Year: 1879

before nine or ten o'clock. He groaneh
/ inWardly as the hours dragged on, aud


thought the train moved at a snaiFs


pace. It was. indeed, very slow, on ae-


count oi the snow, and when at last the


depot was reached, they were an hour
/ behind time.


He took carriage aud drove rapidly


home; but the house was dark, and


when he let himself in, near midnight


as il was, be was forced TO relinquish


the thought Of seeing any one, aud went


TO his own room, weary and disap-


pointed, and with a vague premonition


Of evil weighing on his mind.


He half hoped, half feared TO see Eli


nor next morning before he could talk


with his mother; but she did not APP
pear, and after a solitary breakfast, he
sent message 10 his mother, saying be
wished to see her Immediately, or as
soon as would be convenient to her.
She kept him waiting two long, tedious
hours, and then gave him permission to
come 10 her He wondered much,
while waiting, why Elinor did not ap-
pear, but would not question any Of the
servants, for be thought they already
regarded him with curious eyes, and he
could not bear to have the name Of the


woman he loved banded about by gos-
siping tongues.


He proceeded at once to his mothers
room, and on entering noticed that she
looked haggard and worn. He greeted


her with Difference and kindness, his
conscience whispering to him that he
had spoken with unnecessary harshness,
perhaps, at their last meeting. He ex-
plained how be bad been detained the
previous day, and said he hoped he had
not caused her any trouble or uneasi-
ness.


She replied eOldiy to all bis attempts
at conversation, and his heart began to
sink to see her resolution apparently
unshaken. However, lie determined
that he would leave nothing uudoue to
secure peace, and he accordingly said,
after a long pause:


Mother, l am sorry If I said any
thing disrespectful 10 you the Other day.
l was very much excited, and may have
said what ought not"


at was not so much what you said as
what you wished to do that displeased
me-" said Mrs. Stoddard, in a less frigid
tone, for she felt surprised that her son
should speak thus so soon.


- cannot ask pardon for that,u said
the young man, firmly, ''for wished TO
do nothing wrong, and hope 70 be able
to induce you to change your mind
about it, and consent TO what will make
me happy. 1 will not be rash nor
hasty. will wait, and give you time
to think it all over, aud cannot help
feeling that when you have accustomed
yourself to the thought, you will feel
that have made wise choice. know
you could never have a more faithful.
daughter than Elinor,n he
added, warmly, not being able to be-
lieve that his mother could be wholly
destitute OF kindly feeling for the orphan
girl who had been in her home so many
years.


But when the naughty woman spoke,
he felt that he was indeed mistaken-
yes, mistaken in his mother. He felt
that be had never before really known
her, and he suddenly felt that an impas-
sable gulf yawued between them that
could never be bridged She fixed her
eyes upon him and said, slowly and
with painful distinctness


''Never speak TO me ia that way again.
Do not insult me by presuming to ask
me to change my mind, for shall never
do IL; and do not disgust me by any
more praise of that miserable beggar
who has spoiled your life and given me
more trouble than I shall ever recover
from. l repeat what I told you before.
You must choose between us. I will
never recognize her as your wife, nor
live in the same house with her. If you
persist in disgracing yourself you will
10 it alone. Twill have nothing to do
with either Of you"


She turned from him as she finished /
speaking, and sat as if oblivious Of his
presence.


He was so overwhelmed by conflicting 1
emotions that for a brief time he sat
still and said not a word, his |
head resting on his hand, his lips set
firmly, aud his breath coming hard. AT
last he raised his head aud broke the
oppressive silence:


Mother, / have done all I could. II
shall make no further efforts to win
your consent Since you will have il
so, will find another home for myself
and my wife, for my wife Elinor shall
be, and no earthly power can prevent IL.
I have always tried to be an obedient
son, but l am old enough to decide for
myself in this matter, which concerns
me vitality, and feel that you have no
right to attempt to prevent it. 1 shall
do nothing secretly nor privately, but I.
shall 90 to her at once and have a full
understanding. You, Of course, will do
as you choose about me, but shall con.
tinue to act as son should as far as
can"


He turned to leave the room, when
his mother said, in low tone, as if she
feared the result Of the announcement


''She is gone you will not find herr


"Gone! Where is she gone? What
do Won mean2 You have not sent her