The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-11

1 ton, that his family can never, oi course. recognize you as his wife" The prospect does not dismay me | Madam"
 Then you are going to marry him. T have promised to do so.'' Do you realize, Miss Morton. that my son Is almost entirely dependent upon hts allowance from me for his support, and that this allowance will ] naturally be withdrawn In case he should marry you"
 Your son so informed me. He is in receipt of a moderate income from his profession. and I have quite a flat l tering offer to return to the stage. We shall not starve."
 No, the sale of the jewels whic:, you own will provide you with a com l petence for life" This was said witk, sheer, that goaded Adele more than she would have cared to own. My jewels. Madam, do not enter in- to the calculation. At your sons ex- press wish they will be sold and the proceeds applied. secretly. to some worthy charity
 "Ah, that wish was worthy of my son." said Mrs. Harrington, with a momentary smile of qualification. Then, with a resumption of her deli cate sheer. she continued Tt is but natural that he should express such g. wish in consideration of the means by which the jewels were acquired" This reference to her past life was too much for Adele's equanimity. and she sprang to her feet In anger:
 If you have but come here for the pleasure of grossly insulting me, Mad am. I must request that you leave my apartments at once My life has been bad enough, but when I have resolved to leave 1t behind me If possible 1t is the good women like yourself who make the path harder. I am going to marry your son, despite anything you can do to prevent me. You profess such surprise and indignation at the thought of his offering to marry me! Your son Is a good man as the world goes. but have I committed any sins of which he is innocent? Are there no women in your own social circle who have sinned? Do you know of no young girls. beautiful girls of the gen. tlest nurture, who are sold into mar riage with men morally unfit to touch the hem of their garments? have been that which I have been, Madam and ] bitterly repent of it, but your attitude and the attitude of other good women who draw their skirts aside as pass them On tho street or in the stores is not help but a hindrance to my repentance. If you knew the whole or my story you might learn that have been more sinned against than shining, but 1t is not for me to tell 1t to you. Go your way and 1 will go mine."
 Mrs. Harrington had risen to her feet during this harangue and paIed somewhat before Adeles attack. Now she steadied herself and said:
 "YOu have aafd vat, ora marry my son, and that you realize he will come to you a poor man. You are making sacrifices of your luxurles for him, I can but gather from this that you love my son There was something of a softening in her face as she spoke these words. and Adele answered more calmly.
 There, Madam. you have touched the keynote of the whole situation. I do love your son. love him so much that 1t Is my one great and bitter re- gret that I can not go to him as inno- cent as young girl from the convent. Believe me, I have grieved much over this, but since he will take me as l am. can I refuse?'
 That Is for you to say, Miss Nor ton. Have you thought what this mar | riage means to my son, that he will not only be estranged from his family. DuI dAl HIS OLl6E LlGS ana dSSO~ ciations?"
 T shall try to be all in all to him Madam" The anger had gone from Adeles face and there was the happy | smile which the thought of love that | is returned always brings. Mrs. liar rington saw 1t, recognized 1t. and was spurred to the use of the last argu- ment which she could bring to bear.
 You love him very dearly. can I L. Miss Morton. He is my boy, my only boy, and I am losing him forever q | There were tears in Mrs Harrington voice and, as she looked straight at the beautiful woman before her they welled up into her eyes also.
 Prepared for arguments. even for vituperation, Adele had no weapons ready against tears
 Why should you lose him?'
 "Ah, Miss Morton. you understand you must understand how impossible this match is. Would you have the man you love an outcast from among the people who have known him from his boyhood, would you have the fin- ger of scorn pointed at him in his clubs and places where his former friends frequent, would you break his poor old mothers heart?'
 "A moment ago, Mrs. Harrington you were arraigning me for my sins now you are pleading with me!''
 "Yes. I am pleading with you tc give me back my son. coming to you as an old woman who has seen hel share of sorrow in this world, whose heart is wrapped up in her only son l and who will die If she must give hin up. Can you know anything of mothers feelingsT
 | At the question Adele started. and f look of bitter pain came into her eyes Perhaps the question had awakened memories that had never really died memories of a child which had come unwelcome, into the world and whose death she had been, at the time. al most inclined to regard as a mercy; ot q little grave in a hillside churchyart in New England. of a 19-year- ol( mother, who had knelt by the grave and prayed for forgiveness for her owr sins and for the happiness of the lit tie child who had but lived a few | weeks.
 When she attempted to answer tho question, there were tears in her owr voice, and tears iu her own eyes. The older woman saw the look and knew 1 that she had won that which she came to wln-her only son.
 This, I give as a chapter from tho life of Adele Morton. Probably you have heard that she left New YorH and disappeared completely. Some people say that she has entered a re.
 lgious order, others that she commit ted suicide. No one knows.