Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-07-21
,,opyrish,. 1895. b, CHARLES scRIBsERs SONS

Z
The evening repast had just been fin |
ished. and the mother and son were
walking slowly up and down the long |
porch overlooking the river In front |
% the house. There was a curious and
interesting likeness between the two
u facial resemblance only, for Madam
Talbot was a 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 un-
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-
tions and words belle her appearance.
The subject OF the conversation was
evidently serious one. There was a
troubled expression upon her face In
spite of her self control which was in
marked contrast to the hesitating and
somewhat irresoute look upon the
handsome countenance of her son.
| my son, my son." she said at last,
l"why will you persist In approaching
me upon this subject? You know my
opinions. | have not hesitated to speak
frankly. and 1t is not my habit to
change them. In this instance they
are as fixed and as immutable as the
polar star. The traditions and customs
OF 400 years are behind me. Our fam
lily-you know your father and were
lcousins and are descended from the
same stock-have been called the loyal
Talbots.' cannot contemplate with
equanimity the possibility even of one
OF US in rebellion against the king"
I Mother am sorry-grieved-but !
must tell you that that is possibility
fear you must learn TO face.
. have
oh, Hilary. do not tell me you have
finally decided to join this unrighteous
rebellion. Pause before you answer.
my boy-l entreat you, and IL 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 II now-and for
you and your future ] have lived and
toied 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 | shrink from any. IT'S 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 ] can abide-but
that you should go 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-l cannot bear IL. You
are a man now. You have grown away
from your mother. Hilary. and | can
nc longer command, ! must entreat.
But She spoke very proudly, for, as she
said, entreaty was not so usual to her
as command.
"Oh, mother, mother, you make II
very hard for me- You know the colo
nists have been badly treated and
harshly used by king and parliament
Our liberties have been threatened
nay, have been abrogated, our privi-
,leges destroyed, none of our rights re.
spected, and unless we are TO sink tC
: the level OF mere slaves and depend
ents upon the mother country we have
no other course than an appeal Il
arms"
II know, ! know all that" she inter,
rupted impatiently, with wave of hel
hand. 81 have heard II all thousand
times from i'll balanced agitators and
popular orators. There may be som,
truth In IL, OF course, ] grant you, but
in my creed nothing, Hilary, nothing
viii justify a 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 TAX,
from MS, II is the principle that oul
ancestors have attested on hundred
fields and in every other way, and viii
You now be false to II, my boy?"
Il must be true to myself, mother
first of all, in spite Of all the kings o
earth, and feel that duty and homo
call me 10 the side of my friends anC
the people of this commonwealth,
lhaNe hesitated long. mother. in defer