Fotheringay's Son.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 8 January 1913, Page 2

Fotheringay's Son.

5 (OURSERAL 5

J BY ALLAN ADAIR 5 1 Author sf "An Island PrlnoaM," "A Marriage of Folio- /

CHAPTER XIX. (Continued.)

fn truth, she had nothing suitable to wear. One of the tragedies of her life, were being repeated. .While Lav-eiul-r iyid lived she had been keenly alive to the contrast in their appearances —he, so tall and aristocratic; she. so short and undistinguished looking. And now it was the same 1 with her --on. ' "No one would take me for his ' mother." .she would say to herself. "I sh-MiH ) : ke to see you there. mother." the boy had said wistfully. , "Win*- is the </oM of (Joint" well when there, ]> no ore to be nroud of you?" 1 "']'!,„ n -rind of yon," had ••f"->h>d —"an-' the doctor." I "Will toii i">+ 'ike to see my name I tin in !"i'do'i Wto-..- Ps one who In" himself in the school?" j «\i " *h« bad p-'-wM-e-l ouietly, 'T d-> "ot. pov-'M-t y-vrh distinction for !" \,.,] ;>- -nc. t-,.e. She bated the name of |."vender which Oio bore even more than the name which she knew to be b°r husband's H'm» one. Tt had never been mentioned at + he farm, but she had seen it when her , husband signed the marria<?o register. | Lavender! She eoukl almost fanev the mockery that had led the ruined guardsman to choose the name of the sweet-scented flower with which, the rooms of the farm were redolent. What would it avail her even though the name -should be handed down to 1 posterity? So she stayed at home, and consequently did not hear the 1 great news of her son's brilliant success as soon as other women who had no interest in the young man-. ! Donald made his way to the cottage surrounded by a crowd of enthusiastic schoolfellows carrying his prizes. They stopped at the gate, however. Mrs Lavender had never encouraged the '<nkine- of friends. "Th"v shall never say that 1 eucocr-' a<i"d them to know a thief's son!" •she "■'■ air! i" 1 herself bitterly. "The hurhe;- be climbs the more bitter will l>e ids ''ownfalkwhen he knows!" She had made ud her mind that ho must know some day—some day she must tell him. The knowledge that at some day he must kn'ow that his father was ;i thief was at the bottom ef her refusal to let him go to Oxford. "Let him live his life ouietlv and in the ordinary wnv," she thought. "The blow when it falls will not be so stunning."

all mothers was not present! And yet—yet 1 believe that you love me!" "Love you?" she said hoarsely. "Love you? Yes, Donald, you may well believe that!"

Something in lm- tone softoned his feelings. "I do not want to hurt you, mother," he said gently. "I know all that you have done for mo. I know you have often deprived yourself on my account. 1 know how you have toiled and moiled .so as to help me, so as to make our surroundings bright and pleasant, and now —now, when at last there has come to me a chance of being able to do something to repay you, you cut away the ground beneath your 'feet. Mother, I will obey your winshes, but J must have some better reason than the one you give." "T have my reasons, good reasons," she said bitterly. "But I would rather keep them to myself. Only I tell you that T have never been capricious toward you, have never 1 deviated in the least from the path I had marked out for both of us., I told you throe years ago—have you forgotten it? —that 1 would not allow you to go to any university."

The boys gave Donald three cheers when they wished him good-by. His mother witnessed the scene from the window. Never had she seen him so excited or so handsome. Her heart went out to him as he stood there steadying his pile of books.

"Three years ago," he cried, '-I was seventeen —a child—now I am a man. \ had not then gained the opportunity of going. You gave as a reason that you did not wish me to mix with persons above my social standing,, but when a man wins a distinction like I have done he levels things for himself. A scholar of Balliol is a scholar of Balliol, even if he was horn a- plough-boy!" "All that you say," she answered, "may he true. T hav.e nothing to urge against it. All that T know ; s, that I will not allow you to take this scholarship!" "And r.'' said the young man. "do not wish to be undutiful to you, but before T .submit to your decision \ must yon to let me know your true reason!" . She walked away from him to th" other side of the room. F-« ha-' 1 seen his. mother so moved. Suddenly a fear came over liim. What was 'this secret she was kecnii'K «o rigorously from him? What was he aboilt [to hear? He followed her and laid his: hand on her shoulder The rush lof triumph had left ' is face and he was pale. "Mother." he said tremulously, "has the reason you have hidden from me so carefully anything to do with yon or my father?" "Yes." she muttered.

"It is a thins you cannot tell me without shame?" he asked noarselv. "Tt shames me to tell you," she answered.

, "All those, Donald? What a heao Jof books yon have got!" she. cried. , trying to suppress her feelings. I "Why you must have taken almost , all the nrizofi!"

."There is something else, mother," said the hoy enthusiastically—"something that will alter my whole life!" "What do you mean?" she asked. If he had heard anything of hia parentage ho could not. look so glad. He must hnve. met with some great good fortune.

He broke away from her suddenly. He thought he .understood. "You are quite ritrht." he said. "T am not fit to go among men who have not to blush for their mother!" -. Adelaide raised her head proudly. A fierce, red flush came to her cheeks. "Ydu have not to blush for your mother!" sho said.

"I mean." he. said, nlaeing his hands on his mother's shoulders —"I mean this, mother —tfin t T have gained an open scholarship at Oxford, with quite enough money attached to it to allow mo to go up to tho university!" "You?" she exclaimed., and the smile left her face. "Yes, mother. I. The doctor did not know until to-day. He is pleased beyond words at the honor to the school."

"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed the young man, with a sigh of relief thai brought fcoar.s to his mother's eves. "Oh, no.'u-n." she said, "not that, my lad, not that! The other is shameful enough, but it is nob what- yon feared."

"Then what is it?" ho asked. ''Your fatho.r was a thief!" =me said.

CHAPTER XX

"Yes"—her voice sounded hard — "yes. T suppose the honor to the school will be the same whether you take the scholarship or not!" "What?" he asked. "Whether T take it or not? You are surely joking, mother?"

"I told you thro© years ago." sho said sternly, 'that T did not'wish you to go. You know I do not change, Donald." •

'"Three years n'sro I had not gaine'd the scholarship. It is different. Mother, you will surely not ask me to put aside all the fruit of my work?" "I do not ask you, my son," she said inexorably—"l command you!"

The color mounted slowly to the lad's face, hut ho looked, at his mother steadily. "I.do not dispute your right to command me," he «aid quietly. "I know that you have a riorht to exact obedience from me. but T ask you to consider what it is that you ask me to do. It is to throw away my. whole career. Mother, T am ambitious; T must make a name for myself." "No," she said, "that is what you must not do. You must be content to let the name sink into oblivion from which it arose."

"But am not content;." lio said. "Tf my people were only farmers, what does it matter? T have brains, and do nob see why T should throw away my opportunities!" '" ""Donald," she said, "will you not J believe that T have some prood reason for refusing to let you go?" I "No," he insisted. "I do not believe that you have a good reason. I I wish to heaven T knew why you are j so different from other women! OH, J I must speak! To-day, when all the boy« cheered me, with every one there having a kindly look for me, you of

There was-a silence in the little room. Adelaide had thrown herself into a chair. Donald had sunk unon a chair, and for a moment nothing was heard but the ticking of the old grandfather dork that had come nil the way from Devonshire, and die soft singing of the kettle over the kitchen fire. (To be Continued.)