The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-01-08
HIS MOTHER.

~ HE cold gray shadows of the
~ wintry twilight had enveloped
tree and meadow and sluggish for.
est streams, in their uncertain
mist, the factory chimneys flung
their fiery banners of smoke against
the leaden sky, Il basso relieve
that would have made Rembrandt
himself rejoice, and the hum Of
never ceasing machinery in the lit.
tie town rose above the rush of the
river like the buzz of II gigantic in.
sect.
Charles Emery, the day superin
tendent in the rolling mills, was
just retiring to his home, having
been relieved by the night superiu,
tendcnt, and as he walked along,
his feet sounding crisply on the
hard, frozen earth, he whistled
softly TO himself, as light hearted
as q bird.
You're going with us to-night
Charley, to the OPERA cried n
gay voice, as two or three young
men came by.
For upon that special evening
there was to be an opera in the lit.
tie town, genuine New York com.
pany, with a chorus, Il full Orches.
ira, and all the paraphernalia of
scenery and costume which pro-
vincia! residents so seldom enjoy,
and the younger population were
on the qui vive of delightful ex.
pectation.
II am going" said Emery, slow
ly; but not with you"
But you will change your mind,
though, said Harrison, when
you hear that Kate Marcy is to be
of our party-kate Marcy and the
Miss Hallowelis and Fanny Hewitt.
There are eight of us going
We've kept a seat Oh purpose for
you"
Il have engaged myself to an
other lady" said Emery.
Harrison laughed.
well, I'm sorry for it," said
he; but Miss Marcy is not a girl
who need pine for cavalier. Wen
keep the seat for You until a quar-
ter of eight. And let me give you
a warning, old fellow! Kate Mar
cy is high minded girl-it won't
do to trihe much with herr
Charles Emery went on his way
rather graver and more self-a
sorbed He had asked his mother
the day before to go, and his moth
er's eyes had frightened with gen
uine delight
Your father often used to take
me, Charley" she said, when we
were young people and lived in
New York, But it is twenty years
and more since have been to an
opera. And if you're quite sure,
dear, that there is no young lady
whom you had rather take''--
"As if any young girl in the
world could be to me what my own
darling mother is! " replied Emery,
smiling across the table to her.
Then shall be delighted to
60" said Mrs. Emery. And her
voice and eyes bore witness to the
truth of her words.
But now that regular party
had been organized and Kate Mar
cy had promised to join it, things
looked different to the young man.
For moment he almost regretted
that he had engaged himself to
take his mother.
"She would be ms well pleased
with any concert" )" he said to him.
self, "aud ] should have the oppor-
tunity of sitting all the evening
next to Kate Marcy. I'll ask her
to let me off this time. She won't
care"
But when he went into the little
sitting room of their humble do
main, and saw his mother with her
silver gray hair rolled into puffs
on either side of her almost un-
wrinkled brow, her best black silk
donned, and the opal brooch she
owned pinned into the white lace
folds at her breast, his heart mis-
gave him.
Il have been trimming my bon
net over with some violet. velvet
flowers" said she, smiling, so as
to do you no discredit, Charley;
and have new pair of violet kid
gloves. And now you must drink
your tea. I've made some of your
favorite cream biscuits, and the
kettle is nearly boiling. Oh, Char