Year: 1879

She had the sweetest temper, the most
generous heart, the warmest ways |
ever knew. How the children loved
her! She was not only kind-she was
right down joyous and merry with
them, poor little things! The doctors
said she was worth ton of drugs for
sick children. Ii was not strange my
heart was won; she was delight to
everybody. Because she made me think
Of the velyety pansies in my garden,
with her patriclan face and rich dress,
| gave her the old-fashioned name of
the flower, and called her Lady Delight.


told Rob about her. wanted him
to see her. | told him how she was one
of many children belonging to veal
thy family, but there was not one of
them like her. The rest were proud
and selfish, while Lady Delight was as
simple and as gracious as fairy queen.
She was certainly one of a thousand.
But Bob did not feel much interested.
| was piqued, for / thought that at last
| had found some one fit for Rob's wife.


Yes; | would have been happy to
have had Bob marry Lady Delight, and
to have had her all my life at Maple
toms Pet. To be sure she was beauti-
full, wealthy and high-born; but my
Bob was as handsome, and every inch
a gentleman, and no one would dispute
that he was quite her peer.


But Bob and Lady Delight never met
in those days. l didn't know exactly
how it was, but he never took any pains
to do so. If she came to dine with me
he was sure to be called out of town. If
she spent an evening at our house, he
had an engagement down town. 1t
seemed always to happen so. My
matchmaking plan didn't prosper at
all; for though | showed Lady Delight
BOb's photograph, and praised him to
the skies, as he deserved, she didn't
seem bit curious, and always had the
carriage come for her before he came
home.


But l was still hoping the matter
would come right some time, and hav-
ing my Lady Delight more and more
every day, when Bob showed change.
He was more than usually kind and
tender to his mother, and told him so.


Darling mother" he said gently,"l
have something to tell you which fear
will give you pain, and you have ever
been so dear to me that / cannot bear
the thought of hurting your tender
heart"


"Dear Rob, what is it?"


"Mother, am going to be married."


"Well, a feather might have knocked
me down then, grew so weak. A
strange woman to come into our home,
and take my boy from me-"


"She is good mother" said Rob.
"She knows all that my mother has
been to me, and she will love you. And
you Will not lose your son-you will
gain daughter +"


/ listened, forcing a smile to my tace.
I told Rob hoped all would be well,
and that was glad he was so happy,
for he was happy as king. But as
soon as l could crept away to my
chamber, like some poor wounded wild,
creature that had received its death
blow, and moaned all night.





Rob was going to be married right
off, the next week, at his BRIDES house
at his BRIDES house. And he was so
busy fitting up their chamber, and add
70 the parlors and library, to graft
fly her taste, that we spoke little to-
gether on the subject afterwards.


l was really sick on my sons we'd
ding day. Grief and sleeplessness had
brought on a racking pain in my head,
which quite protsreted me. Rob would
have postponed his marriage, so dlsap-
pointed was he; but / said:


"No, no! l can welcome her here.
Rob, and shall not be missed there"


He looked so handsome in his fresh
dress; he was so blithe and gay; how
could / reveal to him how felt?
wept long and bitterly when the door
closed after him and my boy had gone
to give himself to another woman; but
l knew that his future happiness was
still much controlled by me, and at last
l wiped away my tears, and prayed
they might be the last l should ever
shed.


l went slowly through the rooms,
noting carefully how fresh and beauti-
full Rob had made them. assembled to
my chamber, and pulled open a drawer
little yellow, worn baby
garments - my boys first. | kissed
them.


"For your sake, Rob, will try to act
a mothers part by this girl whom you
have chosen"


Then l went down and ordered an
exquisite evening meal, for Rob was to
bring his wife directly home.


Just at dark the bell rang. / looked
from the window, saw the carriage,
and hastened down before the servant
could reach the door.


He was handing her up the steps-a
girl in pearl colored velvet and ermine,
with cool, white face, and great, vel
vety, dark eyes.


"My wife, mother" said Rob.


"But--this--this," l screamed, "is
my Lady Delight"


Exactly. Beatrlx was wise enough
win your love before you could have
any prejudice against her, darling