The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-12-25

orchestra
Brace1uiiy waved his fiddle, bowed low
ana replied: "Sans doute." Poor won.
an she looked into their ewes to So -
Cney were hooking her; then. con.
Vinced OF their good faith, she mustere,,
Ill her strength, and with the s+r.,,o.a
surging still in her ears. smiled ga
i thank YOU" turned quickly and laf+
Uiie theater. How she got home was
always mystery to her. Martbo
nearu falnt pull at the bell. hastenad
10 the door and found her mistress
pale as death, but with her ewes VII,
open ana set smile on her lips. She
put her to bed, held her quivering body
TILL by degrees the tortured soul begao
to still itself and the overwrought brain
found relief in such healing tears &c
had not come before in all tbosa
strained days of trial. And now there
was practicing and preparation of cos
tumes' then the first appearance and
the many succeeding, all justifying the
acumen of her friend the impressario
GRADUALLY all pressing need. the in
debtedness, the grinding care disan-
oeared, and she could have been CON-
paratively happy.
All day, save for the morning hour Of
rehearsal, she kept Maizie beside her
1t was Maize who made dailv holo-
caust of unopened billets-doux and
adorned her nursery with the flowers
that invariably accompanied them. II
was Maizie who first enjoyed, almost in
spired, the dances she invented. and
who first praised her Sweet Mumsie"
In her artistic costumes. Every even
Ing she left the child with new pang.
though she could not but feel her safe
with good Martha, and flew on the
wings of love to her bedside on her re-
turn. Resolutely she shut her eyes TO
all that displeased her in her new sur
roundings, and soon her dancing be-
came to her an infatuation. For the
time she was on the stage all else was
forgotten. Her grief fell from her like
dismal garment, and she stood the
personification of laughing youth.
grace and JOY. Always CARRIED in white
and with II gauzy, wing-lile scarf
La Paloma" they called her after her
first dance-she foated in an atmos-
phere chaste and poetic, too delicate to
be misunderstood. and, as before. even
the women were charmed. Yes, she
might have become content, but daily
Maize grew weaker and more fragile.
and her heart failed within her She
would take the child in her despairing
arms and hold her so close that the
little one would cry out, yet was happy
withal i'm the embrace, for she loved her
''Mumsie" with a deep devotion, ant
seemed with strange prescience to un
derstand much.
One night-it was about three months
after her debut-she left home little
lighter of heart than usual. Maize had
been feverish all day, and had grown
quieter toward evening, and they had
lad a royal game of romps and "big.
big hug and kiss" when she left.
Toward the close of the evening she be-
gan to grow i'll at ease, and throwing
her fur-lined mantle about her. without
changing her costume, she left the
theater humiedly. and. jumping into
hanson, was driven home In all haste.
The front door was open. From the hall
came the voice of her physician:
go quickly, or she will not know
her"
'Who will not know whom?" she
said to herself "Who will not know
whom?" she reiterated to the physi-
clan, as she walked quickly into the
house.
He took her in his strong arms, car
ried her to the nursery and placed her
in chair beside the child. The dear
little face. already famed by the wings
of the angels. flushed softly.
81 was waiting, Mumsie," she whis-
pered; 'you will dance for me now, will
you not?"
She fell on her knees beside the
| couch. and took the little one in her
arms.
Sweet, lovely Mumsie," said the
child, kissing the bare arms; you Will
be a real dove in Heaven"
"Maizie. Maizie, do not leave me!
walled the trembling woman.
mo, Mumsie," answered the chlid'
"vou shall come too"
The mother gazed at her. speechless
and wild with alarm.
"Mumsie," said the little ohe' inS
to raise the heavy little head with the
| short golden curls IN damp ringlets on
the pale forehead. "Mumsie dear, do
dance. Perhaps the angels don't dance
| and love it so"
With great sob and asuPreme error ~,
che rose from her knees, threw off the
heavy cloak which was still about her.
| ard began to dance. Was ever such
martvrdom, ever such bravery? An!
Mother and Saint, in other days canon
ization was often more lightly won. On
she danced in the dimly-lit death cnan',
her those outside standing with bated
breath not daring to enter, yet seeing
all Sweetly the child smiled lii'eo
The little hand once as if to thank ner'
then the fiuttering eyelids closed. the
Iong lashes rested on the pale cheeks
and she was still. Closer and closer
danced the mother till she leaned anN-
;onslv breathlessly over the chiid, tear,
inc to stop abruptly lest she snou''
wal<en her. Then with cry that rang
through the house. and rings now ID Ine
cars of the two who waited OUTSIDE .pe
door. she fell on the couch besioe he'
angel. and the brave heart broke