The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-16

band for ten years. This woman did
not look capable of such weird obsti-
macy; she was pretty, as Mrs. Armil
had said, but with more delicate and
refined beauty than the minister had
expected. "She looks-whom does she
look like?' thought the minister; 81
declare it is Mona Lisa She has Just
that mysterious SMILE
Perhaps photograph of Mona Lisa
hanging side by side on the wall with
the Archangel Michael suggested the
comparison. She wondered if it was
Mrs. Rogers taste that had selected
them, or the quiet paper on the walls,
the little dash of color in a crimson
drapery for the ugly mantle behind the
stove, the pretty wicker chair in the
corner, the plants in the window. A
small library, she was sure, belonged
to the husband. No." she remcm-
bored. Mrs. Armil said that she fur
nished the room to suit him"
And after glance at the wife's tot
let, brown alpaca gown made up with
profuse draperies and trimmings of
red velvet, she gave Mr.. Rogers credit
for any evidence of taste.
Meanwhile. Mrs Arinil, who wished
to do honor to her guest. had intro
duced her like the columns of n coun-
try paper as REV. Braincrd"
She now set the conversational ball
in motion with: rev. Braincrd's been
interested in the restitution round
here"
Eyes, it's bad" said Rogers, cross
ing his legs and ncrvously twisting his
-
along if we could get more time on our
mortgage"
Are the farms about here mort
gaged?'
Yes, maam. You may say all about
here are. PEARL" addressing Mrs.
Armil, ''have you heard?"
Mrs. Armil told more in detail the
story that she had told Miss Brainerd.
The interest in the mans eyes was
plain, and though yelled the same in
tercst was in the womans.
Amt you had letter from him
yct?" said Mrs. Armil, with the sympa-
thy of safe people for others troubles.
NO" answered Mrs Rogers, mot
yet; but we sent Leon to the town to
see if we had Il letter."
Then the talk drifted into general
tiles interrupted by the sound of hoofs.
Its Leon" exclaimed Rogers. He
went hastily to the door,
The child OF this strange couple came
in. He looked like his mother and his
father, delicate like the one, dark haired
and smiling like the other. His eyes
turned from the man to the woman in
cordial glance that embraced them
both
"fes, got the letter." he said.
Then, for the first time perceiving the
guest, he made his awkward schoolboy
bow to the lady and submitted to be
kissed by Mrs. Armil.
"Wc have mortgage on hand, too,
you see" said Rogers; will you ladies
excuse me?" Here he tore open the let
ter with fingers plainly tremble.
There was no attempt at disguise;
every woman in the room stared at
him. For him, his jaw fell; he grew
palcr, until his skin took the tint of
gray ashes. His first action was to
hand Leon the sheet with its type
written copy and engraved heading.
Give 1t to your mother" he said,
huskily.
Icons eyes shone as he obcyed; he
was child and hopeful. Mrs. Rogers
read the letter; She may have had more
self-control than he, for there was no
change, only rigid settling of the
muscles. "She Is thinking that she
told him So" reflected the minister.
Ma Icons voice broke the silence,
won't you tell mc?"
There amt no reason why they
shouldn't all hear it," said the man.
lie says that he was expecting to ex-
tend, knowing we'd had hard times,
but he read my name in the list of
representatives that voted for the stay
law. lie doesn't consi Ter his property
safe in state where they pass such
laws. or with IL man that will vote for
them" lie swallowed something in
his throat. 81 guess" he went on,
there's lots of fellows feel like he
does, and lots of poor farmers will have
10 give up for the same reason. If it
was only me, 1T wouldn't be 50 bad;
but" for the first time he looked at
MS wife. She returned his look, a dull
RED creeping into her check; nor did
She take her eyes off his face while he
remained in the room-''it isn't only
me. If we have made mistake we
have ruined all the others along with
u.s."
That's jest So" said Mrs. Arm,l,
heartily. Rogers smiled little bitter
~. What tragedy the mans life had
been, Miss Brainerd thought. What a
loneliness! He had In him, she decided
in flush of sympathy, rarcr and finer
Qualities OF nature. of affection and as
piration. than his unforgiving wife
could ever comprehend.