The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-03-17

this unprepossessing description,
but pretending to Ralph that she
was going somewhere To attend an
auction sale for the purpose OF &C
ouiring some table furniture. china,
CUTLERY, and such like, she took the
horse cars to Harlem, there chang
ing to another line, which, creeping
gradually out among the eims and
sycamores, took her to the edge OF
the Sound, where there was a strag-
Cling settlement OF little houses
around a tall factory. Ia the farthest
of them ALA queer little cabin
where the spray sparkled It's chin
ney-stack at the equinox tides. and
a row of boats was pulled up on the
edge of the sand. lived Mrs. Peter
Pepinsiall, the woman VINO had sold
the claw-footed bureau to the dealer
in second handed furniture. The
minute Mrs. Crystal saw ner beak-
shaped nose peeping through the
crack of the door she knew she'had
come to the right place
Anything pa'tickler a-wanting ??
said Mrs. Plpinstall. Because I'm
mortal busy to-day a-noviu'. I'm
goin' to live with his folks Up Ia
New London, and I've got all the
hard things to pack and my boarder
to send off to the poor house afore |
can set down to rest. If you're q
book agent, or one o them travelin
photograph people-There comes
Simon Dooli,tle's ene-hoss wagon
now arter my boarder.
She bounced back into the house
like an India-Iubber ball, but En-
nav pushed past her into the carpet
less. unfurnished room, where the
vivid November sunshine printed
off the pattern Of the window panes
on the boards of the floor with a
sort of forlorn glory.
is your boarier an old lady p
said she.
You'll find her in the back
room," screeched Hrs. Pepinstall,
''settin' all ready !"
And sure enough, In the back
room, covering iu the scant warmth
of the sunbeams, sat little old la
dy in a black elk, quilted hood,
snufi colored cloak, and mittened
hands, crossed meek " over each
other, as II waiting for some expect
ed summons. Her wistful eyes
ra,sed themselves piteously 10 the
direction of the newcomer
is il the wagon from the poor
house p she asked. I'm ready
yes, quite ready | didn't think |
should ever come TO this; but I'm
an old woman-a very old woman
My money is all spent. and I've
neither kith nor kin in the world
and I'm an old woman =
Il hate to send her to q place like
that" said Mrs. Pepinstall, reap
peariug on the scene with a band
box and two bund 3, but it's just
as she says, her money is all gone,
and che hasn't no folks of her own,
and what be | to do? His folks up
in New London don't want to take
in no outsiders.
Emmy Crystals eyes shown thro'
tears. She held out both her hands
to the poor little shrunken figure 10
the silk hood and snuff-c0lored
cloak.
Come with me. she said softly.
Who are you ?" asked the old
woman wonderingly.
II am Ralph's wife. You are
Ralph's mother. .
Ralph ran away" faltered the
old woman, her hips beginning to
quiver. Il always said MS father
was too hard on hin. Ralph ran
away and never came back.
But you are going t. him, said
Mrs. Crystal Come with NE
BE you her folks ?" said Mrs.
Pepinstall well. l never did -
Simon Doolittle's one-horse wagon
drove away from the door without
lis expected passenger, and the little
old woman trudged along to the
hoIse-cars leaning on Emmy Crys-
tai : arm.
You're not afraid ?'' soothed the
younger woman, as little shiver
went through the doll-like frame OF
her companion.
No said the other, I'm not
afraid of anything any more I'm
an old woman. If Ralph had come
back they never would have taken
NE to the poor house, for Ralph al
ways loved me
That night when Ralph Crystal
came home to supper he called
cheerily to his wife from the back
room, where he was washing his
hands:
We'll, Emmy, what did you
buy ?"
The old woman started 10 her
feet with dilaied eyes, and figure
projected oreathlessly forward. ( :
identity she recognized the voice.
Mrs. Crystal, with her arm tenderly
around the wasted figure, answer
ed
Come here and viii show you,
RAlYh."
And entering the room Ralph
Crystal came face to face with his
mother
Ralph, Ralphr she cried, grop-
ing III the air with slender, withered
hands.
Mother" be gasped. and then
they were in each others arms.
Emmy stole away with mist Of
toars before her eyes.
From that time until the day of
her death old Mrs. CRYSTAL sat by
her sons hearth, sereuely happy, III
Ralph's love and Emmy's tender
care.
The past and the present were
alike blank to her-she dwelt IN
the present alone.
Ralph ran away y she kept re-
peating to herself. long, long ago.
But he has come back. | always
knew he would come back: and Em-
my is here. too, and although | am
an old woman, they are good and
kind to me-