Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-04-13

care which | had so sOTely missed
since the death of my mother, five
years before. SO 1 went about the
house trying to make every room
take on an especially bright and
CHEEKY aspect.
did not go to the train to meet
her, for Charlie had a fancy that a
lady should never 60 to a railroad
station unless it was necessary,
and he had arranged for Frank to
meet her and bring her to the
house. When l heard the whistle
of the engine, l listened to every
carriage that rolled up the street,
but not one stopped at our door,
At last Frank rang the bell, but it
was only to say that he had met
the express train and had waited
for the accommodation, but his
aunt had not come.
"It is strange that she has not
telegraphed," he said, "fOr | never
knew her to break an engagement"
Then, as he saw that felt anxious,
he added: 81 presume she has tel
egraphed, but now that there is so
much trouble between the rival
companies, perhaps kilograms are
not quite as sure as they used to
be-
The evening wore slowly away.
Bridget had gone to bed, and !
was Just fastening the doors for the
night, when there was a ring at the
front door. a lamp post was OPP
posite our house, and as Deeped
through the side.lights | saw a
lady standing on the step. l open
ed the door, and there was Charles
mother, alone.
ais Charlie here " she asked, in
a tired voice.
"No, but it is Charles house,
and l am Alice, and Pm so glad
you have come" and l threw my
arms around her neck, and led her
in, for I had really been afraid that
( something had happened to her.
"But where is Frank How did
he miss you 7" asked.
"trank, Frank" she said, alb
sently. ale is not good son, he
never was. But there, l am speak
ing as if | was his mother, I'm
not his MOTHER" and she laughed
lightly and happily. Charlie is my
boy, and you are Charles wife.
thought Charles wife had blue
eyes, and yours are brown, bn1
you'll be a daughter to me, won't
you, and love me ever so much 2
She seemed so tired that | sug
gested that she should have some
tea and 20 to bed. AS We were
going upstairs 1 said: 81 don't see
how Frank could have missed you
for he waited for both tralns."
81 wasn't on the train," she SAID,
"Then it must be that Frank did
not know there was later one,
SAID l.. 81 am so sorry that you
should have had to come alone, but
we will try to make you forget
what a hard time you have had in
getting here"
We had agreed that Charles
mother should not be put in OuT
regular guest chamber, which was
little apart from the main body
of the house, and which might,
fancied, be a tnfle lonesome, but
that she should have room next
our own. There was a door be
tween, aud | asked if | should
leave it open.
eyes," she said, "leave all the
doors open, so that ifCharlie comes
he will know where / am" and she
laughed again, with that samC
musical, chlldlike laugh that | had
thought so pleasant.
SAID goodnight, and went tt
my room, leaving the door aiar.-
The presence of this CHEEKY LITTLE
lady in the next room took away
all my loneliness. Her light wal
burning for a long time, and | re
member thinking it q little strang'
that she should sit up late wheI
she had seemed TO tired. "But /
is more strange | said to myself
"that a woman so accustomed Il
travelling should be tired by a tire
hours journey. / hope / did no
hurry her off to her room befor,
she was ready" and then | feI
asleep.
1t must have been several hour
later that | was aroused by a voic
from the next room, and the frs
gray light OF the autumn mOrnin
hOwed me Charles mother groar
ing and tossing, apparently in grea
suffering. Her cheeks we're rec
and her eyes splrkled with an nj
natural light.
"Don't you KIN Ow, Frank wa
coming in at that door ~ she salt
"and Charlie is not here,' and the
she went on ray ing about Charli
and Frank, and many other name
that we're strange to me, until
was plain to me, unused to Hines
as I was, that she was IN a ragin