The Jersey City news., 1902-08-29

CtdlHleu. one NstS nlititly anu idlulilf
dressed and looked very pretty as she
stood there.
"What terrible news?" asked Mary.
For moment her heart stood still, for
she thought that her husband had blurt-
ed out all the truth in this anger.
s'What news?' echoed Mrs. Hamil-
ten. why, that dear Edward has had
telegram which will take him away
from us today instead of next week.
Try to bear up, my poor darlingi"
Eyes, | will try, mother, said Mary,
feeling almost ready to let herself go off
into wild shrieks Of hysterical laughter
at the irony of the situation.
''In the first flush OF your married
happiness. too. Mrs. Hamilton said
mournfully as she dragged slowly back
again to her seat by the window. 'sOf
course duty is duty, as said to the
dear fellow.
.sAnd what did he say to that?"
Mary asked she question involuntarily.
"Ch. he is always SO full of his
quaint bluff humorf' replied Mrs.
Hamilton. suniling tenderly at the rec
ollection " It's no use keeping mill
1 to turn. mother. he said in his hearty
way. unless one finds grist to put in
It. Dear fellowl'
Mary sat down at the other side of
the window and got out her embroidery
from the smart workbasket Mrs Ham
ilton looked at her with astonished eyes,
first at her and then at the bit of dainty
work in her hands.
Are you not going to help Noun
cey 2" she asked. Itwas point Of honor
with Mrs Hamilton that Mary maids
should be called by their surnames. al
though both of them detested the Gus
tom.
mo mother Mouncey has all in
structions from Edward. :
For moment Mrs. Hamilton kept
silent But at last she burst out impul-
sively. You are very strange, Maryl'
she cried when your poor father was
going away. always arranged every
little detail for him with my own hands,
but you sit there as coldly as if ycu had
been married 20years instead Of this
being your first parting with your hus-
band. little more than a bridegroom
1t must be owned that the girl felt a
thrill of disgust so through her at her
mothers words. A wild prayer half
formed itself in her heart that this first
parting might be the last, and an allur-
ing picture of quiet grave. with the
inscription MARY Conway. aged 23,s
on the headstone slipped sweet'y
through her mind. She even smiled,
heartsick as she was. as she answered
her mothers plaintiye and wondering
words.
..Ah. but you see it was different
with you, mother; you married for Lowell
Edward doesn't keep me to pack his
things for him. Mouncey viii do it bet
ter than I.
1T is most strange. said Mrs. Ham
ilton. ..but of course we express our
feelings SO differently. You are SO like
|, your poor father and not in the least
like me- He was always SO quiet and
reserved-just as you are. =
lone cannot help ones nature, said
Mary. trying to speak with indifference.
..And of course we have known all along
that Edward would have to be away a
coed deal. A few days more or less
make little difference.
..Ah. we'll, it is all for the best that
you do take things like thatl" said Mrs
Hamilton. distinct reproach in her
tones. II should never have done for a
sailors wife; | should have broken my
heart every time he went away.
s.God tempers the wind to the shorn
lamb, said Mary.
She felt that the remark was fippant,
even unfeeling, and yet the effort which
she was putting upon herself was so
great that it was only by the most Sc
we're determination that she was able to
keep herself calm. The thrill of COM
junction was, however, thrown away,
for Mrs. Hamilton's 5 shallow mind was
not capable of taking in two ideas at
the same time.
'sAh. yes. truer words were never
spoken!" she remarked 81 often won
der what should have done if Provi-
dence had not sent dear Edward our
way. | shudder to think what my life
would have been. i'll and alone all day
in that miserable little house in that
dreary. sordid neighborhood.
II should have made other arrange
nents. / should have done my best. =
said Mary little Indignantly.
..Yes. darling child. ! know you
would. Mrs Hamilton returned in an
indignant tone. as one might speak to a
feeble person who had tried tc stem the
river of life and had failed utterly.
..But mercifully truly the ways
of Providence are wonderful; feel it
more and more every day that | live
-lnercifully God did think fit to temper
the wind to the shorn lamb or the
shorn sheep. as one might say in my
case. Mary, what have you done to
your face2' She asked the last question
in a totally different voice. Mrs Ham
ilton was always two people at one and
the same time-the artificial fine lady,
who was given TO preaching little SER
monettes all in platitudes. and the shall
low. self centered person. with keen
eye to the main chance of No. |.
Mary started at the direct question
| She was accustomed to hearing her
mother babble aimlessly on from sub
ject to subject. but change of tone
| alyvavs called for atte1tion ssMy face?