The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-15

that girls should be reared I'm ignorance
or the world In not only wrong, but tina
such course is absolutely sinful. why
should n girl be kept ignorant for years
only, 10 have her ears suddenly assailed
by such multiplicity OF terrible tales az
must shock her rudely? / have no fear
or anything that you may think proper 10
relate To us. | also would be much inter
ested TO learn your daughters history"
II am glad 10 find a woman who has
SO much sense" said Mr.. Mitchell. you
are fin de steele In the most refined mean
| ing OF the phrase NY little girls story
is sad one. though the sad parts really
! happened before she was old enough TO
know anything. She Is really the child
! OF cousin Of mine. He met n young
creole In our old home New Orleans. and
| persuaded her TO elope with him The
| honeymoon lasted long. but i'm time the
! young wife was Mortified to learn that her
| husband had contracted previous mar
| riage."
What The man had married before
| and then had persuaded this girl to elope
! with him. exclaimed Mrs. Van Cort-
landt. What villainy!"
I'm this particular Instance II was not
AS bad as IL seemed al the time He was
the victim OF an INSCRIPTIONS woman
who had married him while he was in
toxicated and then kept the matter a
secret I'm order 10 blackmail him in the
event OF his marrying subsequently. Her
hendish scheme succeeded only too well.
The wife died, and my cousin was finally
driven insane by his disgrace and grief"
Us not that sad story?" said Mrs
Van Cortlandt But then, after all. the
girl brought much OF her trouble upon
herself"
I'm what way?" asked Mr.. Mitchell.
You said that she eloped, did you
not?"
Yes. What OF that?"
An elopement always implies a mar
riage away from home and without the
consent OF parents or guardians. and
therefore girl who elopes proves her
self ungrateful az we'll as selfish. She
is ungrateful because she ignores her
obligations to those who have cherished
and cared for her from childhood. She
forgets the nights OF anguish spent by her
bedside as they watched her through at
tacks OF illness and how her welfare was
always their first consideration. She for
gets that those who thus have served
her through life must have love for her
In their hearts and that such love creates
an obligation. Then, as I have said she
isNalso selfish She meets man OF
whom she can know but little, seeing
him only when ne Is aiming to appear at
his best She Is attracted by the glitter
and the sheen OF the metal. but how can
she form an accurate judgment of it's
purity? But something about him fas-
cinates her senses and she mistakes this
new feeling for love He importunes.
and she yields. leaving home, parents
and real love behind to follow this ignis
fatnus. She may even have romantic
notions and imagine that she Is doing a
praiseworthy action In sacrificing herself.
her conscience and her home TO prove the
sincerity OF her love. Nevertheless there |
Is nothing but selfishncss In her act She |
goes TO crafty her own desires. oh, !
no! Mr.. Mitchell, l have little sympathy |
with women who so FAR degrade them |
selves as to elope. There must be some- |
thing "adcally wrong In a girl who |
wou so. Why as much as I love |
my hter here | firmly believe that |
wer le TO attempt such a thing | |
would
mo. no. motherl Don't say any more |
You do not know what you arc saying. |
Mother. mother. / love you"
This interruption was a surprise TO
Mrs. Van Cortlandt, who could not |
imagine why Perdita should thus cry out
ana then rush across TO her. throwing
herself at her feet. hiding her head on
her shoulders and weeping bitterly.
Perdita, my child" said Mrs Van
Cortlandt, what does this meanf Surely
you cannot
She stopped. appalled, at the idea which
was forced upon her.
ing Mrs, Van Cortlandt's arguments
against elopements. had readily compre-
hended how tho words must affect Per-
young girl. she took her hand within her
own and pressed II tenderly. noting that
II trembled greatly In evidence OF the
endeavoring to control herself There
fore, when the climax came. with that
hnesse which her husband so much ad-
Poor dear! Perhaps she is tired Oh.
Come. Royl Take me into the conserva-
tory; ] so much desire 10 see Mrs. Van
Mr.. Mitchell quickly OWNED his wifc's
Intention and responded instantly TO her
proposal. Thus Col. Payton was left
dita. II was trying moment for him.
and II caused him. acute pain TO witness
the suffering Of his own child and TO
parents privilege. but that II was from
his own abandonment OF this girl that tae
present scene had been made possible.
friend. he might offer her words OF SYM
patty Therefore. he raised her tenderly
and spoke to her.
weep Has some one injured you? Has
some one been tempting you to forget
your mother that you should be 50 moved
by her Words Speak TO US. Perdta. Tell
my dear?"
ferdita. looked up at him for mo-
denly again burst into tears and. turning
from them both. ran out OF the room
Mrs. Van Cortlsndt looked after her won
deringly, not vet comprehending all that
had happened and then she said In a low
tone:
Poor child 7 wish that her father
were alive"
The colonel was deeply affected by
these words. and. leaning over Mrs Van
Cortlandts chair, he hoarsely whispered:
Il will be father to her lf-lf you
will allow met
Then. as though fearing that he had
spoken too clearly. he also left the room
But he went In search OF Perdlta. lie
knew tho house we'll and readily found
Perdita's room and Perdita herself lying
across ner bed. pouring out her heartache
In passionate weeping
Twenty minutes later he descended 20
the pariors again ani made a sign 10 Mr.
Mitchell that he would like 20 leave ir-
mediately. So adleus were said and the
visitors departed
ON the street Mr.. Mitchell said:
''weli7"
And Col Payton replied:
II do not understand n all yet But
she asked me 10 send this telegram for |
ArW 1