Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-12-30

hioHe, tuS uuuSHty, sttluluSly uedEl-
less woman dropped her mask and.
burying her face in the cushions, gave
way to bitter grief. When at last she
arose her face was aged as If by years.
Stretching her arms toward the por-
trait of a beautiful child. she cried:
"Oh, my little darling, why did you
leave me alone? Twenty-four years
ago tonight you We're taken from me,
and now Harold Is gone. Christmas is
indeed II sad day for meY'
Harold thought he understood and
was doubly grieved to leave his moth
: er alone tonight. He knew her nature
well enough to be sure she meant what
she said, but he was her son In more
than name and inherited much of her
pride.
Next morning he went to the home
of his tiancee with the answer he had
promised to bring. AS soon as the
prospective bride and groom were
alone for moment Allne anxiously in
Quired
"W'ell. dear, did you have any sue
cess? Oh, read my answer in your
face. 1t is still No. / see. Maybe
am wrong to marry you under the cir
cumstances. | have so often asked
myself If | have the right to separate
mother and son."
Putting his arms about her. Harold
fondly replied:
10 lata littla tn
question your right. We are not to
blame for the position my mother has
taken, and, while very much regret
it, do not let the thought Of a change
In our plans enter my mind. Every
person has the right to settle his fu-
ture for himself so far as marriage is
concerned. If anything but family
pride formed the basis of my mothers
objection | might consider it, but with
that have no sympathy. To me you
are all that is noblest and best in wo.
men, and | am proud to know | will
soon have the right to call you wife"
Putting her arms about his neck, she
said
Some day. dear, we may win hel
over She may be lonely then and need
our love-"
MAY God speed the day!' fervently
responded Harold. Heaven bless you
for those words, dear. Goodby now for
awhile, Tonight l will come to claim
my bride"
The published notice of the wedding
was read by many who were interested
In the stand which would be taken by
Mrs. Chesney, as her opposition, though
never broached by her, was fully I'M
derstood among her friends. Harold
was favorite and was missed from So
ciety. When invitations from friends
came to him they We're politely but
firmly declined on the plea of business
and because of his residing in a small
suburb. His necessity for applying
himself so closely to business was q
surprise to ALL as his mothers wealth
was great, but even his friends under
estimated his manliness. AS discard
ed son he would suffer any privation
before accepting aid from his mother.
Only his closest friends were invited
to his little home, and those We're en-
| thusiastic In their admiration Of his
charming wife.
Harold's leaving the city was caused
by consideration of his mothers feel
ings, although motives of economy also
Influenced him, and, while things were
hard at first, he was happy and soon
had the trials Of a start in life well be-
hind him.
After two years son came, and 1t
seemed the crowning joy Of their life.
AS the child grew and spread sunshine
in their hearts Harold and his wife
often yearned to have his mother see
and wrote begging to be allowed to
serve her. No response coming. he was
convinced that he was still unforgiven
Three years later the birth of baby
girl left the young couple nothing to be
desired except the one wish, now scarce
ly ever mentioned-the hoped for recon.
ciliation with Mrs. Chesney.
This apparently relentless woman
lived lonely life, outwardly cold and
proud, but at times something pulled
at her heartstrings which she was
growing to respect. Her hold ON So
ciety was s,ackened. for it was no Ion
ger attractive to her. She missed more
and more the son who had been her
| oomponiOn eyerywhpre Her beaI1tifIll
home was no longer the scene of social
gayeties.
|
Ten years, with their many changes
had rolled around since the night Har.
old Chesney left his mothers house
Broken in spirit and weak in body, her
lonely life seemed to be drawing to q
close. Implacable to the last, Mrs
Chesney had often thought of the son
whom she had discarded. News had
reached her of his many trials and his
manly fight in the battle Of life. Often
she had yearned to help him, but she
knew he was too much like her to ac-
1 cent anything at her hands. Surround.
ed by every luxury that wealth can
give and still attended by the old fam.
ilv servants, the saddened woman could
not subdue the longing she sometimes
felt for some one to love and by whom
to be loved. She had long since entire
ly given up society and gradually Sc.
cluded herself from the public eye. Aft
er a long illness the physicians had de-