Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-11-01

| ulUE0 tlluc lUI HOlSnOOiiy
ing. Nobody thought of entertaining
Mrs. Allen in the parlor In ceremonious
fashion. She generally slipped around
TO the kitchen door, with beaming apo
logy for some appetizing offering, and,
however, the family might be engaged,
there never was the smallest hestta-
ton about welcoming this guest into
their midst. She talked good deal in
her simple, good natured garrulity, but
| everybody's secrets were safe with her;
and, with all her lack of education and
refinement, all recognized In the rough
quartz natures true gold.
She came in now, fair, fat and smll-
ing, the incarnation of good nature. II
jest run over with few fried cakes
know you like 'em when they're warm,"
painting softly with her journey up the
stairs-''and, thinks 1, I'll jest run in
and sit down minute"
"How kind you are!" taking the nap
kin covered plate with smile full OF
| grateful tenderness. Anita was
| strangely softened in her ways. The
unconscious arrogance Of girlish pride,
that demands all the good things OF
life as its right, had left her, and
in its place was gentle humility
that would bring tears to her
eyes at an unexpected kindness. She
J had fallen into listless attitude, expect
| ing nothing of life, feeling only morbid
ly sure of sorrow, finding ever shock
of sweet surprise when friendly heart
was found to plan some small pleasure
| for her.
HA,d VIII . bo ror do;n,o,, ouariad tho
guest, bending over the fresh canvas as
il to smell the fresh paint.
"Trying to paint this rose" Anita in
diligently explained, indicating the
flower, while she unceremoniously broke
one of the delicate cakes.
"Yes?" doubtfully studying the paint
ing. "Why, you've kind Of got bunch
of 'em here, hain't you? But you hev
got 'em jest the color of roses, for
fact" in tone of kindly encourage
ment. "And how long hev you been a
dom this?"
"Only yesterday afternoon, and little
while to-day"
Land sakes! But then I'd know as
you've got anything better to do" as If
good naturally bound 10 find excuses for
such awful waste Of time. "lt must be
awful tedious, though, settin' still that
way. No wonder you look thin and
peeked. You'd ought to go out more"
500 you think SOP" with smiling in
| difference. "These cakes are delicious.
Il most generally hev good luck
with comfortable complacency. "But
you'd ought to get out more, say.
'Twould kind of chirk you up. Why
| don't you go over, now, and see poor
Mis- Rogers?"
"Mrs. Rogers?" with quick, sur
prised GESTURE of recoil. And why
Mrs. ROgers?"
Because she's in'trouble, that's why.
| thought as | was comm along that |
would just speak to you about her, for
you've got more time and money, too,
| for that matter, to spare for neighoorln
than the heft Of US has"
And what is the trouble? Have the
neighbors been talking about her
again?" her nostrils family Guivering,
a cruel smile curling her lips.
'If they be, they amt sayin' no worse
| than that the doctor amt had business
enough to keep salt in their porridge.
| and that they are about wantin' the nee
essaries of life" with unwonted sharp
ness. "Of course they are too proud to
say anything, but l hev it straight
enough, and know it is so. And she
has been so poorly that she don't do
much OF anything but set and cry.
Mebbe YOU know that she is expectin'
baby soon."
"No: I did mot know" said Anita
slowly, absently watching a llnt-laden
branch of cottonwood swaying across
the window, one bare twig seeming TO
clutch in futile effort after the drifting
silk that sifted in white shower
through the gaunt, dead fingers.
eyes, and the poor child-she amt
nothin' more than child when you size
her all up-she has been dreadfully all
in all the time. I've tried and tried to
fix ND somethin' she could keep on her
stomach, but it want no use. And OF
course she is nervous and worried-her
first baby, too, and then to be bothered
| to death about money on top OF 1t. tell
YOU 1t comes hard. You don't know what
it is, Mis- Bartels, to see the cup
hoard empty, and know that all the
while another mouth is comm to be
fed. 1t amt that mother ubegredges
whrt she's got to give her baby-that
ami patur'-but when the woald seems
chock full of nothin' but trouble 1t
seems as if there was sufferers enough
already, and womanfeels 1T cruel nara
that she's got to bring one OF her own
70 fight his way, with the world all
ag'in' him. I've felt that way myself
in the early days, when things was hard.
Nav the Lord forgive me! l always
seen my blindness sooner or later. But
Mis-, Rogers-the poor thingl she can
onlv see the dark side now, and It's
the time for the neighbors to rally
round and help her along what little
they can"
81 never admired her." said Anita
coldly, reaching to smell the great PINK
rose. She drew back her head sharply,
with a startled look; the soft, cool per-
fnmed mass was like the touch OF
bahy,s cheek. Anita had the true moth
or love for babyhood. How often, in the
beartstaryed loneliness of her life, she
had enyied other women to whom had
heen given the richest gift Of life, the
love of a little child, marveling that
some could seem to hold it so lightly!
And now out from the shadows OF the
erect unknown little soul was blindiy
heating its way to earth, inexorably
called to take up the curse OF life, with
only sorrow and heart heaviness wait
ing to bid it grewsome welcome. Poor
little baby!
"Wall, 1 know she's been kind OF up
nisb. mebbe, and there's some that amt
liked her, and there's more that must be
nickin, on somebody all the while. l
Amt one to believe more'n half hear,
,rsv lasstways when it's ag'in some