Louisiana capitolian., 1880-03-06
worthy woman would have dropped

him a courtesy.
"Past the DOCTORS Office hours
ma'am," he said in reponse to her fee
bic appeal. "It's as much as my place
is worth to take in your card.
"But l have no card. He'll see me.
I'm-I'm-"
But she did not finish the sentence
only stepped inside the door and
stood under the full glare of the light
of the hall lamp.
The man looked askance at the sin.
gular apparition. Her hat was crushed
and bent, her dress bore evidence Of
the dust of travel, and in her hand
wasa huge bandbox, containing the hat
which was to astonish the Londoners.
"Indeed, ma'am-" the man began,
but the old lady walked steadily on to
the door, beneath whose threshold she
deserted stream Of light.
The hot flush had by this time burn
ed out of Doctor Notions check. The
mornings dawn had dissipated the
foolish fancies of the night. His duties
for the day were over and he was free
to seek Violet, whose wonderful eyes
would light up as he entered, and
whose lips would perhaps brush bis
cheeks with their velvety caresses.
He sprang to his feet to seek her,
when the door softly opened, and
turning he saw-could it be a dream,
conjured up by his restless fancies of
the night before-his mother! Close
behind her was the wholly wondering,
half apologetic face Of his butler. It
took him full minute to realize it
was no dream; and then (honor to his
manhood) a sudden, overwhelming
tenderness swept away all else, and
with glad cry Of "Mother" he
clasped her to his heart.
When she had grown calmer and
more at rest, beginning to look around
and wonder and admire, a little feel
ing of irritation began to grow at his
heart. Why had she comet Had he
not made all comfortable for her at
home I Here she would be constrain-
ed, unnatural. And Violet. He could
picture the astonished look which
would creep into her eyes when he
said to her, "This my mother;" nay,
more, the naughty curve which would
gather about her mouth, SO rich and
ripe and sweet. So the question Of
his heart found words, and he scarcely
himself knew the innate irritation
they betrayed.
"Mother, why did you not let me
know you were coming7"
II meant to surprise you, my boy,
she answered fondly. "Can it be that
/ have done wrong3"
"No, no." he hastily replied. "COme,
you must eat and go to bed. You need
a rest"
But, long after he had hidden hel
good night, he sat and thought.
His mother had come to make hel
home with him. That was clear. II
he had told her he willed it otherwise
she would obey him.
For a moment he planned it out
how he would tell her the city life
was not adapted to her needs; and
the Violet need never know Of the
plain, humble little woman who hat
not siamed to toll with her own hands
that his might be the hands of a gen
tleman.
Oh, shame on him! Could he eve,
wash them clean, even of the thought
No, Violet should know the truth Ht
could bear the scorn now in her eyes
and in her voice, as she would ques'
ton him how dared he to look up tt
her. but his mother should share hi!
home and heart to the end.
1t was too late now to visit Violet
tonight, but he went up stairs, and
softly turning the knob Of the room
where his mother slept, he noiselessly
approached the bed, and bending
down, touched his lips to the oil
withered forehead reyerently.
She started up with a glad sob O.
S'My boy! my boy! who I though
was not glad to see his mother"
He quieted her at last, wondering
1vhv his own heart felt so light, an,
she fell asleep with his hand tightl!
clasped in hers.
"You did not come last night" sai'
his betrothed, when next morning HI
stood in her presence.
"No, Violet" he answered, but
come to day to tell you how unwor
thy am of your love. Last nigl,
nv mother came to me. Nay do no
start. 1t was no visitant from tn
spirit land, hut unnatural reality.
have never told you of my mother
Think of ia man SO blessed, and ye
dumb! All her life she toiled wit
poverty-for whose sake: think you
Her sons, that she might make him
gentleman. God prospered him, an
enabled him, to take all the burde
from her own shoulders, and so h
thought he had done his duty.
: "He fed the body, but let her hear
starve. Last light in the desperatio
of her hunger, she sought me ou
For a moment-oh bitter humiliatio
my pride rebelled. Think of j
Violet-tlat cruel, unnatural prid
which would bring into mans chee
a blush for the woman who bore hin
I thought Of you with your pret;t!
dainty ways, side by side with HI
plain and homely ones. l knew I'll
two never could be reconciled, and 81
7 Violet, l have come to ask you to fo
give and forget me. My heart, m
, home, are mothers henceforth al
; hereafter"
Had the man some lingering hoI
that the girl beside him would refnt
, the sacriice7 Certainly an addle
. look of suffering grew into his eyes {
she answered nothing, only laid h
t hand in his a moment, as if in far
/. well.