Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-06-22

i Inc evening repast had just been nm
ished, and the mother and son were
walking slowly up and down the long
/ porch overlooking the river In front of
+ the house. There was curious and
interesting likeness between the two
| facial resemblance only, for Madam
Talbot was slender, rather frail little
| woman, and looked smaller by contrast
as she walked by the side Of her son,
who had his arm affectionately thrown
over her shoulder. She was as straight,
! however, as he was himself in spite of
| her years and cares, and bore herself
| as proudly erect as in the days OF her
youth.
Her black eyes looked out with I'M
| diminished luster from beneath her
| snowy white hair, which needed no
| powder and was covered by the mob
cap she wore. She looked every inch
the lady Of the manor, nor did her ac-
| tons and words belle her appearance
| The subject of the conversation was
! evidently serious one. There was
/ troubled expression upon her face in
! spite of her self control which was in
/ marked contrast to the hesitating and
somewhat irresolute look upon the
4
my son, my son." she said at last
"why will you persist in approaching
me upon this subject? You know my
opinions. have not hesitated tospeak
frankly, and it. is not my habit to
/ change them. In this instance they
/ are as hxed and as immutable as the
| polar star. The traditions and customs
| of 400 years are behind me. Our TAM
ily-you know your father and I were
cousins and are descended from the
same stock have been called the loyal
Talbots.' I cannot contemplate with
equanimity the possibility even Of one
OF us in rebellion against the king
Mother am sorry grieVed-but
| must tell you that that is possibility
fear you must learn to face. /
| have
t'Oh, Hilary, do not tell me you have
| finally decided to join this unrighteous
1 rebellion. Pause before you answer,
my boy-I entreat you, and it is not
my habit to entreat, as you very well
know. See, you have been the JOY of
my heart all my life, the idol of my
soul will confess it now-and for
/ you and your future have lived and
toiled and served and loved. / have
| dreamed you great, high in rank and
/ place, serving your king, winning back
/ the ancient position of our family. /
| have shrunk from no sacrifice, nor
| would I shrink from any. 'Tis not
| that do not wish you to risk your
/ life in war-I am a daughter of my
| race, and for centuries they have been
soldiers, and what God sends soldiers
upon the field, that l can abide but
! that you should 60 now, with all your
prospects, your ability, the opportunity
presented you, and engage yourself in
this fatal cause, in this unholy attack
upon the kings majesty, connect your
! self with this beggarly rabble who
have been whipped and beaten every
| time they have come in contact with
the royal troops-I cannot bear it. You
are man now. You have grown away
from your mother, Hilary, and can
/ no longer command, / must entreat"
But she spoke very proudly, for, as she
i said, entreaty was not SO usual ito her
as command.
"Oh mother, mother, you make it
very hard for me! You know the colo
/ nists have been badly treated and
harsnly used by king and parliament.
Our liberties have been threatened
nay, have been abrogated, our priyi-
leges destroyed, none of our rights re
spected, and unless we are to sink to
the level of mere slaves and depend
ents upon the mother country we have
no other course than an appeal to
arms
II know, / know all that" she inter
| rupted impatiently, with wave of her
| hand. II have heard it all thousand
| times from i'll balanced agitators and
1 popular orators There may be some
truth in it, of course, grant you, but
in my creed nothing, Hilary, nothing
| will justify subject in turning against
/ his king The king can do no wrong.
All that we have is his Let him take
what he WILL SO he leaves US our hon
or, and that indeed no one can take
from us. It is the principle that our
/ ancestors have attested on a hundred
fields and in every other way, and will
you now be false to it, my boy r.
81 must be true to myself, mother,
/ first of all, in spite Of all the kings of
earth, and feel that duty and honor
call me to the side OF my friends and
the people Of this commonwealth.
have hesitated long, mother. in defer
ence to you, but now have decided
"And you turn against two mothers,
Hilary, when you take this course
old England, the mother country, and
this old mother who stands before you,
who has given you her heart, who has
lived for you, who lives in you now,
/ whose devotion to you has never falter-
ed. She now humbly asks, with out
/ stretched arms, the arms that carried
i you when you were baby boy, that
/ you remain true to your king"
Nay, but, mamma, he said, calling
her by the sweet name Of his boyhood,
taking her hand and looking down at
her tenderly with tear dimmed eyes
full of affection, zone must be true to
his idea of right and duty first Of ali,
even at the price Of his allegiance to
king. And, after all. what is any king
beside Won in ma U heart ? R11f 7 feel fl,