The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-23
happiness had always .bccn. In minis.

WAS Growing, with as vigorous and
hearty cheer rs ever barn-ynrd
fowl broke into the dawn.
She listened, but there was no an
swcring call; just that ono repeated
over and over again.
We'll, Incver heard tho like! Seems
RS if he was just put there to wake me
up to think what want to get away
from. / don't SEQ how he has any
heart to crow into all this hollowness."
The deep grassy yard around her old
home, heavy with dew, and the early
morning music of the farm, came so
clear to her. Thoughts of tho forty
years of her married life and tho Joys
and sorrows'shc had lived through with
Thomas crowded again into her mind
After long hours, when she heard the
servants stirring about the house, she
got up and dressed. and went out into
the hall and down the stairs. The
great rooms below seemed more
empty and dcsolate than her own.
She felt no part or place anywhere in
them. Her stopped little figure, re-
Elected i'll the long mirrors, looked
dwarfcd and unnatural to her. She
Strengthened the lavender bows on
her cap before one of them, and went
and sat down at a window in the back
of the room.
The early morning hours until now
had always been so full of duties
There had been the breakfast to get
for Thomas; and before her two daugh-
tors bad married and gone away she
had had her thought and care for them;
and there had been the chickens to
food opI tba mill to c1,;,,,
She folded her hands and looked out
OF the window. There was small
yard, high walled, with two trees, and
worn grass growing around the edges
A box with Stats nailed across tho
front stood under one of the trees, and
thrusting his head between the Stats
was the rooster who had disturbed her
rest.
eff could get down to you I'd let
you out, you poor creature" she said,
aloud.
"Well, you'd have Billie Moore after
you if you did, grandma" One of her
grandsons had come into the room.
whats the sense in his shutting
that rooster mp that way? He couldn't
get away If he wanted to, over those
brick walls"
Il don't know. Billie only got him
yesterday. 'rhe old thing woke me up
at daylight"
"IIc woke me up, too" she said, with
a weary sigh.
"Brcallfasts ready; they're all at
the table. Mamma sent me TO look for
YOU"
II didn't suppose it was so late"
They went out to the table in the
large diningroom, where the others
we're waiting. A servant was bringing
in the breakfast. This was always Il
happy meal in this happy family.
Matte and her husband talked of their
up Il steady little stream OF conversa-
ton.
They were all very kind and thought
full of her. and she condemned herself
for her feelings OF separation and lone
illness. She tried to believe that she
was beginning to find her place in this
homo which was not her own.
After breakfast she wandered rest.
lcssly about the house for some time,
and at last put on her bonnet and
shawl, and said she was going out for
n little walk
Matte offered to go with her, or send
one of the boys.
''No, l want to go alone. don't
want to be dependent for every step l
take. There don't seem to be anything
for me to do in the house. I've got to
get out and breathe or I'll chafe."
81 wish you'd let nc send Mary with
you,- anyway, mother. I'll worry all
the time about YOU
Mrs. Allen turned toward her daugh.
ter, the tears springing to her eyes
"Wcll, Matte, / amt so helpless need
a nurse TO trundlc me around yct''
'Why, mother, l didn't mean yor
were, but you know, it isn't like going
out into the country alone"
mo, it amt" Mrs. Allen said, turn
ing away.
and down into the noisy street. There
was freedom in its strangcncss tina
she had not found in the big house
/ She walked straight on for some dis
lance, until she came out into one o
| the main business streets Of the city
| 1t was only one of our small western
cities, but it lost none CT its importance
TO her in not being London.
The crowd jostiing past had tn
bright activity and untricd interest o
the morning. a stream of shopper
was already beginning to pour into tn
stores. The street was full of cars ar,
carts and farm wagons.
She had driven in from the farp wit
Thomas and reached the city at jus
this hour many times. 1t was all famiI
lar to her in that way. They ha
brought in butter and eggs or Il load G
grain, and done their shopping, O