The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-11

wood lots bright and early this morn
ing"
Eyes, 1 know, father" The old
woman still stared around her. Il
cant think what makes the room look
$50 queer. Oh, know! Father you've
torn those morning-glory vines away
from the window"
"Of course, have" said he. Dried
up old truck, llcepin' out the light and
,air What use were thcy?"
But there were lots o flowers and
buds on 'em yet, father. And in that
sheltered spot the frost wouldn't hev
touched for n week to come
"Mornin' glorics don't amount to
,nothin'," snarled Kisbec. besides,
I'm goin' to hev load dumped there
to-day. It's handy place Tor the wood
pile"
: "Fatherl"
I'm -goin' -to-hev-a-load-
'wood-dumped-berc-to-day! Don't I
speak loud enough?"
But, father, you always said you
was going to build kitchen out there"
II never said nothin' of the sort!'
II want Kitchen" pleaded the
poor old woman.
Bneered the old man.
/ ''And when we were first married
you promised me-"
II dare say promised good many
foolish things then. There's some
promises better broken than kept"
,philosophically observed Luke
And this old rooms damp, and the
walls has settled, and the ceiling has
fall
fixed up and put my bed here when tho
new kitchen was built. 1t always
makes me feel so dreadful cheap when
the sewing society meets here to hev
our bel a-standin' in the parlor, no
matterhow handsome the patchwork
is"
Luke wiped his hands on the rollo,
towel.
'Well, you've stood it thirty years."
said he, IAN guess you can stand it
little while longer"
DO you mean, father, that amt to
have the new kitchen, arter alp"
That's exactly what l do mean"
Mrs kisbec said no more, but the
slow, bitter tears of old age triclslcd
down her checks as she lighted the
fire, brought pail of drinking water
from the spring and began to fry
the ham and eggs in little skillet
Her son George came over that after
noon from Farley's Mills, where he
was foreman in great shirt factory.
"Mother!" said he, I've got some
thing to tell you. I'm engaged to
marry Sissy Stopford. Why, mother,
what's the matter? What are you cry
ing about? l thought you'd be so
pleased"
Its jest like all the rest o. the lucll!'
sobbed poor old Mrs. Kisbee. "Father's
been an tore down all my mornin'
glory vines, an l amt goin to hey anv
new kitchen after all these years, and
now my only son has got engaged to
one of the Shepherds, that wasn't never
friends with our follos-''
but, mother" ls.uGhingly pleaded
George, these arc rot the days Of Nom
tague and Capulct feuds"
Il don't know what you're tall,ip'
about" said Mrs. Kisbcc, who was not
student of the immortal Shakespeare.
''but always dcspised them Stopfords.
An Susan, she's story writer, | am
told, as goes about with her fingers all
1nlly and don't help none at all with
fhc homework"
"But, mother, she hires a girl with
thc money she earns. She's the best,
snd sweetest girl in the world. When
hay l bring her to see you?"
Il don't want to see her at all" saio
the old woman, querulously. And sho
broke down again, crying.
George went away, much perturbcd
N spirit. He had never seen his mother
20 heartbrollen before
81 don't know what she'll saw
thought he, "when she hears that fla
theirs made up his mind to sell the old
place. It's too bad of him But father
never treated mother half decent"
Susy Stopford was at the window
when young Kisbcc came back. Sho
ran out to meet him. her bright hair
blowing in the winds, her red lin,
apart.
We'll, Georgc?" she cried.
II don't know what to say to YOU.
Susy," he began: "mothcr isn't herself
to-day. But She"
"Shc doesn't like me, Gcorpe-I
knew that before. There was some
old trouble between her mother and
Grandfather Stopford. She Tilted him,
or he threw her over, never quito
understood which. But fully intend
to make her like me-"
Il am afraid she won't give you tho
chance, Susy."
Tell me all about it, George" she
SAID. George told her. IL only wish ]
was rich," said he. II would buy the
place myself, and I'd build that kitchen
the poor old soul so longs for and n
porch in front to train morning glory
vines on"