Year: 1877

| VI,
naughty, self-possessed.


Mrs. Ross Ruslington was indignant,
{ and took no pains to hide that fact. and
all because her son had rebelled-all be.
cause her one darling had seen fit to
consult his own heart in falling in love.


Ernest Ruslington was one of those
handsome, tenderly worshipful fellows
tall, strong, Northumberland with a
devoted way that goes SO surely to a
woman's heart, that made his mother
idolizs him as he deserved, that made
little Mamie Morgan fairly thrill with
rapturous love for him, that made even
stately Miss Genevieve Wallace admire
him. and feel in no ways averse to the
plan Mrs. Ruslington had arranged, that
her handsome son should present Miss
Genevieve as his WIFE


But in this especial Instance Mr.. Err
nest Ruslington was proving, beyond the
shadow of doubt that, while he and
Mamie Morgan and Cupid had proposed
their future way of happiness, his mother
wa. determined to dispose OF them all
except her boy-very summarily. And
to this end was the interview tending
when Mrs. Ruslington sat in her blue
aforementioned chair, with her fair
blonde face as stern as her well-bred in.
dignation could make it.


Mr.. Ruslington stood at one end of
the low mantle-piece, bis elbow resting
upon it, his head leaning lightly on his
hand, listening courteously to his moth
er's low-spoken, yet none the less pas
sionate words.


But you are SO entirely mistaken,
mother. Ii you would only permit me
to bring Mamie to see you, if you would
only give her an opportunity to let you
see her, am positive you would change
your mind. She is a dainty, refined
high-bred little lady, with a face SO
sweet that it would appeal to you IN
stantly. You would love her, mother,
if you would only lay aside your pride,
your injustice.


Mrs. Ruslington only smiled family.
I am sorry you look upon me as
preiudiced, my dear boy. I have always
studied your interests, think, and now,
when I recommend you so strongly to
marry Genevieve Wallace, you surely
must understand regard it for your
great good. Genevieve is very pretty,
undeniably a lady in birth, manners,
education and position. She is very
rich, and would make most suitable
match for YOU"


eff loved her-which I do not and
cannot. Mother, it seems to me you
should not seek to bias my judgment in
this, the most important event of my life.
All my life have tried TO please you,
all my life been governed very much by
your wishes and advice but in this
case, you must permit me to know my
own heart. You must remember that
where one has carefully boarded all their
wealth of Affection, and not frittered it
away on every pretty face, when one has
never loved until they have brought
their judgment and their disciplined
maturity to concur as I do, that such
love is resistless passion, not to be
trifed with by any one."


Mrs. Ruslington looked at his very
quiet, determined face, and knew he
would stand by what he said, and the
ealization that Mamie Morgan would
be the wife of Ernest Ruslington came
to her with such abhorent force that she
rose from her chair, flashing-eyed, frosty
voiced.


81 remember nothing but that my
son intends to disgrace his family and
himself. I shall never mention the mat
ter again, but, rest assured, that if you
marry this obscure, ordinary girl, whose
pretty face is her only commendation-
hush, if you please l-if you do it, all
further communication with me and
this house, and your income, will be
ended" sl5#t





And you are sure, perfectly sure, it
was right, Ernest2 am so afraid that
have been doing wrong in permit
ting myself to stand between you and
your mother. Oh, Ernest, it is the
only unhappiness that comes to me as
your wife-this knowledge that / am
the cause Of you and her being ene-
miles,"


Mamie Ruslington, the year-old wife,
was leaning her lovely head on her hus-
bands shoulder, and together they were
looking interestingly down on little
golden-fossed head nestled among
blankets and lawn, from which it will be
dadrnad that Errest RuslinQton had not