Morris tribune., 1905-02-04
nently fitted him to WOO and win Miss
Katharine Wilton as he had done.

J Nevertheless a friendship had sprung
/ up between Seymour and the unsus
! pecting Talbot which babe fair to ripen
into intimacy, and it may be supposed
! that the stories of battles in which the
| older man had participated, his at.
tractive personality, the consideration
| in which the young sailor was held by
men of weight and position in the col
onies, as man from whom much was
to be expected, had large influence in
determining Talbot in the course he
proposed taking and which he had not
yet communicated to his mother
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 of
the house. There was a curious and
interesting likeness between the two
facial resemblance only, for Madam
Talbot was a slender, rather frail little
woman, and looked smaller by contrast
as she walked by the &de 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-
tions 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
handsome countenance of her son.
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 to speak
frankly, and it 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
or 4UU years are Denlnd me. our fam
ily-you know your father and l were
cousins and are descended from the
same stock-hyfe been called the loyal
Talbots.' l cannot contemplate with
equanimity the possibility even of one
of us in rebellion against the king"
"Mother-I am sorry-grieved-
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-I entreat you. and it is not
my habit to entreat. as you very we'll
know See, you have been the joy Of
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. 1
have shrunk froul no sacrifice, nor
would | shrink from any 'Tis not
that | do not wish you to risk your
life in war; am Il daughter Of my
race, and for centuries they have been
and what God sends soldiers
upon the field that can abide-Uut
that you should go now, with all your
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 |
he royal troops-I cannot bear it. You |
Are man now. You have grown away |
from your mother, Hilary, and l can |
10 longer command, | must entreat.'
But she spoke very proudly. for. as she |
'aid, entreaty was not SO usual to her !
is command.
"Oh, mother, mother. you make it |
lists have been badly treated and |
larshly used by king and parliament.
Dur liberties have been threatened
lay. have been abrogated. our privi-
eyes destroyed, none of our rights re-
pected, and unless we are to sink to
hC ASFCi Va ultA uS-JSili- |
nts upon the mother country we have
10 other course than an appeal to
rms
81 know. 1 know all that" she inter
upte0 iinpatientIy. with a wave of her
and. II have heard it all a thousand
ines from i'll balanced agitators and
opular orators. There may be some
ruth in it, of course. l grant you, but
4 my creed nothing, Hilary. nothing
yill justify a subject in turning against
is king. The king can do no wrong.
ii that we have is his. Let him take
That he will. SO he leaves us our hon
r. and that indeed no one can take
rom us. 1t is the principle that our
ncestOrs have attested on hundred
elds and in every other way. and will
on now be false to it, my boy?"
II must be true to myself, mother,
rst of all, in spite Of all the kings OF
arth, and | feel that duty and honor
all me to the side or my friends and
le people of this cOmmonw ealth.
ave hesitated long. mother, in defer
to M InY' |