San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-19
THE TALE OF A WAY STATION
Where a Mother Goes Each Day
to Meet Son Who Will Never
Come.

t"O hOuIS W wall. al oiupty h1bic
wooden station ON a branch line OF
railway, where the only sounds were
the busy, incessant ticking of the
telegraph and the slow sweep of the
wind through leafless trees. The
weather was so mild that 1t was
difficult to believe that q 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, u long hill covered with brown
fields. To the left, beyond these
slopes with their scattered apple
trees, a steep road went across the
hill. In their fenced gardens stood
some small houses, one gable show
ing above another all the way from
the low ground to the hilltop, and 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 Autumn clouds, like a day in
late October, with brilliant sweeps OF
white and dull purple against the
pale blue beyond. Now and then
came q soft CLEAN of winter sunshine.
There were shallow pools of water
shining through the thin rushes in a
piece of low mea low close by, but
there were no birds to dip and fiatten
in them-only one small hawk in
sight, lowering high against the
clouds above the hill.
One of the houses was larger than
the rest, with great square chimney
There were more fruit trees near it
and better outbuildings. All the
way down to the station narrow
fOotpath was deep-trOdden in the
grass-a sharp, wavering line along
the hillside. Its course could be
traced by rise and hollow and along
the ditch-bsnk of the lower
ground.
Driving and walking from ca st
and west along the road came men
and women to gather at the station
joked merrily with one another
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
neighbors, and they grew more and
more jovial with the stationmaster,
who was pursuing the routine nf his
responsibilities with considerable
dignity. The sky seemed to arch
wider and higher over the tiny build
ing and the bustliug group; the sun
shone brighter, and then went under
the clouds again.
Suddenly in the footpath, far above
and near the white honse, appeared
the figure OF o woman, stepping
slowly, coming steadily down alone,
irresOlute, out with increasing eager
ness. She made the wide field look
wider as she crossed it; there was q
strange aspect of ia tally ana accust-
omedness in her manner Of approach
something habitual, and not Occas
ional. AS she drew near there was u
bewildered look upon her face. The
Dystanders hushed their noisy talk,
and made way for this newcomer, as
she Joined them and stood alone on
the platform. A moment later she
looked about with intenseness, aud
recognize two or three persons, who
answered her salation respectfully;
then they shook off the SOLDERING
of her presence and laughed and
talked as before. She seemed wrapt
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 q touch of elegance and refine
ment, as became lady in that SIM
pIe neigh borhood.
The great train came jarring be-
tween the quiet fields and made q
moments stop. There was Q hurrying
of passengers, q heavy tum bling OF
baggage on the platform, delighted
shouts of welcome and surprise and
excited greetings. Then the cars
moved on, with many Indifferent
faces at their windows, and left the
station to its affairs. A young horse
had been startled, and several men
rushed to hold it as it reared and
tried to get free from its harness The
train had almost disappeared In the
distance, and silence returned. The
neighbors were going away with
their guests, but all this time the
solitary old woman stood waiting
alone, as If her own guest had failed
to come and the disappointment was
100 great for instant resignation.
Presently she turned with q sigh,
and with slow steps crossed the road
again, and went away into the fields.
She climbed the long footpsth, max
ing her way toward home aud at last
disappeared at her garden-foo among
the apple trees. AS one watched her,
This sad return appeared as inevitable
~ the hopeful outset. One could
hardly bear to think of her sitting
down alone to her supper, and after.
ward keeping so silent holiday as
the clock struck one hour after
another, and the lonely night came
on. It was impossible not to feel uu-
reasoning resentment toward that