The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-02-14
HIS MOTHER.

and sluggish forest streams in theil
uncertain mist, the factory chimney:
hung their fiery banners of smoke
against the leaden sky, a basso-relievC
that would have made Rembrandt him
self rejoice, and the hum of never.
ceasing machinery in the little towr
rose above the rush of the river like
the buzz of a gigantic insect.
Charles Emory, the day superintend-
ent in the rolling mills, was just retir.
ing to his home having been relieved
by the night superintendent, and as he
walked along, his feet sounding crisply
on the hard, frozen earth, he whiStled
softly to himself, as light hearted as a
bird
You're going with us tonight, Char
ley, to the opera?" cried a gay voice
and two or three young men came by.
For upon that especial evening there
was to be an opera in the little town, a
genuine New York company. with a
chorus, full orchestra, and all the
paTaphernalia of scenery and costume
which provincial residents so seldom
enjoy, and the younger population were
on the qui vive of delightful expecta-
ton.
Il am going" said Emory. slowly;
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 Hal
lowells 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" said Emory.
Harrison laughed.
We'll, I'm sorry for it," said he,
but Miss Marcy is not a girl who
need pine for a cavalier. Well keep
the seat for you until a quarter of s,
old fellow Kate Marcy is a high
minded girl-it won't do to trifie too
much with her!"
Charles Emory went on his way
rather graver and more self-absorbed.
He had asked his mother the day be-
fore to go, 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 is twenty years or more since I
have been to an opera. And if you're
quite sure, dear, that there is no young
lady whom you would rather take
AS if any young girl in the world
could be to me what my own darling
mother isl" replied Emory, smiling
across the table at her,
Then 1 shall be delighted to CO."
said Mrs. Emory. And her voice and
eyes bore witness to the truth of her
words.
But now that regular party had
been organized, and Kate Marcy had
promised to join it, things looked diff
ferent to the young man. For mo-
ment he almost regretted that he had
engaged himself to take his mother.
She would be as well pleased with
any concert he said to himself, land
1 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
But when he went into the little sit
ting room of their humble domain, and
saw his mother with her silver-gray
hair rolled into puffs on either side of
her almost unwrinkled brow, her best
black silk donned, and the opal brooch
she owned pinned into the white lace
folds at her her bosom, his heart mis-
gave him.
IT have been trimming my bonnet
over with some violet velvet flowers"
said she, smiling, so as to do you no
discredit, Charley; and l have a new
pair of violet kid gloves. And now
you must drink your tea. I've made
some of your favorite cream biscuit,
and the kettle is nearly boiling. Oh,
you'll laugh at me, I'm afraid,
but feel like little 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 up
his mind that his mother was more to
him in her helpless old age and sweet |
affectionate dependence, than any
blooming damsel whose eyese shone |
like stars and whose cheeks rivalled !
the September peach.
Going with some one else,'' said |
Kate Marcy, rather surprised and not |
exactly pleased.
She was a tall beautiful maiden, and |
heiress in her own right. She like6 |
Charles Emery, and she rather sur
missed that he liked her. And when |
she had been studying up her toilet |
for the opera, she had selected a blue |
dress, with blue flowers for her hair |
and ornaments of turquoise, because |
she had once heard Mr. Emery say |
that blue was his favorite color.
Going with some one elSe?" she re-
peated. well, he has a right to suit !
himself"
And she kept within her own soul
the jealousy that disturbed her AL |
the while she was sitting waiting for
the great green curtain to be drawn
up, until, of a sudden, there was a
slight hustle on the row of seats be- |
yond, and Emery entered with his
mother.
Then Hates overgroomed face grew
bright again. She drew long breath |
of relief and turned to the stage; it |
was as if the myriad of gas lights had |
all of a sudden been turned up, as if |
ali the mimic world in the opera house
had grown radiant.
Never was a voice sWeeter to her
ears than the somewhat thin and ex- /
hausted MARBLE of the prima donna;
never did the scenery glow with such
natural tints or footlights shine more
softly. Kate Marcy declared that the /
opera was "pcrfectionI"
Yes. but" said pert little Nina |.
do look at Charley Emery
with that little old woman! Why |
couldn't he have come and sat with
us?"
Kate said nothing. In the crowd
now surging out of the aisleS of the
little opera house she could scarcely
venture to express her entire opinion,
but she said in a low, earnest tone:
II don't know what you think of it,
Nina; but 1, for my part, respect Mr.
Emery a thousand times more for his
to his mother"
And almost at the same second, she
found herself looking directly into
-barley's eyes.
For a moment emily. The crowd
them almost ere thew could