The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-03

middle aisle, and as we entered later
| IMAM our wont, my mother, who prided
nerselt upon her punctuality, was some
what Mustered by the time we reached it.
"' Dearly beloved brethren, the Scrip.
ture moveth u.s." repeated the CLERGY
man, in his full rich tones.
Captain Jinks, of the Horse Marines:
give my horse good corn and beans"
Where on earth did it come from? Not
words, you understand, only tinkle of
Jig-a-Jlg-Jig-jig, jig-a-jig jig, curiously
near and distinct, and curiously, horri-
ply inappropriate to the occasion. I
looked about in doubt and amaze; so did
everybody else. Had a lunatic strayed
INTO church that clear November morn.
ing, Or Suddenly my gaze fell upon
my mothers face-such scarlet, AEON.
lzeo face as it was!-as her trembling
myers tumbled nervously but vainly
WIN the clasp of the prayer-book which
she held. My eyes followed hers down
ward, and the mystery was solved. In
stead of a prayer-b book, she had in her
haste caught up a musical photograph
album, which was of precisely the same
SIZE and shape, never discovering the
difference until the fendish thing began
to- rattle out its rollicking tune at this
horribly inopportune time:
Captain Jinks, of the Horse Marines.
:" We have erred and strayed from
q by ways like lost Sheep"
1t was all confused Babel of sounds.
People stared, giggled and wondered.
My mother, in wrath and agony, struggled
fiercely with her internal machine, but
to no end. The stopping part was out
OF order; the playing part was in horri-
bly, perfect condition. She thrust it into
the prayer-book rack, and the contact
with the hard wood sent forth the sounds
with redoubled distinctness. She hid it
in her mutf but no amount of fur would
mutf1e it. She threw it upon the seat
behind her, where it ratified away as
merrily as ever. She was just about to
SIT upon 1t, when hand was extended
from the pew behind us-a slender,
delicate hand, faultlessly gloved in
pale silver gray. The hand closed over
the box, and in another instant we
heard the sounds growing fainter
and fainter, as Helen sailed down
the broad aisle, leaving a trail of mel
ody behind her as she passed. Just as,
with click, the air changed to "Cham-
payne Charlie, " the door closed behind
them, and only the clergyman's voice
broke the stiffness which settled over the
church.
looked at my mother. The expression
of agony upon her face faded slowly to a
look of intense relief. She turned her
eyes upon me, bent toward me to whisper
and-broke into a perfectly |
audible laugh! 1t was laugh of sheer |
nervousness, without particle of mirth |
in 1t, but laugh nevertheless, positive
and uncomfortable. Laugh she must,
and laugh she did until her face grew
scarlet and the tears poured down her
cheeks, and she was fain to hide her di-
head behind her muff-laughed |
until, Ill sheer despair, she was obliged |
to fairly flee from the church Just as the |
rose for the ''Te Deum."
My mother and sat for long time
gs naSaty eSS9e6ffhhg, she was calm and com
posed now, though the traces of recent !
emotion still fingered upon her face. |
would not be the first to breach one sub |
ject, the only one upon which | felt in.
clined to talk Just then; so we sat silent
in The dusky twilight, watching the leap
ing violet flames which quivered and
above the bed of glowing Goals. |
Frederick" said my mother at last.
Yes, mother"
Your Helen is brave girl"
81 am glad that you think so, mother"
"Do you think" said my mother,
slowly, that she did it because l am
your mother, or because"
81 think" said l, quickly, "that if
anything would have prevented her doing
it, it would have been the fact that you
are my mother"
"And that you were present." said my
mother, nodding her head sagaciously.
81 thought so. Frederick, we had a
conversation two weeks ago"
con dancing, gambling, and laughing
in church," l suggested, as my mother
paused.
Frederick" said my mother, severe
ly, will you be kind enough to let that
subject drop? Because was a cantank-
erous idiot and elf.opinlonated bigot,
will you leave me no place for repent
ance? / have had new views of the fall
iibility of human nature since then, and
Isuppose may take woman's privilege
of changing my mind"
"By all MEANS" l said, laughing, "es
pecially as you have fulfilled the condi
tions so admirably. "-Hmper's Magazine
for October.