The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-09-05

tA ~ AN Nv SSASCu
his visits, saying that all was we'll.
Finally the dowagcrs We're admit
ted, and what they heard and what
they guessed Were told to the multi
tude.
when her fasher gave her Claudia
Hutton for a %stepmother, a girl not far
from her w age, Miss Milvain's
proud nature rebelled. 1 can guess
what Il 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 percles his young wife on his
knee"
"But listen!" exclaimed Mrs. Ballan-
tyne impatiently. ''Driven to u reso.
luton by taunts at home, she had fix
ed her mind that this summer should
be her last as Miss Milvain. 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
II man to whom her refusal might be
a memory for life. and for the sake Of
h Il little sisters touch on her heart
she resolved to spare him."
"Ah, l was young once" sighed Mrs.
Hosmer in 9 low tone, like an accom-
paniment.
"And then enter Mrs. Grote, the
mother, an old fashioned woman VINO
had loved her husband and cuddled
her children, made good bread and
we'll, lived in an atmosphere Of laven-
der, so to speak. 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 1t would bring. 1t seems
as if she must have escaped out of Il
dim past, she is so like u mothers
and u 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 Milvain!'
but It's all right now?" the multi
tude asked a%nxiously, for the public so
loves romance.
"Oh, that proud heart-the heart Of
a woman of the world!" whispered
Mrs. Hosmer, reveling in a sigh.
"That was a fortunate accident with
the boat, was it not? And Miss Mil.
vain says entirely her own fault ut
the tiller. There was no one else in
particular, though many in general, to
care for her. and MI. 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 patted 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. II know now" she said hap
PLY to whoever wished to listen-"I
know now what it is l seem to have
missed all my life-it is the mother
note left out Of my existence. want
1t to sound now long, loud and deep
drawn"
GLOW did it all come about?" the
multitude asked pryingly.
1T was just mothered into harmo-
n.y." Miss Milvain replied, with what
was certainly n sob. "A mother is a
priceless gift, and, oh, how undeserv-
ing OF this n am l. l can only show
her the world. its tricks of dress and
speech and manner. but she can teach
me a thousand things out of her own
goodness"
still, that wilderness out west. q
know"
"Oh, after all it's an orange grove in
beautiful Californian she answered.
closing the conversation with a smile