Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-06-02
SATURDAY JUNE 2, 1900.
MADAM OF TIE IVES.
fContinnad irom 2ra PareA

AOOutluucQ rum SNd FsRP9
mt he do so? And how could Madam
do less than receive her? Whatever
she has done in the past. only a woman
bereft of the commonest humanity
could visit the result of former In
EQUITIES upon her now or hold her re-
sponsible in her present condition.
And Madam has the soul OF an angel.
She would not dream Of excluding that
poor child from her natural asylum"
Mayberry turned ner streaming eyes
upon me with look of weak scorn for
the opinion OF one so ignorant as L.
You don't know what you are talk.
ing about" she cried. Madam has the
soul of an angel, it Is true; but an angel
would not forgive my wretched girl the
misery she has caused. She shall
never, never go back to that home she
has ruined. She has made her bed:
let her lie on it. She has sown a crop
of thorns in many lives; let her live as
she may upon the fruit they have borne
in her OWL"
The look she turned upon poor Alice
was so fierce and resentful that the girl
shrank back, and crouched coweringly
down against the wall. I was about
TO interpose between them and confine
myself wholly to the daughter when
] was restrained by the sound Of adj
yaDcing footsteps, and turning towards
the door L discovered, to my infinite
relief. that Darracott had returned; nor
had he returned alone. Beside him,
distinguished from the enshrouding
gloom by the rays from a second lam
tern which he carried aloft In his hand,
appeared the stately, commanding
figure of my dear lady, enveloped In
heavy wraps, her unseeing progress be-
ing guided by the careful assistance of
her son, upon whose arm she leant.
Its habipal expression OF calm resig-
nation and gentle endurance had van
ished from her face; a look of stern
suffering and anguish rigidly Suppress
ed gave to it the sennblance OF a mask
OF Nemesis. could not wonder Mt the
deprecating cry that burst from May
oerrys lips as her eyes rested upon
that tragic countenance. But Madam
frowned as she heard the sound, and,
leaving the support Of her sons arm,
advanced into the room, with one firm
Wnte hand outstretched to guard her
person from harm.
Hush, womanF' she commanded, in
tones such as had never heard issue
from her lips. what words are those
you utter? Is 1t not Of your own child
you are speakingT
Mayberry sprang forward and threw
herself, In her favorite attitude, before
Madam, clutching her skirts with i'm
ploring working fingers as she cried
out:
''oh, Madam, MadamI she Is no long
er my child. Have 1 not east her ofr2
Did not break the tie between us that
accused day when"
Madam interrupted the wretched
creature with magnificent scorn. She
drew herself away from the clingiug
fingers, and her sightless eyes were
ablaze with Indignation and the fires
of passionate, unquenchable RETROSPECT
ton.
mo longer your childr she repeated.
"And how can that be, since you both
stu exist? Have you not borne herr
Have you not suffered for her-nursed.
tended. petted and caressed her? Have
y0n not felt her arms about your neck?
Have you not rocked her on your bos-
ON, and heard her voice calling YOU
by the dearest name on earth? Have
you noe longed, as only we mothers
can, to hear the sound of that name
oDce> more? Have you not hungered
and thirsted for 1t? And now that 1t
has come TO you, now that your hearts
yearning desireis granted, do youstop
to consider her faults and turn away
from her in her hour OF need? Good
God! 1t is not possiblel Why, woman,
know that II / could once more hope
to hear my lost boys voice uttering
that name, would go to him, though
my road lay through the vilest, most
terrible paths that this world can show,
assured that my mission would sanct-
ify the way"
ITO be continued