The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-25
TALE OF A WAY STATION.
A MOTHER AWAITS A SON WHO
WILL NEVER CONE.
A Lonely Figure in a Group OF Happy
People -The Great Grief That Drove
Reason from It's Throne-Ihe Haunt


ing Memories Which Remain.
EroRs he Chtoago Netcs.
Two hours to wait; an empty little
wooden station on branch line Of railway.
where the only sounds were the busy, in
cessant ticking of the telegraph and the
slow sweep of the wind through leafless
trees. The weather was so mild that It
was difficult to believe that holiday was
passing slowly by.
When one sat on the platform at the south
side of the building, there was seen beyond
the narrow country road long hill covered
with brown fields. To the left, beyond
these slopes with their scattered apple trees.
steep road went across the hill. In
their fenced gardens stood some small
houses, one gable showing above another
all the way from the low ground
to the hilltop. and all at different angles, as
if they were either trying to climb up or
had once stood at the top and slipped down
along the grass. The sky was full of cold
autumnal Clouds like day In late October
with brilliant sweeps of white and dull pur-
pie against the pale blue beyond. Now and
then came u soft CLEAN of winter sunshine.
There were shallow pools OF water shining
through the thin rushes in piece of low
meadow close by. but there were no birds to
dip and hutter in them-only one small
hawk in sight, towering high against the
clouds above the hill.
One of the houses was larger than the
rest, with a great square chimney. There
were more fruit trees near it, and better
outbuildingS All the way down to the
station a narrow footpath was deep
trodden in the grass--a sharp, waverinR
line along the hillside. Its course could be
traced by rise and hollow and along the
ditch bank Of the lower ground.
Driving and walking from east and west
along the road came men and women to
gather at the station and wait for the next
train. They joked merrily with one an
other. Some were going away, and some
spoke Of the friends whom they had come
to meet. There was look Of holiday
making about the country neghbors, and
they grew more and more ioyial with the
statlonmaster, who was pursuing the rou-
tine of his responsibilities with considerable
dignity. The sky seemed to arch wider
and higher over the tiny building and the
bustling group; the sun shone brighter, and
then went under the clouds again.
Suddenly in the footpath, lar above and
near the white house. appeared the figure
of woman, stepping slowly, coming
steadily down-alone, irresolute, but with
increasing eagerness. She made he wide
field look wider as she crossed it, there was
a strange aspectof fatality and accustomed-
ness in her manner of pproach-something
habtual, and not occasional. AS she drew
near there was a bewildered look upon her
face. The bystsnders hushed their
noisy talk, and made way for this
and stood alone waiting on the platform. A
moment later she looked about with intense
ness, and recognized two or three persons.
who answered her salutatiou respectfully;
then they shook off tho sobsring effect Of
her presence and laugh ed and talked as be-
fore. She seemed wTapt in dull reflection
at first; presently she turned to look eagerly
for the train.
She was an old woman, thin and bent,
dressed neatly in black. with even a touch
of elegance and refinement, as became
lady in that simple neighborhood
The great train came Earring between the
quiet fields and made q moments stop.
There was a hurrying of passengers, a
heavy tumbling of baggage on the rlat-
form, delighted shouts Of welcome and sur
prise, and excited greetings. Then the cars
moved on, with many Indifferent faces at
their windows, and left tee station to its
own affairs. A young horse had been
startled, and several men rushed to hold il
as it reared and tried to get free from its
harness. The train had almost disappeared
in the distance, and silence returned Tho
guests, but all this time the solitary old
woman stood waiting alone, as if her own
guest had failed to come. and the disappoinu-
ment was too great for instant resignation
Presently sho turned with a sign, and
with slow steps crossed the road again, and
went away into tho fields She climbed the
long footpath, making her way toward
home, and at last disappeared at her garden
foot among the apple trees. AS one watched
her, this sad return appeared as Inevitable
as the hopeful outset. One could hardly
bear TO think of her sitting down to her
supper, and afterwerd keeping 50 silent
holiday as the clock struck one hour after
another, aud the lonely night came on It
was impossible not to feel unreasoning re-
sentiment toward that guest who had disap-
pointed this afTec5lonate heart.
Later, the station master had finished his
accounts in his small, cold otfice and came
out in the mild open air to walk to and fro.
he had an anxious, official aspect, as if the
cares of his own position had all the we ght
of the great railway system to which he
was linked. There was u kind neighborli-
ness about the good man in this time of
leisure; he spoke of the mild weather, and
the rush Of travel just before the coming
holiday.
There was an old lady who came down
by that footpath to meet some one who did
not arrive" said l, suggestlvely.
GU saw n6r, uHens' SalQ inc SLablOn-
master, compassionately. "She always
comes to that train; If it's ever SO late she
waits for it. She had an only son which
was expected home this time o. day, and
met his death in one o. those great accidents.
She seemed to understand 'most too well at
the time; was to his funeral and all, but
afterward her mind failed her, and she
can't hear to it that he isn't coming She's
sensible enough about most things. but she
gets ready for him every day, as pleased as
can be. Some people try to argue her out
of it, but | call it no kindness. IL pleases
her to get ready, and for al she is so disap-
pointed here at the minute. By the time she
gets home she is full OF hope again"
Poor sauLp' said |.
"Yes, it's SD care, answered the sta
tionmaster. "You might think l was used
TO it by this time, but it amt SO. and seeing
all the rest of the folks to-day carrying on
their fun and all so lively, having Just |
what they wanted, the sight of her came |
over me as il IL was the first time. You
saw her coming down the hill? He was q
likely man, her son was; one o. the smart |
est that ever went from here
when it's rainy weather, or after winter |
comes, she's persuaded out o. meetiu' tie |
train. She gets uneasy, and talks about 1t,
but there's a nice, good hearted woman lives |
witn her, and she says her son wouldn't be |
pleased If she risked her health, and tells her |
all such sensible things, till she's willing to |