The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-10-14

IN AFTER years Sne remembered with
fearful paag 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.
ION my word, no! | am in densest,
| darkest, most lamentable ignorance"
well, it is this: | am growing old;
am aging fast. ! want to see new
/ mistress at Blackcastle before die;
l 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 see
! the silver moon, slowly climbing up
I the sky.
Give Darlington laughed-a good
laugh to hear, ringing and boyisb. 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 now-lf
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, veIything. | am sure the wom-
an whom you are about to make your
wife"
Mother, one 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
latent will. passionate, unbending.
Let me tell you of her." he said. in
his quiet, determined way, which in
variably Commanded audience-"let
me tell you CT her whom | am going to
make my wife"
Then" slowly, IL am to understand
you have chosen your wife without
reference TO me?"
NO" he answered, with his rare.
sweet smile. Remembering all that
was noblest in my mother, found it
mirrored in one worthy to be her
daughter"
My lady's sharp, white teeth closed
tightly on her under lip.
"Who is she?" she questioned.
What is she?"
''Her name is not in the peerage,"
he 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 rubies!"
But her name in hreathless, que
rulous impatience-"her name"
"She was called after her father.
Her name is Laurence Lisle"
Laurence Lisle!"
And the words were wild cry OF
fear and horror She reeled and stag.
gered back. her face grown ashen.
Mother"
He sprang forward In alarm; but
with swift, imperious gesture of COM
mand, she lifted her hand and waved
him back.
mot one step nearer-not one
stepr
He dashed the crisp, dark hair off
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 will know!"
"Oh wait! Be PATIENT" she moan
ed-wait!"
The shaded lamp burned low; but
through the open window the moon
light streamed, river of silver, and
in its mellow light they stood there
mother and son--he so tall, so erect,
SO naughty, so rigid with selfrepres-
sion; she with nerveless 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 thin old hands locked them
selves nervously together; a wave of
exultation swept over her face. She
lifted her head and looked straight at
her son.
do you know who and what her
father is?" she asked, slowly
ne ID u SCHOldT anu gentleman
"Aye!" sardonically, "And what
else? Do you know what?' Her eyes
were flashing and triumphant. "He
is a criminal. thief, branded galley
slave! And his daughter-his daugh.
ter" with slow, singing scorn, els
the woman my son proposes to make
bis wifei"
For little while there was silence,
unbroken and intense. Then Give
Darlington spoke:
'You are my mother; therefore am
I silent"
But II is true" she said--"oh. my
son, believe me. II is true!"
WELL" his broad chest rising and
falling in the moonlight, be 1t as you
say. l am not going TO marry her
father; l am going to marry heri"
"You are going to marry herr" In
sharp, startled fear-"efter this which