The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-03-14
A LONE OLD WOMAN.

A LONE OLD WOMAN.
1t Was Her Old Country Home
That She Wished For.
Mrs. Allen was ready for he'd. She
put up her hand to turn out the gas
and drew 1t away again and stool
looking down.
"I'm getting so 1 don't say my
prayers no moree wonder what Tn
coming top
Her small face, framed In by hel
lace-edged nightcap, was wrinkled and
old, but there was childishness about
her small mouth and her clear blue
eyes.
81 don't know what Thomas would
say. suppose he sees me falterine
here now, with my heart all set against
God and rebellious. "
She turned out the gas, and went an6
stood by the window, looking out. She
could see the people passing back ant
forth in the street below. An electric
car sped by with queer buzzing noise
Across the street were the swell fronts
of high brick houses, their small
squares Of grass in front looking DULY
green in the artificial light.
There's another electric car coming
It sounds for all the world like 6
thrashing machine. 1 can see the
stacks, and the men on 'em, an6
Thomas pitching. and the meadow be-
tween our house and Henning's-anc
it's soldl i never would have thought
could have done It. Well, / couldn'i
do nothing else. / couldn't live on
there alone. Seems like trying to pray
in brick oven here. ought to be
thankful had daughter to come to. =
The tears came into her eyes and rolled
down her cheeks UNDECIDED. There's
them papers in the bureau drawer say
ing David Comings owns my place. and
/ haven't any right to anywhere.
She came out from behind the cur
tains. and dropped on her knees by the
bed. her small body trembling with
grief. After moment she got up and
crept into bed, and pulled the bed
clothes up around her, and buried hei
face in them.
The door was opened softly, anc
some one came into the room.
Are you here, mother?"
Eyes, I'm here. I've gone to bed
Matte. I'm pretty tired. ! thought
would Her voice, controlled, be-
trayed no note of unhappiness.
why, didn't know you'd gone tc
bed. Edwin's gone out, and | won
dered where you were" She came
across the room and sat down on the
bed do you want anything? Whai
makes you SO tired, / wonder?"
Il don't know. Nothing, guess.
! just wanted to get to bed. I'm al
right"
1.-THE boys are studying. ] thought
we'd have little time to ourselves
but I'm glad you've gone to bed if YOU
wanted TO- l wish I was in bed my
self; but I'm going to sit up till Edwin
comes and keep the boys company
They won't study if they're not held tc
it. Good night. I'll go down and lei
you go to sleep" She stopped over ant
kissed her mother. and then went Out
and closed the door.
Mrs. Allen sat up and looked around
the dimly-lighted room with its rict
furnishings, aud at the high windows
with their softly swaying lace curtains
perhaps after Mays past l woni
mind it like do. Seems as If / ought
to smell the apple blossoms through
those windows. All the noises are SC
run together, and mean nothing here.
She lay down again, and listened
nervously. At last the sounds in the
street grew more confused, and she
was almost asleep.
''Who is it? What are you doing?'
She started, and sat up in bed. ''Matie
is that your
A small face looked in at the half
opened door. Its me, grandma. Die
| scare you? Mamma sent me up t.
listen, and, If you were awake, see L
you wanted anything. / tried to b.
still" The boy opened the door, anC
came into the room. Don't you wan
something's"
mo. guess not, Harry. i was abou
asleep"
Don't you want glass of water By
your bed? Mamma said you'd bettel
have it." He held the door half open
and squealsed it back and forth.
mo, never have to drink nights.
rs your hell where you can reach i
If You want anything?"
Eyes, it's right here by the bed"
''Wel, good night. hope you'll fee
better in the morning, grandma.
Good night, dear; l guess will. ="
He shut the door, and she heard hin
going down the stairs two steps at
time.
The peace Of unconsciousness agail
fell around her. and the lonliness ant
Inconsistencies that she felt so keenl.
amid all this care were forgotten He
happiness had always been in minis
tering to others.
With the first light of morning sh'
woke again. Somewhere a rooste
was growing, with as vigorous ant
hearty a cheer as ever q sbarn-yart
fowl broke into the dawn.
She listened, but there was no an
lswering call; just that one repeate'
over and over again.
well, Inever heard the likel Seem
as if he was just put there to wake M
up to think what want to get ava,
from don't see how he has an.
heart to crow into all this hollowness.
The deep grassy yard around her oil
home, heavy with dew, and the earl.
morning music of the farm, came s.
clear to her. Thoughts of the fort,
years of her married life and the Joy
and sorrows.she had lived through wit
Thomas crowded again into her mind
After long hours, when she heard tn
servants stirring about the house, sh
got up and dressed, and went out Int
the hall and down the stairs. TIL
great rooms below seemed NOR
empty and desolate than her own
She felt no part or place anywhere Il
them. Her stopped little figure, re
Hected In the long mirrors, locke
dwarfed and unnatural to her. Sh
Strengthened the lavender bows o.
her cap before one Of them, and wen
and sat down at window In the bacl
of the room.
The early morning hours until no,
had always been so full of duties
There had been the breakfast to re
for Thomas; and before her two daugf
tiers had married and gone away sh
had had her thought and care for them
and there had been the chickens t
feed and the milk to skim.
She folded her hands and looked on