The young man had really come to say "no," but that firm, unyielding look in his mother's eyes halted him. Instead of the determined stand which he had resolved to take, in the presence of his mother's imperious will, all he could say was, "Mother, I--I--I--had hoped otherwise." His mother shook her head and looked him directly in the eyes. She wanted him to see the determination written in her own eyes. He saw and collapsed. "I will go, mother," said he. "Be seated, mother," he requested. Mrs. Seabright, directing a look of inquiry at her son, sat down. He now dropped on his knees and rested his head upon her lap. "Mother, say to me the prayer that you taught me in my childhood--days when you were not this way. Lead me back there once more, for something within tells me that life is never more to be life to me." Mrs. Seabright did not at all relish the sentimental turn of her son's mind, but she began in as tender tones as she could summon: "Now I lay me down to sleep." "Now I lay me down to sleep," repeated the young man. "I pray the Lord my soul to keep," his mother continued. "I pray the Lord my soul to keep," said he. "If I should die before I wake," the mother said. "If I should die before I wake," said the son. "I pray the Lord my soul to take," concluded the mother. "I pray the Lord my soul to take," the son repeated lingeringly. "Mother, truly I am laying me down to sleep. I am putting my life, my soul away. When I awake from this sleep into which your influence as a mother has lulled me, I shall awake to look into the face of my Creator." The young man now arose and turning upon his mother, he said out of a burning heart: "Oh, mother! May your soul meet God. As I leave you, let me tell you it takes that to reach your case!" "You are not the son of your mother," quietly said she. The young man now rushed from the room to get out of the presence of one who, though his mother, possessed nothing in common with his own soul. In spite of the manner of his leaving, Mrs. Seabright knew full well that he would perform unto the utmost all that she had exacted of him. Mrs. Seabright resumed her seat and rocked to and fro complacently for a few moments. Arising, she went to a rolling door, leading to a room adjoining her own. There, coiled upon the bed, lay the beautiful young woman whom we first saw endeavoring to attract the attention of the Negro porter to a note. Her hair lay wildly about her pretty brow, there were tear stains upon her cheeks and her eyelids were closed. A fear seized Mrs. Seabright that her daughter might be dead. Rushing to the bedside, she called, "Eunice! Eunice!" The young woman opened her blue eyes into her mother's, sat up and began to sob violently. The mother put her arms around the young woman, but the latter jumped from the bed and pulled herself away. "Now, Eunice, don't act in that way. You can't see how bright a future I have mapped out for you. If you only knew!"