Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-09-07

ed from it, as from pair of closed
lips. For few days the doctor pass
ed out and in and by and by ceased
his visits, saying that all was well.
Finally the dowagers were admit
ted, and what they heard and what
they guessed were told to the multi
tude.
when her father gave her Claudia
Hutton for stepmother, girl not far
from her own age, Miss Milvain's
proud nature rebelled. can guess
what a home she must have had after
that. No wonder she summered at sea-
side resorts and wintered at balls and
suppers," said Mrs. Ballantyne.
"Yes," interrupted Mrs. Hosmer,
fancy sitting by while your old ia
Their perches his young wife on his
kneew
"But listen!" exclaimed Mrs. Ballan-
tyne impatiently. "Driven to reso-
luton by taunts at home, she had fin
ed her mind that this summer should
be her last as Miss NIilvain. Marry
ing thus, perforce, it must be to mon
ey and the rest"
"Who can blame the poor thing? 1t
is the story of a doe at bay" murmur-
ed Mrs. Hosmer.
"She had thought George Grote like
other men, except not so rich as some,
not SO distinguished as others, till one
day he gave her a haunting thought
about his little sister who died years
ago. 1t startled her to think here was
one man to whom her refusal might be
a memory for life, and for the sake Of
that little sisters touch on her heart
she resolved to spare him."
"Ah, 1 was young once" sighed Mrs.
Hosmer in low tone, like an accom-
paniment.
"And then enter Mrs. Grote, the
mother, an old fashioned woman who
had loved her husband and cuddled
her children, made good bread and
well, lived in an atmosphere of laven-
der, SO to speak. I am certain society
never knew her, and probably she
would feel like waiting on a French
maid if she had one. Her education
was neglected, but she sent her boy
through college and never thought of
the contrasts it would bring. 1t seems
as if she must have escaped out of 4
dim past, she is so like our mothers
and our grandmothers, isn't she?"
'"The species is almost extinct" MUIR
INJURED the multitude.
''But George Grote-did he neglect
his old fashioned mother and Danish
her behind the scenes? No, for when
he comes out of the west he arranges
for her too. All. and this man rec
ognized the difference between her and
his fine ladylove and for his mothers
sake resolved to give up Miss NIilvain"
"But it's all right now?" the multi
tude asked anxiously. for the public so
loves romance.
ooh. that proud heart-the heart of
woman Of the worldw whispered
Mrs. Hosmer, reveling in sigh.
"That was a fortunate accident with
the boat, was it not? And Miss Mil
vain says entirely her own fault at
the tiller. There was no one else in
particular, though many in general, to
care for her, and Mr.. Grote in his
despair took her to his mother, quite
the most charming thing he could have
done. That darling old mother just
babied and loved the whole thing
through. She petted proud Miss Mil
| vain as she'd petted that other little
girl SO long ago, and whatever ice
| there was melted as ice does when the
| sun shines"
Miss Milvain appeared herself by
and by. 81 know now" she said hap
! PLY to whoever wished to listen-"I
know now what it is I seem to have
missed all my life-it is the mother
note left out of my existence. l want
1T to sound now long, louG and deep
drawn"
GLOW did it all come about" the
multitude asked pryingly.
ut was just mothered into harmo-
n.y." Miss Milvain replied, with what
was certainly sob. ga mother is a
priceless gift, and, oh, how undeserv-
ing of this one am 1! can only show
her the world, it's tricks of dress and
speech and manner, but she can teach
me thousand things out of her own
goodness"
"Still, that wilderness out west you
know
"Oh, after all it's an orange grove in
beautiful California" she answered
closing the conversation with a smile.
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