Year: 1879

too pre.occupied to notice. In few mo-
ments more she rose from her chair, and
folding up her work, remarked that it was
time to 60 to bed.


$50 it is" replied her son; "you have sat
up quite too late already. Go at once, moth
er dear, and I'll lock up and see everything
put to rights"


They parted with goodnight kiss, and
his mother went to her room-but not, tor q
long time, to sleep. She had been strangely,
perhaps unreasonably, agitated by Ralphs
last questions, and food of thoughts and
memories had been stirred up within her
mind that was almost overpowering. She
went back, in recollection, to her youthful
days-the days when she loved Ralph's faith
er, the older Ralph, and believed in him !;
the days when she had ceased to believe in
him, but had loved him still. She recalled
the brief time of their married life. The
doubts, the heartsickening discovery of his
faithlessness, the long suspense which she had
endured concerning his fate-a suspense which
had never been ended, so far as any certainty
went though she had long since concluded
that he must be dead. 1t was natural that
the question should often have occurred to
her-had he deserted her through love for
another woman? and following this, another
of still more painful import-had he formed
new and unlawful tie, after severing the
lawful one which bound him to her, thus
adding to his crime? Often had these ques-
tions weighed upon her mind, causing her
agony which was hard to bear; an agony
which was only partly blunted after the
lapse of many years, and which even now
would sometimes thrill into life afresh. What
q life of secret sorrow, of patient endurance
hers had been, none could know. For some
time after her child's birth she had lived
with her uncle, DR.. Franklin, who had cared
tenderly for them both but when Ralph was
three or four years old, this protector was
removed from them by death, and she was
obliged to fall back on her own resources,
which were feeble enough. There was a mort
gage on his plantation, and when it passed,
as it speedily did, into the hands of creditors,
she had to seek home elsewhere. Some lit
tie money remained to them, but this she put
up for her boy, and took in sewing for their
daily support. Her delicate health made the
struggle a severe one but in one respect the
constant employment was bene6cial-it forced
her attention somewhat from the great sor-
row that filled her heart. Thus her life pass
ed on, unbroken by any change; while little
Ralph grew in health and strength, and grad
ally came to be a help to her in many
ways. He was very clever boy, with a
mind beyond his years; fond Of study and re-
search, and not caring much to join In the
sports of other children, though, in the small
village where they lived, he was not without
companionship. Hehad a proud, rather moody
temper, and was not generally a favorite. In
fact he was by no means amiable, and his
best trait was his devotion to his mother,
whom he really loved with all his heart. AS
he grew older, his ambition craved an out
let from the narrow circle Of their surround.
ings, which became more and more distaste-
full to him. Often he urged his mother to
remove to some city; but prudence forbade
such step as long as they had no certainty
of support. At eighteen he was offered a
situation in wholesale store in the village,
and though he loathed the occupation thus
laid before him, he accepted 1t in the hope Of
being able to Pvt up sufficient sum to ena'
BILE them to accomplish a move. Hoarding
up his salary with miserly care, he gradually
accumulated enough for the purpose, and,
after four years drudgery, threw up his stu
alton, and prevailed upon his mother to ac-
company him to New York. The little prop
erty she had laid aside for him, and which Of
course had considerably increased, was inves-
ted in a modest home; and he was fortunate
enough, soon after, to get a position as clerk
in bank, of which Mr., was one Of the
directors. Hence his presentation by that
gentleman at Mr.. Courtaine's house. ..!.,


Gro pF roNTJNJ1ED