Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-01-21
HIS MOTHER.
A Devoted Son and Sensible
Sweetheart.

The cold-gray shadows of the wintrv
twilight had enveloped tree and
meadow and sluggish forest streams in
their uncertain mist, and factory chin
neys flung their fiery banners of
smoke against the leaden sky, basso
relieve that would have made Rem
brandt himself rejoice, and the hum of
never-ceasing machinery in the little
town rose above the rush of the river,
like the buzz of a gigantic insect
Charles Emery, the day foreman in
the rolling-mills, was just retiring to
his home, having been relieved by
John Elter, the night official and as he
walked along, his feet sounding crisply
on the hard-frozen earth, he whistled
softly to himself, as light-hearted as
bird
You're going with us tonight,
Charlcy?" cried gay voice, and two or
three young men came by.
do you mean!
II mean to the opera!'
For upon that especial evening
there was to be an opera in the little
town of Crystalton, genuine New
York company with chorus, full
orchestra and all the paraphernalia of
scenery and costume which provincial
residents so seldom enjoy, and the
younger population were on the qui
vive of delighted expectation.
III am going" said Mr.. Emery, slow
ly, ''but not with your
''But you will change your mind
though" said Harrison Vail, "when
you hear that Kate Marcy is to be of
the party. Kate Marcy and the Miss
Hallowells and Fanny Hewitt. There
are eight of us going. We've kept a
seat on purpose for you"
Il have engaged myself TO another
lady" Emery replied, after second or
SO Of hesitation.
Vail laughed.
"Wcll, I'm sorry for it," said he,
''but Miss Marcy is not girl who need
pine for cavalier. Well keep the seat
for you until quarter of eight, in case
you should see fit to change your mind
Only let me give you word of warn
ing, old fellow! Kate Marcy is a. high
spirited girl; it won't do to trifle too
much with hcr''
Charles Emery went on his way
rather graver and more self-absorbed.
lie had asked his mother the day be-
fore to go to sec 1.-THE Mascot" and
his mothers eyes had frightened with
genuine delight.
"Your father often used to take me,
Charley" she said, when we were
young people and lived in New York.
But it's twenty years and more since
have been to an opera. And If you're
quite sure, dear that there is no young
girl whom you would rather take
= "As if any young girl in the world
could be to me what my own darling
y little mother is!'' replied Emery, smil-
ing across the table to her.
Then shall be SO delighted to go, y
said Mrs. Emery.
And her voice and eyes bore happy
witness to the truth of her words.
But now that a regular party had been
organized, and Kate Marcy had prom
Used to join it, things looked very diff
ferently to the young man. For mo
ment he almost regretted that he had
engaged himself to take his mother.
"She would be as we'll pleased with
any concert" he said to himself, land
I-should have the Opportunity of sit
ting all the evening next to Kate
Marcy. I'll ask her to let. me off this
time. She won't care"
When he went into the little sitting
room of their humble domain, and saw
his mother, with her silve 4gray hair
rolled into puffs on either side of her
almost unwrinkled brow, her best
!, black silk donned, and the one opal
u brooch'which she owned pinned into
ulthe white lace folds at her bosom, his
heart misgave him.
,fa "a have been trimming my bonnet
'rpver with some violet-velvet flowers,
said she, smiling, $50 as to do you nc
discredit, Charley; and | have a new
pair Of violet kid gloves. And now
you must.arink your tea I've made
some OF your favorite cream biscuit,
and the kettle is nearly at the boil.
Oh, Charley, you'll laugh at me, I'm
afraid, but feel exactly like a lit
tie girl going to her first children's
party. It's SO seldom, you know, that
a bit of pleasure comes in my way!'
And then Charles Emery made ur
his mind that his mother was more to
him, in her helpless old age and sweet
affectionate dependence, than any
blooming damsel whose eyes shone
like stars and whose cheeks rivaled
the September peach.
''Going with some one else?' said
Kate Marcy, rather surprised and MOI
exactly pleased.
She was tall, beautiful maiden, the
belle of Crystalton, and rather an
heiress in her own right, with all the
rest She certainly liked Charles
Emery, and she rather surmised that
he liked her also. And when she had
been studying up her toilet for the
opera, she had selected o blue dress
with blue corn flowers for her hair and
ornaments of turquoise, because she
had once heard Mr.. Emery say that
blue was his favoritc color.
Going with some one else?" she re-
peated "Well, OF course be has Q
right to suit himself"
And she kept within her own sou