Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-07
NO. 2s9
MY MOTHER's OBJECTIONS.
Continued from Yesterday

NiooeIy W my arm, win su1eo grOan,
as we entered the one long room which
then composed the entire second floor of
the German Clubhouse, with its polished
hoor and brilliant lights, and the little
curtalned Stage at the upper end ON
which her eye tell. There was danger to
be apprehended from that quarter. how
ever, as She soon found out scarcely less
alarming, from her point Of view. was
the array OF many-colored glasses which
clustered beside each plate all the way
down the three long tables.
'Nhat does it mean ?" she moaped
ialntly. "Will they make me drink wine?
| Oh, Frederick, take me home -
| should not have done so in any case.
bat 1t was already too late, Tor George had
caught Slght OF US and fastened up, toll
lowed by one Herr Muller, German of
the stout, jolly. rubicund type, whom she
introduced to my mother as the son OF a
German Protestant minister. My mothers
face partially lost its look of bewildered
dismay at this item OF news, and she al
lowed him to lead her to her place with
out further objection.
l am afraid at this point nv attention
wandered slightly from my mother, for
Helen was there, the darling, more beau
tlul in her draperies of pale blue and
paer salmon, with tea-roses and forget
me-nots nesting among the the ripples of
her bonny brown hair; with her pure
proud face, and her clear steadfast brown
eyes, and the gentle, tranquil grace which.
OF all her charms, was the one which had
most attracted me.
OF course Helen knew nothing of the
state of affairs between my mother and
me. She would have broken off our en-
gagement in an instant even at the risk
of breaking her own heart, had the faint
est suspicion entered her mind. Fortu.
nately my mother and she were not likely
to be brought into close contact for the
present. Even had they been, Helen
would probably account for my mothers
indifference on the ground of her being
still ignorant OF our engagement, which
was an affair OF only "a months standing.
As for me, thought it best to let things
| rest as they were until the way should
be cleared, 'ot which my mothers invol-
untary gambling had already given me
| good hopes.
| The dinner was thorough German al
fair. Servants, dishes, conversation, mus
ic, all We're German of the purest type
IL was little slice cut of the very heart
OF Idter(and, and set down bodily in the
midst OF an American town. My mother
| dld not understand "a word of German,
but Herr Muller spoke excellent English,
aud was glad 70 see that my mother was
gradually becoming more and more alb
| sorbed IN the conversation. When she
| ioud that the refusal to takewine provoked
only very mild surprise and remons-
| trance, her last scruple melted away, and
| was scarcely surprised to see her wildly
waving her empty glass, and chanting
with the rest the musical "Hoch" which is
| the German version OF our unmelodious
| cheer. 10 be sure, the toast which she
| elected thus to konor was ITO the health
| ol our American friends now present.
but as no doubt of the propriety OF her
proceeding crossed her mind, it would
have been pity TO enlighten her.
| Now there was stir around the table
The band, which had hitherto been silent.
| struck. up march-like air Each gentle
man offered his arm to his partner, and
we moved around the room in dignified
promenade, while the walters entered to
| clear the tables and push them out of the
way. Round and round we went, my
mother beanng with mild enjoyment as
she leaned upon her partners arm.
| Suddenly the measure changes hand is
linked IN hand, and the long line winds
and weaves. weaving itself in and out in
| graceful undulations For an instant nv
mother. in confusion and bewilderment
| yields to the impulse, Then a dreadful
suspicion breaks upon her mind, and she
Turns to her partner, with the irenzied
question
What is iii What are we doing Pr
Doing, madame, repeats Herr Muller.
looking bland, but slightly puzzled. 1--WE
| Lar. don ba
not be troubled; you do perfectly we'll, |
assure you"
But my mother waits for no other en-.
| eouragement With gasp she wrests
| 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. limp, collapsed
heap, upen the nearest chair. Helen and
| disengaged ourselves from the line and
hastened up to her. But consolation is in
vain. She only raises her fearful ewes to
| mine ami murmurs:
FREDERICK, your mother will disgrace
both you and herself in her old age First
gambling, aud now dancing Oh, Freder-
lex. send me back to Nepoosuc before
| sink further !" And covering her face with
her hands she burst into helpless tears,
while her bewildered partner looks on,
unable to form the slightest conjecture as
| to the meaning of her remarkable scene.
Obviously there is but one thing to be
done, and that do by hastily consigning
| Helen to Her Muller's charge and leading
my mother out OF the room as quickly as
possible.
".
1t is Sunday morning-the Sunday after
my mothers little escapade AT the German
Club. The church bells are filling the air
with music, church .goers throng the
streets, aud still my mother does not come.
| have been waiting in the hall Tor fifteen
minutes, and already the bell has ceased
Ginning and begun to toll. Igrow uneasy
at last, and am half way up the stairs,
when met her coming down. What had
detained herp How can tell A string
had come off, or button would not fasten,
or something of that sort. What do /