Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-11-06

was, Io tho health OF our American
friends now present" bat as no doubt of
the propriety of her proceeding crossed
ber mind. it would have been pity to
enlighten hor.
Now there was q stir around the. table.
The band. which had hitherto been silent,
struck up msrch-like air Each gen
tleman offered his arm 20 bis partner,
aud we moved around the room in dig
niied promenade, while The walters en-
tered to clear the tables ana push them
out OF The way. Round and round we
went, my mother beaming with mild en-
ioyment as she leaned upon her partners
arm. Suddenly the measure changes;
hand is linked in hand, and the long line
winds and waves. weaving itself in and
out in graceful undu,ali0n,. For an IL
slant my mother. in confusion and be-
wilderment, yields TO ihe impulse. Then
dreadful suspicion breaks upon her
mind. and she tarns to her partner. with
the frenzied question:
"What is it.? What oTa we iloing?"
Doing, madam ?" repeats Herr Mul-
Ter, looking bland, 5a, s -..y pm cd.
I'VE are dancing tle P-.c4.isc, 10 DC
sure. Do not be troubled; 5gU ~ per
fectly well, l assure you
But my mother waits ior no further en-
couragemerI. With gasp she wresls
her hand quickly from The grasp upon it,
and mechanically retaining her hold upon
her partner, she whirls him, too, out OF
the ranks. and drops, q Imp, collapsed
heap, upon the nearest chair. Helen and
disengage ourselves from the line aud
hasten up to her. But consolation is in
vain. She only raises her fearful eyes to
mine and murmurs,
Frederick, your mother will disgrace
both you aud herself in her old age
First gambling, and nOT dancing Oh,
Frederick, send me back 10 Nepoosuc be-
fore | sink further And covering her
tace with her hands she bursts into help
less tears, while her beoiideged partner
looks on, unable to form The slightest
conjecture as to the meaning OF This re-
markable scene.
Obviously there is Ju. one thing to be
done, aud that do, by hastily consign-
ing Helen to Herr MGIler's Charge, aud
leading my mother out OF the room as
quickly and as quietly as possible.
".
It is Sunday morni1g-the Sunday
after my mothers LITTLE escapade at the
German Club. The church bells are fill
ing the air with music, cburch-goers
throng the streets, and still. my mother
does no. come. have been waiting in
the hall for fifteen inmates, and already
the bell has ceased Ginning and begun
to toll. grow unessT at last, and am
half way up the stairs, when | meet her
coming down. What had detained her ?
How can l tell? 4 s,ring had come off,
or a button would not .aslen, or some
thing o.! that sort. What DO | know of
the various but trilling accidents OF wo-
mans toilet? She was ready at last,
however; had oaugh. up pcaycr-book
and mufl, and fastened down TO join me.
The service had begun as we entered
the church which ny mother snd at
tended. EpiscopaIianism was not her
favorite form OF worship, but she had
consented to go with me TO that church,
Tearing, | suppose, that otherwise /
would not 60 at all. Need | say that my
choice had been decided by tae fact that
Helen was a member (and q most devout
one) of that church? | considered my
self fortunate in having been able 10 Sc
cure pew exactly in front Of that which
her family occupied, and thither we
directed our steps. Il was situated well
up in the middle aisle, aud as We entered
later than our wont, my mother, who
prided herself upon her punctuality, was
somewhat fustered by The time We
reached it.
"Dearlv beloved brethren, the Scrip
ture moveth u.s. repeated the clergy
man, in his full, rich tones.
captain Jinks Of the Horse Marines:
.....o ,,,.. to.sa f-,ol rr-n and bpans.'
Where on earth did It come from? Not
words, you understand, only tinkle OF
jig-a-jig-jig-iig, jig-a-jig-jig-jig, g,curiously
near and distinct, horribly inappropriate
to the occasion. looked about in doubt
and amaze; so did every body else. HAD
lunatic strayed into the church that
clear, November morning, or Sudden
ly my gaze fell upon my mothers lace
such a scarlet, agonized face as it was =
as her trembling fingers iumbled nerv-
ously but vainly with the clasp OF the
prayer book which she held. My eyes
followed hers downward, and the mys-
terry was solved. Instead OF her pray er-
book, she had in her, haste caught up
musical photograph album, which was
precisely the same size and shape. never
discovering the difference until the tend-
ish thing began to rattle out its rollicking
tune at this horribly inappropriate time;
"Captan Jinks of the Horse Marines"
".Wn have erred, and straYed from