The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1882-09-28

mind,' said the young matrOD
"Rosa Me lion is as good as she is
pretty. A great deal prettier than
am, Estella, and you did not wonder
that Edward chose me-
"You were q De Courcy,", said
Miss Leffingwell.
s.That had nothing to do with it,
Stella" said Mrs. Letting we'll moth
ing"
"And Rosa Melons mother takes
lin washing. doesn't she % asked Es
tella, languidly.
Washing You ought to De
ashamed of yourself! Poor Mrs
Mellon, when left a widow restored
fine old lace elegantly.''
"She must have washed it, sneer
ed Estella.
"Well," said Mrs. Leffingwell
she was q lady, at all events; and
Rosa had q perfect education; and
Charlie is right. Now don't be un
pheasant.
II shall not say word,'' said Miss
EsteDla; s'Dut how can Charles fogea
lhis mothers dying words %
but perhaps your mother might
not think thai Charles married be
meath him If he married Rosa Mellon,'
said Mrs. Letfingwell.
II am sure mamma alluded tC
Rosa" replied the spinster.
But as Estella said nothing severe
The voung people were happy.
When Rosa went away, her future
sister in-law even kissed her, an;
Charles was grateful. He also haf
the conclusion that Mrs
enme w - have though
I.eiHaaweil eaula ns, ~,<
Rosa beneath iliia. AID the s6fnfer,
of the thought was very great:
Ee sat that evening alone in the
room in which that full-lellgth pic
tnrc Of his mother hung. He had
heen reading by the light Of a stu
cents lamp. There was no o. i,er ii
the room. The hours had followe'
J each other to i.hei: graves until the
twelfth hour was buried. A dozel
silver strokes had been made upoI
e The bell Of the cid clock ;,y the little
silver figure Of Time, who struck i
u with his scythe when each new hou1
was nOrp.
Charles felt very fond Of all th'
y world just then-the world had mad
him sc happy. His book romantic
tory, such as people are prone t.
- read at such times, was just finished
He still held it he ,wcen his fugers
but his hand had dropped over th
arm Of the Turkish chair in whic
he sat, aud bis eyes were fed upo
c the portrait of his mother.
l. "Dear MOTHER he said to himsel
slow goosi you were to me! SJc'
e and cold by nature. you still love
" me fondly. Alb, if you We're wit
me again T.
s. In the dim light of the room I'll
e, picture seemed strangely life-';ke.
1t The young mans emotions owe
ID came him, and he spoke aloud:
"Ah, mother. if you could return,
le he said. lit would be to tell me ha
ID done well.''
la Almost as the words passed b
lips. he saw, rising fron the floor, (
d from behind the picture. what seen
S ed like column of smoke. 1t w;
e white and thick. He seemed to cate
d. such al odor as drifts down the ais
tx of cathedral when the ceuser
f. swung before the altar. His fir
ID thought was OF fire !; hut The strar.
d, perfume produced an indescribab
1e effect On uim.
Instead of starting to his feet.
5. sat rivited to his chair, with tho:
s. strange thrills, that supernatur
#. through his whole frame.
re And as he sat thus, The strano
at white smoke covered his mother
n. picture, and from its mi'lst a flu
he stepped forth and stood before hi1
Elk His mother. in her velvet robe
her diamonds, her yellow lace; i
lie mother, as the artist had paint
he her hut with brows sternly ben
ss and a warning finger uplifted. as
ut had been when in early childhood
had offended her. His mothe,
as spirit. He had no douot of it.
al He sunk upon his knees, stretc
no ;ng out his arms towards her.
I'll "Mother,' he SAID, do you come
Irt bless me ? to tell me | have do
right Tell me, mother -
his The lips of the figule moved; al
be from them, slowly, one by one, the
y. words dropped into the silence
lc the room:
If "Remember-m my-dyimy-wo,ds
he Then the figure disappeared, t
We strange, perfumed smoke fad
y, away, and his mothers picture look
IS. down on h;in as it had doae befor
Of 1t was not long before young Nj
10 Leffin1well came to her sister-i
he laws home again. She came alo
he this time; and at once soug
at Charles in the room in which he h:
he shut himself up, except at nc:
to times, for more than two weeks.
T; She entered it, shut the door