The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-11-08

She only raises her fearful eyes to mine
and murmurS,
''Frederick, your mother will disgrace
both You and herself in her old age First
gambling, and now dancing. Oh, Fred
erck, send me back to Nepoosuc before
sink turther." And covering her face
with her hands she bursts into helpless
tears, while her bewiIdered partner looks
On, unable to form the slightest conjecture
as to the meaningof this remarkable scene
obviously there is but one thing to be
done, and that | do, by hastily consigning
Helen to Herr Muller's charge, and lead
ing my mother out Of the room as quickly
and as quietly as possible.
1t is Sunday mOrning-the Sunday after
mymother's little escapade at the German
Club. The church bells are filling the air
with music church goers throng 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 at last, and am halfway up
the stairs, when | meet her coming down.
What had detained her? How can tell
a string had come off or button would
not tasten, or something of that sort.
What do | know of the various but tri-
fling accidents Of a womans toilet? She
was ready at last, however; had caught
up prayer book and mutf, and FASTENED
down TO JOIN me.
The service had begun as we entered
the church which my mother and | at
tended. Episcopalianism was not her ia
yOrte form Of worship, but she had con
sented TO 90 with lne TO that church, fear
ing, | suppose, that otherwise | would not
70 at all. Need say that my choice had
been decided by the fact that Helen was
4 member (and a most deyout one) of that
church? considered myself fortunate in
having been able to secure a pew exactly
in front Of that which her family occupied,
and thither we directed our steps. 1t was
situated we'll up in the middle aisle, and
as we entered later than our wont, my
mother, who prlded herself upon her
punctuality, was somewhat tlustered by
the time we reached it.
(" Dearly beloved brethren, the Script
ure moveth Us, repeated the clergyman,
in bis full rich tones.
Captain Jinks, OF the Horse Marines:
giye my horse good corn and beans
Where on earth did it come from Not
words, YOU understand, only tinkle of
jiga JIG jig Jig, jig-a[jig-jig, curiously
near and distinct, and curiOusly horri-
bly, inappropriate to the occasion
looked about in doubt and amaze; so
did every body else. Had lunatic
strayed into church that clear November
morning, or - Suddenly my gaze fell
upon my mothers tace-Sllch a scarlet,
agonized face as it was as her trem-
bling fingers tumbled nervously but vain
ly with the clasp of the prayer book which
she held. My eyes followed hers down
ward, and the mystery was sol> ed. IN
stead of a prayer book, she had in her
haste caught up a musical photograph
album, which was Of precisely the same
size and shape, never discovering the DIFF
ference until the tiendish thing began to
rattle out its rollicking tune at this hor-
ribly lnopportune time:
"ceotain Jinks, of the Horse Marines
1--WE have erred, and sirayed from Thy
ways like lost sheep"
1t was all a confused Babel Of sounds
People stared, giggled, and wondered.
My mother, in wrath and agony, strug-
ged tiercely with her Internal machine,
but to no end. The stopping part was
out Of order; the playing part was in hor-
riby 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 mutt, but no amount of fur would
muffle it. She threw it upon the seat be-
hind her, where it ratified away as mer-
rilv as ever. She was Just about to sit
upon it, 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, leav-
ing a trail of melody behind her as she
passed. just as, with click, the air
changed to "Champagne 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 express
sion Of agony upon her face faded slowly
to a look of intense relief. She turned
| HCi oyoo upoll lllc, Dcuu to"dlu Hle W
whisper something, and-broke into a
perfectly audible laugh. 1t was a laugh
OF sheer nervousness, without Il particle
of mirth in it, but Il 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 tain to hide her
| diminished head behind her mutf'- laugh
ed until, in sheer despair, she was obliged
to fairly flee from the church Just as the
congregation rose for the "Te Deum"
My mother and sat for long time
without speaking, on that memorable
Sunday evening. She was calm and COM
posed now, though the traces of recent
emotion still fingered upon her face.
would not be the first to broach 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
1ickered above the bed Of glowing Goals.
"Frederick,' said my mother at last.
Eyes, mother"
"Your Helen is a brave girl"