The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-08-23
Mother

o. s@'''S'
ITO the temperance meeting. l
promised to play for the Society to-
night. You won't mind, will your
"Be home early, dear"
"Yes, but don't worry if 1 should
be detained. Johnny will take care
of me. Can you have a little hot
chocolate ready for me when | get
homer"
And when evening came the bright
face and cheerful voice were gone.
Everywhere but here" sighed the
weary mother, as she turned up the
light, and seated herself to her long
evenings work.
There was knock at the door. A
neighbor came in, one of those wo-
men who, though NOS generally Xix
ed, contrive to keep on a good foot
ing with their neighbors through
sheer force Of persistence.
81 was sure | should find you
alone" she said. "Kate is out?"
ayes; she has gone to the temper
ance meeting. She is very useful
there"
"Hum!" said Mrs. Grace, her keen
eyes reading the pale, patient face.
"Kate seems to be a favorite every
where, but l should think you'd want
her at home more. Aren't you lone
some Of evenings? l shouldn't know
what to do without my Liza"
Hates mother almost smiled in
voluntarily. Liza was a very home
ly girl, without ambition and almost
without spirit. She was Kate's SEN
ior by nearly twenty years; yet there
was something pathetic in the care
and love she showed for her mother.
Eyes, think Kate is favorite,"
she made reply. Nothing in the way
Of amusement seems to 60 on with
out her help. l want her to enjoy
herself while she can; trouble always
comes soon enough"
"NIost likely it will if she marries
Johnny Palmer" ventured Mrs.
Grace.
"Why, what do you mean? What
about Johnny" asked the woman,
with nervous interest.
ooh, nothing-only he neglects his
mother as much as"
Gas Kate negIects me, you would
say" exclaimed Mrs. Raynor, with a
touch of anger. "You may be sure
Mrs. Grace, that my child has not
the least thought that she is neglect
ing me-and she isn't" she added,
with q mothers self-abnegation. 81
cannot expect to keep her, so young
and so full of life, housed day and
night with an old woman like me-"
"Old!" laughed Mrs. Grace, "Why,
Kate Is seventeen, and you are only
about twenty years her senior. You
ought this moment TO be almost as
youthful and as fresh.looking as she
is. Kate is good girl, I'm sure, but
people are talking, Mrs. Raynor, since
Joe died"
Joe was Mr.. Raynor. He had been
dead now nearly three years.
Meantime Kate sat at the little or.
gan in the brightly-lighted hall, and
played and sang, and looked very
handsome and was doing her duty,
and the girl really desired to do some
good in the world.
Earlier in the evening she had ov.
er'heard some one say: "Did you
ever see a. happier.looking woman
than Bessy's mother? Or a younger?
One would take them for sisters"
Somehow the words had fingered
in Rates mind, and now she turned
and looked at Bessy's mother. There
she sat, serene and smiling, every
now and then nodding to Bessy, as
something was said or done that met
with her approval.
mamma is my beau" How Of
ten she had heard Bessy say that
Some way her own mothers sad pale
face forced itself before her.
1t was not quite honorable. She
felt herself blush. If Johnny were
to ask her to morrow, she could. not
marry him. How much nobler and
better Bcssy was actingl
GLOW selfish l have been?" she
thought with sigh,
!. Kate, are you dreaming! Didn't