Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-06-16

turned from me because was the
innocent reminder of a grief to which
she could never become reconciled.
cannot forgive the injustice, Miss
Iothrop. 1t has cankered my whole
life. Never, since that day when |
sought sympathy from my grand
mother, have i mentioned the subject
TO living soul, but knew that YOU
had been judging me, and with no
leniency. 1 prize your regard, and !
desired to somewhat extenuate my
conduct in your sight. In your future
judgement of me IN relation to my
mother, i trust you win bear in mind
the fact that she has plainly demon
strated to me from my earliest child
hood that she had no affection to
bestow upon me, and that my society
was upcongenial to her. Now that she
has become bereft of more welcome
scources of love, she would perhaps
turn TO me as a makeshift, but 1 do
not stand ready to make of my affec-
ton a mere stop-gap."
BE paused, frowning heavily. Then,
in a lighter tone, he said:
what an insufferably egotistical
bore you must think me! l have done
now, however. Thank you for your
attention. How is the hand to-day?"
Although his speech had been de-
livered in a cold, matter-of-fact voice,
obviously free from any purpose Of
arousing my sympathy through rhet-
orical effect and with manner as un-
emotional and impersonal as if he had
been stating the case of a wholly indif-
ferent person, yet hisrecitalhad stirred
me profoundly. Nothing in life seems
to me so cruel or inexcusable as the
Withholding or withdrawing of moth
er's love from her child. And to think
| that my dear lady, she who had SEEM
| ed 10 me a well-spring of all virtue
and goodness, should have been guilty
of this grave and heinous offencel /
was shocked and panied beyond meas
| ure.
The strange aud hitherto inexplicable
| quality of her regard for her son
| became now clearly defined. That
| constraint, that timidity that depre-
/ eating tentativeness, which resembIed
| nothing so much as the first bashful
advances of n timorous lover now bore
| plain significance to me. o unhappy
mother, to have so causelessly alienat-
| ed the love of the only being of natural
affection that Destiny had left to your
| old agei . sadly-entreated son. with
all that wealth of native tenderness
which even now, after long years of
| cold disregard, shows it's vein of rich
ore through the enforced evenness of
| your speech, thrown back, like worth.
less dross, upon your outraged heart!
1 tried to make some suitable re.
ply, but found it difficult to command
my voice. A palmetto vision of that
lonely boyhood and loveless youth rose
painfully before me. My heart ached
for the child who had become the
man that stood before me, and all
could say, as | rose and held out my
hand to him, were simple words witt
which 1 might have comforted the
child.
II am so sorry for you" I said
stupidity. But 1 fancy my words con
veyed more than ] imagined, for his
hngers closed quite gracefully over
mine, while his face flushed and his
eyes frightened.
oh, / didn't mean TO ry-baby," lie
said lightly. 81 only wanted YOU TO
appreciate the situation-that is all.
Now my mother is waiting for you.
BY the way, you will find Spencer with
her," There was n sort OF questioning
penetration in the look that accom-
panied his last remark.
VS. 4 IGUlltd, 4 SAW MN come.
His presence here is welcome to
you? There has been n reconciliation
you know. You are glad of II"
Very glad" returned emphatic,
ally.
His look grew more questioning.
We'll, be is a good fellow, David
Spencer. l also am glad TO have him
about the house again. Send him
down to me when you go up, viii
you?''
/ assented and left the room felt
that il was just as well TO leave that
yelled inference, which both his look
and manner had implied, uncontra
dicted. Darracott Chester was a mar
ried man; his wife was in the house
but few rooms distant from us
what necessity was there for another
woman to set him right concerning
her love affairs?
1t was very great pleasure to Sc,
the entente cordiale which had beer
established between my dear lady ant
. the good friend to whom, though
could not marry him, 1 was yet strong
" attached. AS ] entered the room
they were sitting on either side OF tn,
fire, aud Madam's face, though it bore
traces OF recent storm and stress, has
yet a glad, joyful look upon it. DR.
Spencer rose, and she stretched out hei
hand to me.
ct is you, Dorothy" she said. "On,
, of my boys has come back 20 me-
There was a pathetic break in he
+ voice, but she immediately conquered
1t. 1T is a happiness had scarceh
dared hope for. Come and welcome
his return, my dear"
!, A little later, after we had had on
/ tea and David Spencer had left us
I Madam babe me draw chair quiz
! close to her, and then, with what wa
} very obviously a strong effort to over
J come a powerful reluctance, she be
+ gan to relate to me the sad TRACED,
: of The Ivies. l give it in her owl
words
Dorothy, my child" she said
{ breaking an interval of silence, wh;c
: she had perhaps spent in trying t
embolden a reluctant spirit to fac
the ghosts of bygone events, IF tn
r love and gratitude seel for you wer
. to be subjected to great proof non
g could be selected more distressing t
< 4 H.,