The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-04-28

,AO.ne. ~ tuo last conversation they
had held, and probably that startled
her. Such was Bessie's surmise now.
Upon leaving Mr.. Boyd's, on the
morning of the shlpwrcck, she started
for home.
YES" she mused, as she walked
along, lit must be terrible thing to
lose the one you love! l think l should
die. too, if that happened to me!''
In ten minutes she came to her home
a plain, but neat appearing domi-
cl!c at the foot Of an overhanging cliff.
The storm had cleared entirely, and
the sun was beaming brightly upon the
white particles cliDging to the rock
and barren branches Of trees. but Nell
lie Remington seemed not to notice
this as she pushed open the door and
entered the house.
''Mother!" she called, gently.
Mrs. Remington replied from al in
ner room.
"Here, Nell.''
The voice was rather sweet. but
thick, as if chokei, aud caused the girl
to start.
She entered the dining-room hastily.
At table sat the woman about whom
all the village gossipped. If she had
always the color which was now in
from her eyes, she could be called beau.
tiful without exaggeration.
On the table at her hand was . de.
cantcr.
.'Oh, motherl'' exclaimed the girl,
with look of intense pain upon her
tace."oh, mother, what have you
"Done, Nell," said Mrs. Remington.
.'Nothing-only enjoying myself.
Nellie Remington's eyes flashed an
"Enjoying yourself? Rather say
yon have been destroying.''
The woman laughed-a strange
laugh,
mot SO. You don't know how to
take this life, Nell. Eat, drink and be
merry, for tomorrow you"
''Silence!' cried Nellie, "you must
not speak like that"
Mrs. Remington, with an unsteady
hand, filled the glass she held from the
decantcr, and raised it to her lips,
without deigning to notice the inter-
ruption. But. before she could drink
down it, -enaftents, the glass was sent
the hearth and was shivered into .
thousand atoms.
"Can l not leave you . moment,
side?''
"Now, Nell-now, Nell," said Mrs.
Remington, leaning back In her chair
look. "Be careful. You must not BE-
impudent to your dear mother. If any
one else had destroyed that fluid,
should have been very angry, but, as
it's. s.you, why forgive"
Nellie gave her mother . look-ah,
such . sad, plying look, and knelti
down beside>her-at her very feet.
"Hush, mother, dear. You don't
know " hat you are saying. You have
been doing again what you only yes
terday promised you would not do.
Oh, if you would only keep your
word"
The tears burst from the poor girls
eyes as she said this, and her whole
frame shook with the intensity of her
f.c ings. She clenched her fingers till
palms, in her effort to suppress the
emotion which consumed her, but it
was too intense to be quieted in a mo
ment. Beyond doubt she had been
totally unprepared for this sight of q
mother Observation-Disclosures too drunk
to rise from the great armchair in
which she sat.
Mrs. Rem,ngton's face changed, and
the look Of defiance left it. She shifted
uneasily in her seat.
''There!' she said, soothingly ,strok-
ing the weeping girls hair, "there.
don't take it to heart, dear. I didn't
mean to say anything to hurt your
feelings. You are so tender-hearted,
Nell"
The poor young creature sobbed for
. few moments unrestrainedly, .and
while she was thus unobserving of
what ira. spired about her, Mrs. Rem
ington lifted the decanter, took long
table again quietly.
Presently Nellie looked up.
"'Mother," she said, wiping the tears
from her beautiful eyes, mother, do
you love me as much as you used?"
"Of course do, my darling Nellie"
replied the woman, "of course do"
"Are you sure?"
.'Sure. Why, how queer of you to
ask such question"
"No, there is nothing queer in such
question, for have right to doubt
your.love when you deceive me as you
have deceived me to-day"
The woman looked guilty, but did
not lDsitate to meet, IS steadily as she
could, the eyes Of her daughter. The
liquor she had been drinking was be-
ginning to make her defiant.
"When I left here" said Nellie,
you promi6ed to be good and let that
alone. you even told me there was none
in the house,
She Minted to the decanter Is she
spokes
ibid I?' asked Mrs. Remington,
and her tone Was thicker than before.
and her voice faltering. s.Well, for
got. Forgive me-, Nellie forgive mel''
Again the taar6 ntartod - the 9irlsa