The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-04

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into palace, 80 happy were they, SO
bright the future pictured itself to their
minds, and the supper, with champagne
an attention Of mother Martin-was
gayer than ever before. '
The following evening, Martin, not
withstanding his success on the previous
night, seemed preoccupied; he acnowl-
edged the compliments of one and an
other with constrained smile; was it
ritated and nervous; found fault with
the property man, hurried forward his
comrades, and tried all he could to have
the curtain up before the right hour.
@Why, what's the matter with your"
asked one of his comrades, who knew
him to be kindness itself habitually.
-nothing-'tisM Mother Martin;
she coughs fearfully; must have caught
cold, while waiting for me yesterday
evening""
aPoor woman! but--nothing will
come of it,"
mo, nothing serious, I hope, replied
Martin.
At the thought that lit might after
all be something serious" he felt cold
chill run down his back and his face
turned deadly pale under its red paint.
At night, when he came home, al
though, as usual, the two covers were
placed on the little table, mother Martin
had gone to bed and her state seemed
worse; she tried to laugh, however, SO
as not to alarm 1her boy;;" asked ques-
ions about the evening, recalled yester-
days triumph, and, recollection once
more rousing her enthusiasm, she Lost
sight Of the burning sensation she expe-
rienced about the chest; but dry,
husky cough repeatedly interrupted her
speech, without however, once roofing
out the good hunor Of that adorable old
woman.
On the following day the doctor de-
clared she had an Inflammation Of the
lungs. Eight days after, as he came
from behind the scenes, Martin caught
sight of one of his mothers next door
neighbors. A cold shudder ran through
all his frame az soon as he saw the
woman.
aCome quick, NJ. Chariot, your
mother is very i'll. She wants to sec
you" -a
he was off in twinkling. Running
at full speed, he jostled the passers-by,
whom he would have knocked down,
nay killed, if they had attempted to in
tercept his wayl What was that to
himP His mother was i'll! very i'll!
This was. the sole thought that engrossed
his mind as he ran along; his. mother
was very, very Ill! g.
He rushed up the staircase; but, on
reaching the landing, he stopped short,
not daring to enter, -suffocated, stupe-
fed, without an idea. A tremuloua
voice, from the inside Of the lodgings,
reused him from his torpor:
us that you, Charlot?"
1Yes, NINA !" said he, quite softly.
scarce daring to open his mouth, lest
the tears should well from his eyes.
Mother Martin, pale as sheet,
had raised herself in her bed; she
took her sons head in her two
wasted arms, drew him toward her,
kissed his. forehead, and, with deaths
rattle in her throat, heaved groan
full of the deepest anguish.
"Charlot! My Chariot! My own dear
boy!
After which, as if, by supreme
effort, she had chung to life until her son
came home, her head fell back heavily
on the pillow, and she breathed her last
still holding in convulsive grasp the
head of her darling child.
Sad, detected, with lowering brow and
feverish eye, Martin, without uttering a
word or shedding a tear, followed his
mothers funeral all the way to the
cemetery of Saint Ouen. Not until the
Hable-coated men, surrounding the coffin
with ropes roughly lowered it into the
grave, bringing down quantity of
loose stones upon the lid, did he make a
movement! He stepped forward, but
paused, ivid, his eyes fixed on the
yawning hole, his hands contracted, the
nails Of his fingers entering his flesh
then, without saying word, automati-
cally he allowed himself to be led away
by his friends, who, startled at his calm
demeanor, stayed by him until the hour
he entered the theatre.
For he had to play that evening!
Already, the previous night, no one be-
ing able to assume his part, the house
had to put off the performance, and his
stage friends had been so kind to him!
Although far from rich, they had sent a
lovely wreath for mother Martins
funeral! He could not really place
them in dillemma-so play he must.
He did play, and played admirably,
effects which surprised
everybody, and bringing down the house
with roars Of laughter; an artist this
time he proved himself to be, in every
sense of the term! The spectacle made
him quite an ovation, and some, to
whom he was stranger, said with en-
thusiasm: