The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-23
MainWaring'S Mother.
IFrom the Free I.ance.1

was never repeated. Little Nainwar-
ing Immediately saw scarlet an6
went for the fifth form-though 1t was
nve feet eight in its socks and downs
OF hp-and thrashed it, too, in fair fight
He didn't mind the implied slur to him.
self, but it reflected on her-that was
the crux. So he left his tormentor with
no features to speak of. and took his
one and only official thrasbing, wher
the row came out, with equanimity. He
felt warm and comfortable beneath his
Walstcoat about it all, because she
would have approved; perhaps she would
have clapped her hands-those sweet
delicate hands that penned him such
beautiful scented notes from her toe
distant Indian home. Just supposing
shed call him her heroi He waited till
the lights were out in the dormitorv to
fully hug this delicious thought. By
an effort of will he could always draw
her to his bedside at night and make
her look at him with that wonderful.
encompassing gaze that gave him a
cold feeling all down his spine even to
see 10 in the eyes of other fellows moth
erS.
At Oxford he worked like a whole
plantation of niggers, and though his
muscle was far tougher than his brain,
he took double second" which is by
no means bad for man who finds play
easier than work. Most of his friends.
noticing the odds over which he tri-
umphed, thought that there was a wo-
man in the case.
And SO there was-though not in the
way they meantl
ssTt'S on acoonpf +1,o ~,a+o, x,o,,
know, SIR" he confided to a congratu-
lating Don after the appearance of the
Greats List. His expansive moods were
SO rare that the Don was taken aback.
''D'you know, Mainwaring. I always
had an idea that you were an orphan y
he said, looking his surprise you've
lived with guardian or something all
your life, haven't you?"
A tiny shadow chased for a moment
the light from Mainwaring's eyes.
you see, the matters such wretched
sailor he explained. "And besides, she
can't stand England at any price The
governors friends all live out east-he
died quite young. you know-and I'm
all she's got Well, sir, was absolutely
determined to grind and to leave de-
cent record behind me here. because
AliOcI Oliy SOLS dIc SuCH klldStly lafl-
ures, and it must be a horrid disap-
pointment to their parents, you see.''
This spirit carried him through the
varsity with record SO white that it
was almost unique.
Your mother should be proud of you,
young man." said the Pre-" when he
wished him good-by. Its very rarely
that Oxford, with all her cunning, rolls
sob 0Io Lott
tleman into one parcel"
And then he glared savagely at Main
waring, as was the presidential habit
when deeply moved.
After Oxford Mainwaring toured the
continent for year, because she seem
ed to wish it. Just imagine, haven't
seen you since you were FIVE" she wrote
in one of those daintily scented letters
that, because of their tiny, delicate
handwriting, always seemed longer
than they really were; land it seems
cruel to make it another twelve months
but it's for your own sake. dear boy.
Travelling enlarges the mind and broad
ems the views. 1 only wish dared risk
coming across to accommodate you"
This was a little disappointment, but,
after all. thought Mainwaring, How
unselfish she is!'
And SO. for while, matchmaking
mammas at various continental hotels
found the rich young Englishman shy
game, and their daughters voted him
deadly dull, and paired off with his
travelling companion instead.
But to mothers who were not match
making-gentle. invalid mothers with
Madonna faces and big hearts-he was
a revelation, and they said of him very
much what the Pre-" had said, only
they whispered it with tears in their
eyes and a great yearning at their
hearts.
In Italy the, year ended. At Rome
Mainwaring brought an engraving o.
the Consoling Virgin. He would never
let his mother send him any portrait
of herself. 1T would only tantalize me
and wouldn't be you really he always
said. That was Mainwaring all over
But this picture caught his fancy
There was in the upturned eyes some
thing of the sweet, EMBEDDING, glorious
mystery of maternity. It was the look
again-the look that had come to the
bedside of the schoolboy-and it thrilled
him still.
The Collectors Ball was a particularly
festive affair Palahat had done its
best. There was budding beauty, ripe
beauty, and beauty of another kind thai
| is harder to define, for Anglo-Indian
society must have something in the
nature of scandal to prevent stagna-
| ton, and there were uniforms galore.
In one of the great ante-rooms shall
| low little woman with a daubed dolls
face sat and giggled at the not over
delicate compliments OF an almost sober
subaltern.
| Five years before she would have
| given an enhancing shudder at tn,
mere sight of him. and would hay,
chung Just a tiny bit closer to-
well, in all probability. to his colonies
arm; but she didn't fly so high nova
| days. How could she when the most ex
pensive of maids-lately imported from
| Paris-could not entirely charm ava,
| those horribly suggestive lines tina
| were slowly snatching at her bold Httll
| IT, 10 =