The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-03-30

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were not for mothers coming. yon
might 60 with me; but she y quite an
old lady. you know. and u would
trouble ner 10 change the day Of her
journey. when she has once arranged
for II. Arc you quite sure that you 10
not mind receiving her alone? will
telegraph her II you wish t." But J
could hardly be rs selfish as that. and
In an excess Of bravery. even refused
10 have Frank come AZ night
Charles mother WAS coming that
evening. had never seen her. for our
engagement had been a short ore. and
she had spent the last two years in
California with n married daughter;
but she had written me many times
and felt us II in her should find the
mothers love and care which had so
sorely missed since the death Of my
own mother. five years before. SO !
went about the house trying 70 make
every room take on an especially
bright anu cheery aspect.
| ! did not 20 Z" the train to meet her.
for Charlie had fancy that lady
should never 20 TO railroad station
unless il was necessary. and he had ar
ranged for Frank To meet her and
bring her TO the house. When ! heard
the whistle Of the engine, listened TO
every carriage that rolled up the street.
but not one stopped at our door. AT
last Frank rang the bell. but II was
only to say that he had met the ex-
press train and had waited for the ac-
commodation, but his aunt had not
come
| lit is strange that she has not tele-
graphcd." he said. .for ncver knew
her 70 break an engagement" Then,
as he saw that ] felt anxious. he added;
~ presume she has teicgraphed. but
now that there is so much trouble be-
tween 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 opposite our
house. and as ! peeped through the
sidc-lights l saw a lady standing on
the step. Iopcned the door. and there
was Charles mother. alone.
| lis Charlie here?" she asked, in .
tired voice.
4 mo. but il is Charles house. and
am Alice, and I'm so glad you have
come" and threw my arms around
her neck. and led her in. for / had
really been afraid that something HAD
happened to her.
But where is Frank? How did hi
miss you'" ] asked.
"Frank. Frank" she said. absent
". '.Hc is not good son. he never
was But there. am speaking rs if
was his mother. I'm not his mother. :
and she laughed lightly and happily
Charlie is my boy. and you arr
Charles wife ! Thought Charlie
,, wife had blue eyes, and yours ar
brown. but you'll be daughter TO me
, won't you. and love me ever 8
much?''
She seemed so tired that suggested
that she should have some tea and g
TO bed As we were going upstairs
sand: II don't see how Frank couls
have missed you, for he waited 70
both trains"
~ wasn't on the train" she said
"Then it must be that Frank dix
/, not know there was = later one,' sale
l. II am so sorry that you shouls
|, have had to come alone. but we viii
try to make you forget what hars
time you have had in getting here"
We had agreed that Charlie
i mother should not be put in our regu
! lar guest chamber. which was littl
! apart from the main body Of III
Z house. and which might. Ifapcied, b
trifIe lonesome. but that she shoul'
have a room next our own. Their
i was door between. and ! asked If
! should leave il open.
YES" she said. "leave all tn
4 doors open. 50 that II Charlie come
= he will know where / am" and sh
I laughed again. with that same musical
Q childIike laugh that ! had thought >
0 pleasant.
said goodnight. and went to M,
!. room. leaving the door ajar. tn
n presence Of this CHEEKY little lady i
1 the next room took away all my lone
n illness Her light was burning for
!. long time, and remember thinkin
/ il little strange that she should 81
\ up ate when she had seemed so tired
: \. But IL Is more strange" ! said I
myself. "that woman 50 accustome
9 to travelling should be tired by
three hours journey. hope ! did no
4 hurry her OF to her room before sh
i was ready" and then fell asleep
1 II must have been several hour
4 later that ] was aroused by a voic
< from the next room. and the first gra,
' light Of the autumn morning shove
I me Charlle's mother grooming an
K tossing. apparently in great suffering
!. Her cheeks were red, and her eye
1 sparklcd with an unnatural light.
Don't you know, Frank was com
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