Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-07-02
From the Catholic Mirror.
WAITING.
BY EMMA HOWARD WIGHT.

was girl of fifteen when we first came
to live in Barclay street. Mother had just
died, and our little cottage home, down in
the country, had become intolerable to
father, SO he decided we should go to the
city, where clerkship had been offered
him. 1t nearly broke my heart to leave
the pretty cottage for lodging house in a
dull, narrow street; but tried to be brave
before father and cheerful. His was diff
ferent nature from mine. l loved all that
breathed of my mothers presence, while
ho could not bear the sight of the simple
little home where they lived so happily,
and which brought always before him his
loss. So we came to the city and took up
our abode in Barclay street, which, as |
said before, was dull and narrow, the
houses ugly and old-fashioned. My life
was veiy lonely, as father was away all
day, and l missed the opeE-air country life
1 had always led.
Sitting at the parlor window a great deal,
I soon became very much interested in my
opposite neighbor. Her little gray, two
story house was the prettiest in Barclay
street, with it's white blinds and flower
filled windows, and a middle-aged servant
woman was her only companion. She was
known in Barclay street as "Miss Molly"
and loved and reverenced for her goodness
and charity among the poor and suffering.
A little, slender woman, with pale, deli
cate face, sad blue eyes, and sweet, gentle
lips, which rarely smiled, gave when she
spoke to or caressed a Little child. She al
ways wore a black dress, hanging in
straight folds about her little figure,
spotlessly white, soft handkerchief crossed
over her breast, and her hair, which was
snowy white, put smoothly under a pretty,
old-fashioned lace cap.
After little we became acquainted and
a new life began for me. We met one
morning as 1 was On my way to the pro-
vision store and she was starting on some
errand Of mercy. She smiled and made
some remark about the beauty of the day,
and we walked down the street together
Before we parted, she invited me to come
and tabe tea with her the following after.
noon. I went, only too gladly, and those
were the happiest hours l had spent for
some time. After we had had tea in the
cozy dining-room, l eat down On a low has
sock at her feet and told her all about
mother; and l loved her from the moment
she laid her hand upon my head and
murmured so softly and pityipgly, ''poor
child"
After that evening I spent great deal
of my time with Miss Molly, and my life
was no longer dull and lonely. I soon
grew to love her very dearly and she re-
turned my affection. After little while
began to suspect that some past sorrow
cast It's shadow over her life; but had
known her year before my suspicious
were confirmed. 1t was lovely morning,
the first Gay of June, and had bought
beautiful bunch of roses for Miss Molly
when went to do my marketing. When
| T I ho i
ran in and up to the little room where
Miss Molly usually sat the first part of the
morning. She was sitting in her low
rocking chair, her head lying back heavily,
her little white hands resting idly On her
lap. As she turned her face toward me |
saw it was white and stained from long
and bitter weeping. The next moment l
was kpeeling at her feet, my arms about
her, imploring her to tell me if she were i'll
OF what was wrong. She looked down into
my face for a few moments, then she said
quietly: "To day, dear, is the anniversary
of a great suffering in my life, and for
many long years l have spent it in bitter
weeping; child,' she went on, putting her
hand under my chin, and raising my face
that she might see better into my eyes,
| ssyour eyes are 30 true, SO full of affection
and sympathy, that a longing comes over
Gae TO Tell you Cne SGt'ry OF my lie, anu GDe
| sorrow which has darkened it. I have
kept it locked in my heart so long that it
will be a relief to unburden it,.
"My parents were well-to-do. people of
the middle class, and l was their only child
for ten years, and then my little brother
was born. My parents were very fond and
proud Of the child as he grev from baby
hood, for he was remarkably beautiful; but
their affection was nothing to the love
bore him. People used to wonder at it;
even my parents were puzzled by it. When
1 was seventeen'years of sge, and Robbie,
my little brother, seven, my parents died
within the same year. Ny fathers income
had been derived from salary, which, of
course, ceased at bis death; but just about
that time small fortune was left me by
an aunt, including this House. Here we
came to live, Robbie and and Margaret,
who is with me now. My whole life was
then devoted to my idolized brother, to the
exclusion of all else. l could have had
lovers. could have married; but no one
could come before Robert in my heart. He
did not lose his beauty as he grew older; he
was bright, lovable, affectionate; but, alas
weak, easily influenced, and possessed of a
quick, fiery temper, which he never tried
to oontrol or restrain.
I will not linger over the years that
passed unit Robert had reached his II rsnty.