Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-04-12

might 60 with me: but she 10 quite an
old lady. you know. and it. would
trouble her to change the day Of her
journey, when she has once arranged
for it. Are you quite sure that you do
not mind receiving her alone? l will
telegraph her if you wish it." But !
could hardly be as selfish as that. and
in an excess of bravery. l even refused
to have Frank come at night.
Charles mother was coming that
evening. I had never seen her. for our
engagement had been short one. and
she had spent the last two years in
California with a married daughter;
but she had written me many times,
and felt as if in her should find the
mothers love end care which l had SO
sorely missed since the death of my
own mother, five years before. So /
went about the house trying to make
every room take on an especially
bright and CHEEKY aspect.
did not 60 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 ar
ranged for Frank to meet her and
bring her to the house. When l 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 it 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.
"It is strange that she has not tele-
graphed." he said, "for l never knew
her to break an engagement. Then.
as he saw that l felt anxious. he added:
II presume she has telegraphed. 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 l was
just fastening the doors for the night,
when there was ring at the front
door. A lamp post was opposite our
house, and as l peeped through the
side-lights l saw a lady standing on
the step. Iopened the door, and there
was Charles mother. alone.
lis Charlie here?" she asked, in a
tired voice.
mo, but it is Charles house, and l
am Alice, and I'm so glad you have
come" and threw my arms around
her neck, and led her in. for l had
really been afraid that something had
happened to her.
"But where is Frank? How did he
miss you?" asked.
''Frank, Frank" she said, absent
ly. "He is not a good son, he never
was. But there. am speaking as if l
was his mother. Pm not his mother"
and she laughed lightly and happily.
Charlie is my boy, and You are
Charles wife. I thought Charles
wife Had blue eyes, and yours are
brown, but you'll be daughter to me,
won't you, and love me ever so
much?"
She seemed so tired that I suggested
that she should have some tea and 90
to bed. AS we were going upstairs l
SAID: 81 don't see how Frank could
have missed you, for he waited for
both trains"
Il wasn't on the train" she said.
"Then it must be that Frank did
not know there was later one," said
L Il am SO sorry that you should
have had to come alone. but we will
try to make you forget what hard
time you have had in getting here"
We had agreed that Charles
mother should not be put in our rcgu-
lar guest chamber, which was little
apart from the main body of the
house. and which might. fapcied, be
a trifie lonesome, but that she should
have room next our own. There
was door between, and l asked if l
should leave it open.
"Yes." she said. "leave all the
doors open, so that if Charlie comes
he will know where 1 am" and she
laughed again. with that same musical,
childlike laugh that l had thought so
pleasant.
said goodnight. and went to my
room, leaving the door ajar. The
presence of this CHEEKY little lady in
the next room took away all my lone
illness. Her light was burning for a
long time, and l remember thinking
it a little strange that she should sit
up late when she had seemed SO tired.
"But it is more strange l said to
| myself. " that woman so accustomed
to travelling should be tired by a
three hours journey. hope did not
hurry her off to her room before she
was ready" and then fell asleep.
1t must have been several hours
later that 1 was aroused by a voice
from the next room, and the first gray
| light of the autumn morning showed
| me Charles mother grooming and
tossing. apparently in great suffering.
| Her cheeks were red. and her eyes