Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-10-15


Give, this evening at nine. l wish to
speak with you"
He kissed his mother and bowed 10
| CyEghia, and went away to dream OF
Laurie Isle. And at dinner he looked
across at his vis-a-yis. radiant in rose
pink silk and sparkling diamonds. and
saw--Laurie Isle.
And later he lay back in a low chair
IN the drawing room and listened to
Miss Lennox's rich contralto, singing
a sweet Italian song, and all the time
through his soul went ringing
MY gentle, bashful, Nora Creina,"
When be opened the library door be
found his mother awaiting him-such
a naughty, handsome figure, in her
rich black satin and old point lace.
There was a shadow-the faintest
shadow of apprehension-on the stern,
commanding brow.
"Ah. | am late, Forgive me! Take
this chair, mother. Well?"
He had flung himself into a great
Ieathern arm chair and had clasped his
arms above his head.
In after years she remembered with
a fearful pang the face of her son, as
he looked at her then-a face of honor,
of manliness, of quiet joy.
"Can you guess why, or about what.
/ want to speak to you, Give?
He shook his head brightly.
"On my word, no! am in densest,
darkest, most lamentable ignorance"
We'll, it is this: am growing old;
7 am aging fast. I want to see a new
mistress at Blackcastle before | die;
| want you to win a wife; | want you
to give me a daughter
The great Gothic easement was flung
wide, and through it they could sec
the silver moon, slowly climbing up
the sky.
Give Darlington laughed good
laugh to hear, ringing and boyish, de-
spite his thirty odd years.
Whenever you say, mother mine.
Be sure | have no objection"
The faint cloud on her brow disap-
peared.
why not now?" in swift elation.
"Why not take your bride on a we'd
ding trip to India? Why not ncw-If
Cynthia would only consent to such
haste?"
Cynthia? What has she to do with
it,"
What has she to do with it?" Lady
Darlington repeated, in slow dismay.
"Why, ever thing. am sure the won
an whom you are about to make your
wife"
Mother, n world"
He had risen from his lounging pos
ture, and was facing her, erect.
In her face was something not pleas
ant to see-something which spoke Of
a latent will, passionate, unbending.
LET me tell you of her" he said, in
his quiet, determined way, which in
variably commanded a~udience-"Iet
me tell you of her whom / am going to
make my wife,"
Then" slowly, IL am to understand
you have chosen your wife without
reference to me?"
mo" he answered, with his rare,
sweet smile. Remembering all that
was noblest in my mother, / found it
mirrored in n worthy to be her
daughter"
My lady's sharp, white teeth closed
tightly on her under lip.
who is shc?" she questioned.
What lis she?"
Her name is not in the peerage,"
lie said, that wonderful smile of his
again lighting his face. "She has no
houses, no gold. no lands, but she is
good and beautiful, and-she loves me!
Her price is above rubiesi"
"But her name in GREATNESS, que
rulous impatience-"her manner"
"She was called after her father.
Her name is Laurence Lisle."
Laurence Lisle!"
And the words we're a wild cry OF
fear and horror. She reeled and stag
gered back, her face grown ashen.
"Mother!"
He sprang forward in alarm; but
with a swift, imperious gesture of COM
mand, she lifted her hand and waved
him back
Not one step n-earer-not one
stepi"
tie uaSneu the crisp, dark nalr on
his brow in boyish fashion. Something
OF the sternness of his own voice rang
in his when he spoke.
What does this mean? What is
there in the name Of the woman love
to terrify and dismay you? Tell me!
/ must know--I viii know!"
"Oh, wait! Be PATIENT" she moan
ed-waiti"
The shaded lamp burned low; but
through the open window the moon
light streamed, a river OF silver, and
In its mellow light they stood there
mother and son-he SO tall, so erect,
so naughty, SO rigid with s~elf-repres-
sion; she with ~neryeless hands. loose
swaying In restless misery.
Perhaps he did not know. When he
did. would he not Oh. yes, yes! All
was not lost-it was not too late.
The thiI old hands locked them
selves n~ervously together; a wave OF
~exultation swept over her face. She
lifted her head and looked straight at