Evening star., 1929-06-30


was precisely what she had known M,
would happen. In fact, 1t could BT
be said that it was precisely what
she had hoped would happen. II
this last is perhaps stretching It Urine; ~
might be more concise to say that 1t was wnat
MRS. Brisbane had for years tried to make her-
self believe she wanted to happen.
Mo mother. however whole-hearted her de-
sire for the welfare of her son may be, snouo
be expected to take the high hu-dle OF sons
marriage without at least nttle cIacA NOV
q break OF heart
And the news that had just come to MTs.
: brisbane was not only that of the marriage Oh
her son. but of the marriage OF an adoreo ana
only child who up to two years before, Wheh
he had left to accept temporary business
position in London, had been ner consSaht aiiu
devoted attendant
THE years away from him, while she remained
Il at home in Minneapolis where as widow
she had reared this child into the fine fulflll-
ment of steady manhood, had been the ione-
liest of her life, with the exception, OF course,
of those Immediately following her husbands
death. when the boy Richard had been 6.
1t was one of those sacrifices her permitting
Richard to accept the temporary position with
a large mercantile establishment in London,
that millions OF mothers have been called upon
to make. and have made valiantly. There was
never a moment when Marion Brisbane hesi-
tated in her enthusiastic cooperation with
plan that was to tear her son from her side.
And now the two years were finished The two
interminably long years. when her chief sus-
tenance had been eagerly devoured from the
letters of her son.
II was not that his marriage had come with
the blow of surprise. From her pretty little
house in charming residential street OF Min
neapolis Marion Brisbane had seen the thing
happening overseas as clearly as II the entire
scene were taking place in the retina OF her eye.
Veronica Clayback, the girl Richard was
bringing home bride, was an American
born girl who had lived in England the greater
part of her life. Marion Brisbane had gone to
school with her mother, highly bred st. Paul
girl who had married Britisher. Everything
about this marriage, generally speaking, gave
on the odor of rightness. The Ciaybacks stood
for fine stability, social distinction to say noth-
ing of great wealth. From all she knew OF this
daughter of her erstwhile school friend. Rich
ard was taking unto himself wife worthy Of
the promise of fine young manhood.
And so Marion Brisbane sat in the midst OF
the news Of the rather sudden marriage Of her
son to this girl; sat with both their dear, af-
fectionate letters in her lap. letters which an
nounced their near future Homecoming, and
tried not to let the crack in her heart widen
into break
The boy who had gone from her. totally her
own was coming back the property of another.
There was no gainsaying there Millions OF
mothers before her had tried to evade the Bit
terness of that truth, and millions would after
her
Richard was longer hers, solely, tri-
umphantly and dearly. He had taken vows in
the name of this terrifying stranger, Veronica
Clayback. His kiss of allegiance was sealed
against her strange lips. The symbol Of their
oneness was in a crclet around her marriage
finger.
It was then, as these shaming and shame
full jealousies began to crowd in on Marion
Brisbane, that she determined wihully to cast
them out of her heart.
In the two months that lay between her and
the date of the return of her child, Marion
Brisbane determined to set her house in order,
to adjust her jealouses, to grind them out, to
prepare her mind to receive, without rancor
this stranger into her home