The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-08-14
CONTINUED from Yesterday

did I tell you," she said, "in my last
hurried letter that we had visitors? 1
am afraid not. Now that I see you are
far from well, l am almost sorry that
they are here"
He was rather pleased. Anything
that would take his thoughts from his
own %wretched affairs would be welcome
to him.
Il am very glad to hear that there
are visitors he replied. "You must
not fancy that l I'M i'll. mother; it was
not a pleasant journey, and 1t has
tired me. Who is staying here?"
1.-The Baroness Cawdor and her niece,
Lady Gladys Kerr. The baroness and
myself were great friends when we
were girls, and before I knew of the
coming election I had asked them here
for the spring. Is it agreeable to you
Carlos?'
MY darling mother. the more you
fill the house with your friends and
people you like, the better / shall be
pleased" he answered.
She did not tell him what
in her heart she hoped and
heart she hoped and prayed for, that
he would fall in love with Lady Gladys
and ask her to be his wife. That was
the end and aim of all her wishes, the
one thing for which she prayed morn
ing and night. If Heaven would but
grant her prayer! It was not for her
fortune that she wished her son to
marry Lady Gladys, though she vas a
wealthy heiress: ii was not for her
beauty, though few were fairer. 1t was
her amiability; and Lady Carew knew
that she would make a good wife. Still
ii was not with this hope that Lady
Carew a asked her to Firholme. The
invitation had been given when she be-
lieved that her son intended to remain
some time longer in Italy. But it SEEM
ed almost like an interposition of Provi-
dence that Sir Carlos should return
when Lady Gladys was there.
you will see them tomorrow" she
told her son. THE baroness is one OF
the most accomplished and charming
women 1 nave ever met. She has been
everywhere, seen everything. and knows
everyone"
VERY comprehensive said Sir Car
los.
And very true" laughed Lady Carew.
Then she went UP to him and put
her arms gently round his neck.
Carlos" she said. II do not want to
tease you, to remind you of unpleasant
things, but l want to thank you for the
sacrifice you made with respect to that
girl"
He shivered from head to foot with
bitter cold.
"I will not mention it again." she
continued; but I must praise you, my
noble-hearted boy. I met, quite by ac-
cident, at a railway station, the father
of-of the girl-John Waldron-I heard
someone call him by his name-and l
asked him how his pretty daughter was.
l told him I had seen her once. He was
pleased, and told me that she had
taken a situation in London, and that
he often heard from her. Heaven bless
you, my boyl I am proud of you'll"
He staggered from her arms with q
groan. What would she say when he
told her the truth?
She did not perceive his emotion, and
laid her white hand caressingly on his
head.
you will never know how much
have loved you, Carlos. Some months
ago I was afraid, for I thought my
oyer-indulgence had spoiled you; but
you came out nobly from the ordeal,
and 1 shall never fear for you again.
Her face softened, and her eyes,
bright with love, were bent tenderly on
him. She wondered a little why he
caught her in his arms and kissed her
so f1ercely, murmuring that she was his
beloved mother, his dearest mother. He
felt that he could sooner have smitten
her dead at his feet than have destroyed
her innocent pride in him. He turned
from her with a groan.
'I am very tired" mother" he said
at will say goodnight"
He could not have borne another
word. He had not reached Firholme
until late in the evening; nut Lady
Carew sat up for him. She believed
that ne was tired. If she a known
what he was suffering, of his anguish,
his remorse, his despair, her heart
would have broken of grief for him.