The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-05-04
HIS MOTHER.
A Devoted Son and q Sensible
Sweetheart.

0WO0h1OuAb -
The cold-gray shadows of the wintrv
twilight hal 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 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 harl-frozen earth, he whistled
softly to himself, as light-hearted as q
bird.
You're going with us tonight,
Charley?" cried gay voice, and two or
three young men came by.
"Do you mean"
81 mean to the operaW
Tor upon that especial evening
there was to be an opera in the little
town of Crystalton, genuine New
York company with q 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
vivc of delighted expectation.
81 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
IIallowclls and Fanny Hewitt. There
are eight of US going We've kept a
scat on purpose for you"
Il have el.ragcd myself to another
lady" Emery replied, utter q second or
so of hesitation.
Vail laughed.
"YYcll, I'm sorry for it." said he,
"but Miss Marcy is not girl who need
pine for cavalier, Wc'll keep the seat
for you until q 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 trihe toe
much with ler!''
Churlts L.Itry went on his way
rather graver and more sclf-absorbed.
He had asked his mother the day be-
fore to go to sec ''Thc Mascot" and
his mothers eyes had frightened with
genuine delight.
"Your father often used to take me.
Charley" she said, 'whcn 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 talSc-'"
"As if any young girl in the world
could be to me what my own darling
little mother Isl" replied Emery, smil-
ing across thI tallc to her.
"Thcn shall be SO delighted to CO."
said Mrs. Emery.
And her voice and eyes bore happy
witness to the truth of her words.
But now that arcgular party had been
organized, and Kate Marcy had prom
ised to join it, things looked very diff
ferently to the young man. For a mo-
ment he almost regretted that he had
engaged himself to take his mother
"She would be rs we'll pleased with
any concert" he said to himself, land
should have the opportunity of sit
ting all the evening next to Kate
Marcy. Ill ask her to let me off this
time. She won't care"
When be went into the little sitting
room of their humble domain, and saw
his mother, with her silyer-gray hair
rolled into Qulfs on either side of her
almost unwrinliled brow, her best
black silk donned, and the one opal
brooch which she owned pinned into
the white lace folds at her bosom, his
heart misgave him.
81 have been trimming my bonnet
over with some violet-velvet flowers" "
said she, smiling, 80 as to do you no
dscrcdit, Charley; and | have now
par of vioiet lid gloves. And now
you must drink your tea. I've made
some of your fGvorite cream biscuit,
and the kettle is nearly at the boil.
Oh, Charley, you'll laugh at me, I'm
afraid, but l feel exactly like q lit
tic girl going to her first children's
party. It's 50 seldom, you know, that
q bit Of pleasure comes in my way!''
And then Charles Emery made up
his mind that his mother was more to
him, in her helpless old age and sweet,
affectionate dependence, than any
blooming damscl whose eyes shone
like stars and whose cheeks rivaled
the September peach.
Going with some one. else? said
Kate Marcy, rather surprised and not
exactly pleased.
She was tall, beautiful maiden, the
belle of Crystalton, and rather an
heiress in her own right, with all the
~~-+ shn certainly liked Charles
Emery, and she rather surmised that