, I know you
WOULD" Mrs. Hamilton returned in an
tone, as one might speak to
eeble person who had tried to stem the
liver Of life and had failed utterly.
But mercifully--and truly the ways
t Providence are wonderful; l feel it
more and more every day that l live
-mercifully God did think fit to temper
he wind to the shorn lamb, or the
horn sheep, as one might say in my
ase. Mary, what have you done to
our facet" She asked the last question !
n totally different voice, Mrs. Ham
ton was always two people at one and
he same time-the artificial fine lady,
Tho was given to preaching little SER
lonettes all in platitudes, and the shall
All, calf 1opfavaI y,orao,, Will, N l,oox |