The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-10

| from. | don't see how he has any
heart to crow into all this hollowness. +"
The deep grassy yard around her old
| home, heavy with dow. and the early
morning music of the farm, came SO
clear to her. Thoughts of the forty
years of her married life and the joys
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 moro
empty and desoiate than her own.
| She felt no part or place anywhere in
them. Her stopped little figure, re-
fected in the long mirrors, looked
dwarfed and unnatural to her. She
Strengthened the lavender bows on
hor cap before one of them, and went
and sat down at 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-
ters had married and gone away she
had had her thought and care for them;
and there had been the chickens to
feed and the milk to skim
She folded her hands and looked ont
OF the window There was a small
yard, high walled, with two trees. and
worn grass growing around the edges
A boz with Stats nailed across the
front stood under one of the trees, and
thrusting his head between the Stats
was the rooster who had disturbed her
rest.
'It 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 up that way? He couldn't
get away If he waited to, over those
brick walls"
II don't know. Billie only got him
yesterday. The old thing woke me up
at daylight"
she woke me up, too" she said, with
weary sigh.
breakfasts 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
were waiting. A servant was bringing
in the breakfast This was always
happy meal in this happy family.
h-,c I'D till IF fhof
own interests and the three boys kept
up steady little stream of converse
ton.
They were al very kind andthcnsilt-
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
home which was not her own
After breakfast she wandered rest
lessly about the house for some time,
and at last put on her bonnet and
shawl, and said she was going out for
little walk.
Matte offered to 60 with her. or send
one of the boys.
mo, I want to go alone. don't
want to be dependent for every step
take. There don't seem to be anything
for me to do in the house. I've got to
get out and breathe or FL chafe."
81 wish you'd let me send Mary with
you, anyway, mother. I'll worry all
the time about you"
Mrs Allen turned toward her daugil-
ter. the tears springing to her eyes.
''We1, Matte, amt SO helpless need
a nurse to trundle me around yet"
why, mother, ! didn't mean You
were, but you know, it isn't like going
out into the country alone
No, it ain't," Mrs Allen said, turn
ing away
She went on out of the front door,
and down into the noisy street There
was a freedom in IT'S strangeness that
she had not found in the big house.
She walked straight OF for some dis
tance, until She came out into one of
the main business streets of the city.
1t was only one of our small western
cities, but it lost none Of its Importance
to her in not being London.
The crowd jostling past had the
bright activity and untried interest Of
the morning. A stream Of shoppers
was already beginning to pour into the
stores The street was full of cars and
carts and farm wagons.
She had driven in from the farm with
Thomas and reached the city g. Just
this hour many times. 1t was all famil-
lar to her in that way. They had
brought in butter and eggs or load of
grain, and done their shopping, or
spent the day with Matte, and driven
home in the cool of the evening. Al
ways when she was on the street she
was watching the farm wagons in
hopes of seeing some one that came
from near the old home.
That looks for all the world like
Henning's wagon hitehed down there
in front OF that store. 1t is. Why, /
declare, it is! Those are our old horses!"
As she came nearer, one OF the horses
turned his head and looked at her, and
then she was sure that she was not
mistaken. You know me. don't you?
l do believe he knew my walk" she
said, as she came up TO them. The
other horse gave low whinny. so
do you, don't You, old Billy? don't
forget you, either" The horse put his
head down against her, with a quiet
rub. 81 know; you want sugar. Thomas
taught you that" She put one arm
over the horses neck and pa;ted his
face. 1T makes ne more homesick
than ever to see YOU. and believe you
feel about the same"
People passing looked at the little
old Won an and smiled. and hurried on
1t was only one OF the queer sights one