Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-05-19

~ Ahthho VI u QOOI ODCuiuk upon
landing of the inner staircase. All.
the dear old platforml How many
happy hours have l spent therel All.
dear old house that has widowed mel
All, dear, hallowed ground that still
echoes with the tread OF the feet which
you betrayed God knows yeu have
done me bitter harm and injury, but
oh-I love you still!-I love you stillr'
1 had never seen her moved from her
stern self-control before, and l knew
not how to meet her demand upon my
sympathy. But 1 took refuge In sill
ence. That, at least does not Jar, even
If it fails to comfort
Finally she made a movement as IL
TO leave the spot, but turned before de-
parting, with another request.
Dorothy, 1 should like once more to
stand upon that platform. Could we
make pilgrimage there together some
day, do you think? Just you and IT'
Indeed, yes, dear Madam" 1 re-
piled, without an instant's hesitation.
think, II she had proposed our taking
trip to Jericho in a flying machine,
l should have acquiesced in the idea,
was so eager TO encourage her con-
fidence in me.
So, unmarked by special event, time
passed on until L had been year in
Madam's service. A closer love and
sympathy had grown up between MS
than exists oftentimes between mother
and daughter. l knew that Madam
trusted me and that she had confidence
in my discretion, yet was as ignorant
Of the history of her life, of the tragedy
that had devastated The Ivies, as |
was upon the day first became a
member Of its limited household.
One fact, and one only, connected
with Madam's relations to life outside
her own home, had gained that was
the fact OF the presence somewhere
in the world of son who had expatrt-
ated himself for some cause unknown
to me. She had herself mentioned him
to me, else l should have known moth
ing of him, for her servants were too
faithful to their allegiance to her to
gossip ever so slightly of things that
concerned their mistress. She had al
luded to letters received from him, and
so l knew that a correspondence was
maintained between them, but 1 was
not called upon either to read or to an
swer these communications. l suppos-
ed, as afterwards learnt was the case,
that Mrs. Mayberry served her at
such times.
One day, however, as we were sit
ting at twilight In her boudoir, the
| month being February, and the bril-
liant flames on the hearth all the IL
Elimination we required, she said to
me:
Dorothy, I am afraid I must Law
| a new duty upon YOU"
Even then my burden of employ
meut will be light one, Madam" 1
answered.
Poor Mayberry's handwriting Is
getting so tremulous that ii is becom-
ing almost undecipherable. 1t is a SER
ious misfortune to me, for, clever am
anuensis as you are, my dear you can
not be of such special service to me rs
my poor old housekeeper has been"
Indeed, Madam, are you sure? I
asked, somewhat chagrined at the idea
that that poor wreck OF a woman could
do better duty than /.
Yes, sure" she replied 81 will tell
you why. She has acquired a very
faithful imitation OF my own hand
writing. In olden times II was her wont
to try to fashion herself by such a poor
model as l. She was q clever girl, and
you would be surprised to know how
accurately she copied me in many re-
| spects. i have spoken to you of my
| son Darracott. He lives abroad, travel.
less man and i'll content with monotony.
She paused, and sat awhile with her
unseeing gaze bent upon the glowing
fire, while 1 occupied myself with re-
Elections upon the selfishness of q son
who could allow a blind mother to drag
out so desoLate and lonely an existence
| as this OF Madam's because, forsooth.
monotony wearied him. Youth is apt
to leap at hasty conclusions
"Mayberry has been my means of
communicating with him, she went
IN, presently. "She has read his letters
TO me, and answered them in the first
person for me, because, my dear my
son is not aware OF the affiicticn which
has befallen me, and 1t has been the
aim OF my wishes to keep II from him"
cried aloud at this / could not help
1t.
''Oh, Madam! said, at is not right;
1t is not fair to himr'
She smiled very sadly.
Little girl" she replied, you speak
with the impulsiSeness OF your age and
Ignorance. Not fart Is there question
OF fairness IN adding fresh fuel to the
neap which consumes a martyr? Oar
racott should never have been inform
ed of this Ill fortune which has afflicted
me IL I could have prevented it; but,
alas! he complains that he can no long
er decipher my handwriting which Is
In fact Mayberry's and argues some
condition OF i'll health from this evil
dence of inhrmity. he has questioned
me so closely that find it impossible
. longer to evade him, and I am there
fore obliged, most unwillingly, to dis
close the truth to him. So little Doro-
thy, you must hereafter be the link
that Joins my absent boy to his
mother
And so it was that began to write
long letters to Darracott Chester, for
found that 1t was by previous mar
| rage that this son had been born 10
Madam. shall never forget the first
letter wrote him. 1t informed him OF
his mothers affiiction, but SO lightly
was the subject treated that it might
have had to do with a mere passing
indisposition, rather than with a dire
bereavement which seems, of all physi-
cal calamities, the worst. The casual