The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-04
THE NEW ORLEANS DEMOCRAT, SUNDAY NOVEMBER l. 1877.
slightest conjecture as TO the meaning Of this

slightest conjecture as to the meaning Of this
remarkable scene.
Obviously. there IL but one thing 30 be
done end that ! do, by hastily consignng
my mother out Of the from as quickly and as
quietly as possible.
II Is Sunday morning The Sunday after my
| mother little escapadr at the German Club.
| The church bells srn II ling the air with music
| ohuichagnerH thrnng the streets, and still my
| mother does not come. ! have been waiting
In the hall for fifteen minutes, and already
the bell has ceased Ginning and begun to toll.
grow uneasy ut last. aud attn half way M
| the stairs, when | meet her coming down.
| What had detained her2 How can tell2 A
| string had come Off. 81 a button would not
fasten, OF something Of that sort What do |
know about the various but thrilling accidents
however; had caught up prayer book aud
nun. and hastened down to join me.
| The service had begun as we entered the
| church which my mother and attended
Episcopalianism was not her favotite form
of worship. but she had consented to go With
the to that church, fearing I suppose, that
/ would not go at all Need say that my
choice had been decided by the fact that Helen
was q member land most devout one) Of that
church, considered myself fortunate in
having been able TO secure d pew exactly In
front of that which her family occupied. and
| thither we drested our steps " was situated
well UP IN the middle aisle, and as we entered
later thar, otit wont. my mother. who ptided
| Mustered by the time we reached ottr pew
dearly beloved brethren the scripture
| moveth us, repeated the Clergyman, IN his
| full. rich tones
Captain links Of the Horse Marines,
give my horse good corn nha beans.
Where ON earth did It come FROM Not
words, you understand, only tinlle of jig,
distinct, and ouriously, horribly inappropri..
ate 10 the occasion looked about IN doubt and
amaze; so did everybody else. Had a lunatic
strayed into church that beautiful November
morning. or-suddenly my gaze fell upon my
mother face-sueh a scarlet, agonized face
II was az her trembling fingers fumbled
nervouHly but vainly with The clasp Of The
prayer book which she held. My eyes fol
lowed hers downward, aud the mystery was
solved. Instead Of prayer book, she had In
her haste caught up musical photograph
album. which was Of precisely the same sise
and shape, never discovering the difference
until the tiendish thing began to rattle out It's
rolioking tune at this horribly inappropriate
time:
Captain links OF tho Horse Marines"
we M, have erred, and strayed from Thy
1t was all a confused Babel of sounds. pen-
Pile stared. giggled and wondered My
mother, In wrath and agony. struggled tierce-
~ VIII HeE HleEHRl Ilattlno-DHb 10 no Hlb,
The stopping part was out of order: tho play
ing part was In horribly perfect condition
She thrust IL Into tho pt'ayer-buok rack, and
the contact, with the hard wood sent forth the
sounds with redoubled distinetness. She hid
IL In her mufI, but no amount Of fur would
mutlle It'll She threw It upon the seat behind
her. where 1t ratified away M merrily as ever.
She was Just about to sit upon it, when n
hand was extended from tho pow behind US
slender. delicate hand. faultlessly gloved In
M la al I'm nj .,l., fbt,
box. and In another Instant we heard the
sounds growing fainter and fainter, as Helen
sailed down the broad aisle, leaving trail Of
melody btehnd her ma she passed, just AZ
with click, the air changed to champagne
Charlie" the door closed behind them, and
only tho clergymans voice broke the atiIl-
ness which settled over the church, a.
looked at my mother, Tho look of agony
relief. She turned her eyes upon me bent
toward me to whisper something. and broke
Into II perfectly audible taught 1t was n
laugh OF sheer nervousness, without n par
tiele Of mrth in 1t. but q laugh. nevertheless.
and laugh she did until hcr face grew scarlet
and the tears poured down her cheeks, aud
she was fain to hide her diminished head be-
hind her mutf laughed until IN sheer de-
spair she waa obliged to fnirly flee from tho
church just as the congregation rose for the
''Te Deum"
My mother and ! sat for long time with
out speaking, on that memorable Sunday
evening. She was calm and composed now
though the traces Of recent emotion still lin
gored upon her face. ] would not DO the first
to breach one subject. the only one felt in
clined to talk upon just then; 80 we sat silent
In the dusky twilight. Watching the lcaping
violet flames which auipored and tlickered
above tho bed Of glowing Goals.
Frederick said my mother ut last.
Yes. mother
"Your Helen Ia brave girl"
I'm glad you think 40, mother"
do you Think said my mother, slowly,
that she did II because am your mother, or
because"
Il think, said l quickly, that II my
thing would have prevented her doing it, 1t
would have been The fact that you are my
mother
And that you were present." said my
mother, nodding her head sagaciotlsly. II
thought SO. Frederick. we had u little con-
versation two weeks ago"
ION dancing, gambling, and laughing in
church, suggested, as my mother paused.
Frederick" said my mother severely
will you be kind enough to let that subject
drop Because ] was u cantankerous idiot
and "A self-opinonnted higot, will you leave
me no place for repentance | have had new
views Of tho fallbility of human nature since
then, and suppose | may take a womans
privilege of changing my mind"
"By all means" / said, laughing. especial
ly as you have fulfilled the conditions SO nd
mirably."