ct, but I had so hoped, my boy, you
would not come alone. I have hoped and prayed, morning and night, you
would bring home a bride, and that bride would be--Pluma Hurlhurst."

Rex staggered from her arms with a groan. He meant to tell her the
whole truth, but the words seemed to fail him.

"Mother," he said, turning toward her a face white with anguish, "in
Heaven's name, never mention love or marriage to me again or I shall
go mad. I shall never bring a bride here."

"He has had a quarrel with Pluma," she thought.

"Rex," she said, placing her hands on his shoulders and looking down
into his face, "tell me, has Pluma Hurlhurst refused you? Tell me what
is the matter, Rex. I am your mother, and I have the right to know.
The one dream of my life has been to see Pluma your wife; I can not
give up that hope. If it is a quarrel it can be easily adjusted;
'true love never runs smooth,' you know."

"It is not that, mother," said Rex, wearily bowing his head on his
hands.

Then something like the truth seemed to dawn upon her.

"My son," she said, in a slight tone of irritation, "Pluma wrote me of
that little occurrence at the lawn fete. Surely you are not in love
with that girl you were so foolishly attentive to--the overseer's
niece, I believe it was. I can not, I will not, believe a son of mine
could so far forget his pride as to indulge in such mad, reckless
folly. Remember, Rexford," she cried, in a voice fairly trembling with
suppressed rage, "I could never forgive such an act of recklessness.
She should never come here, I warn you."

"Mother," said Rex, raising his head proudly, and meeting the flashing
scorn of her eyes unflinchingly, "you must not speak so; I--can not
listen to it."

"By what right do you forbid me to speak of that girl as I choose?"
she demanded, in a voice hard and cold with intense passion.

Once or twice Rex paced the length of the room, his arms folded upon
his breast. Suddenly he stopped before her.

"What is this girl to you?" she asked.

With white, quivering lips Rex answered back:

"She is my wife!"

The words were spoken almost in a whisper, but they echoed like
thunder through the room, and seemed to repeat themselves, over and
over again, during the moment of utter silence that ensued. Rex had
told his pitiful secret, and felt better already, as if the worst was
over; while his mother stood motionless and dumb, glaring upon him
with a baleful light in her eyes. He had da