The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-10
A LONE OLD WOMAN.
It Was Fer Old Country Home
That She Wished For.

It Was Fer 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 it away again and stood
looking down.
''I'n getting SO I don't say my
prayers no more. / wonder what Pm
coming TOP"
Her small face, framed in by her
lace-edged nightcap, was wrinkled and
old, but there was a childishness about
her small mouth and her clear blue
eyes
81 don't know what Thomas would
cay. / suppose he sees me faltering
here now, with my heart all set against
God and rebenious
She turned out the gas, and went and
stood by the window, looking out, She
could see The people passing back and
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
1t sounds for sill the world like a
shrasiling machine. I can see the
stacks. and the men on 'em, and
Thomas pitching. and the meadow be-
tween our house and Henning
it's sold! I never would have thought
] could have done It. Well. l couldn't
do nothing else. / couldn't live on
there alone. Seems like trying to pray
in brick oven here. / ought to be
thankful had adaughter to come TO- -
The tears came into her eyes and rolled
down her cheeks unheeded. There
them papers in the bureau drawer say
sing 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 a moment she got up and
crept into bed, and pulled the bed
clothes up around her, and buried her
face in them.
The door was opened softly, and
some one came into tue room.
Are you here, mother?''
Eyes, Pm here. I've gone to bed.
Matte. I'm pretty tired. l thought
would" Her voice, controlled, be-
trayed no note of unhappiness.
''Why. / didn't know you'd gone to
bed. Edwin's gone out, and l won
dered where you were" She came
across the room and sat down on the
bed. do you want anything? What
makes you 50 tired, / won6er%'
81 don't know. Nothing, guess. I
just wanted to get to bed. I'm all
right"
THE boys are studying. thought
we'd have a little time to ourselves;
but FIN glad you've gone bed if you
wanted to. / wish i was in bed N.Y.
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 to
It Good night. I'll go down and let
you go to sleep" She stopped over and
kissed her mother, and then went out
and closed the door.
Mrs. Allen sat up and looked around
the dimly-lighted room withsits rich
furnishings, aud at the high windows
with their softly swayipg lace curtains.
Perhaps after Mays past I won't
mind it like 40. Seems as If / ought
to smell the apple blossoms through
those windows All the noises are so
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 1t? What are you doing?'
She started. and sat up in bed Matte,
is that your
A small face looked in at the half
opened door. Its me, grandma. Did
l scare you9 Mamma sent me up to
listen, and, if you were awake, see if
YOU wanted anything. / tried 10 be
still" The boy opened the door, and
came into the room. Don't you want
something's"
No, guess not, Harry. was about
asleep"
Don't you want q glass of water BY
your bed? Mamma said you'd better
have 1t. lie held the door half open.
snd soueaked it back and forth.
mo, never have to drink nights
lis your bell where you can reach it
If you want anything"
Yes, it's right here by the bed"
well, good night. ] hope you'll feel
better in the morning, grandma"
Good night, dear; / guess / will"
He shut the door. and she heard him
going down the stairs two steps at a
time
The peace of unconsciousress again
fell around her, and the louiiness and
inconsistencies that she felt so keenlv
amid all this care were forgotten. Her
happiness had always been in minis
tering 20 others
With the first light of morning She
woke again Somev here a rooster
was Growing, with as vigorous and
hearty a cheer as ever = barn.var,l
fowl broke into the dawn.
She listened, but there Was no an
swering call: just tina. onA repeated
xoF,sr ana over aoaia