The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-23
A LONE OLD WOMAN.
Tt Was Her Old Country Home
That She Wished For.

Mrs. Allen was ready for he'd. Sho
put up her hand to turn out the gas
and drew it away again and stood
looking down.
''I'm getting so 1 don't say my
prayers no more. wonder what I'm
coming too"
Her small face, framed in by her
lace-cdSed niGhtcap, was wrinkled and
old, but there was childishness about
her small mouth and her clear blue
eyes.
~ don't know what Thomas would
say. suppose he sees me faltcring
here now, with my heart all set against
God and rcbellious."
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 all the world like a
thrashinG machine. I can sec the
stacks, and the men on en-, and
Thomas pitching. and the meadow be-
tween our house and Jennings
it's soldl l never would have thought
l could have done it. We'll, | couldn't
do nothing else. l couldn't 1.-Two on
there alone. Seems like trying to pray
in a brick oven here. ought to be
thankful had a daughter to como to-"
The tears came into her eyes and rolled
down her checks UNDECIDED. There's
thcm papers in the bureau drawer say
ing David Comings owns my place. and
i haven't any right to anywhere"
She came out from behind the cur
taius, aud dropped on her knees by the
bed her small body trembling with
grief. After moment she got up and
icrcpt into bed, and pulled the bed
clothes up around acr, and buried her
face in them.
The door was opened softly, and
some one came into the room.
Are you here, mothcr?"
Yes, I'm here I've gone to bed,
Matte. I'm pretty tired. thought i
would" Her voice, controlled, be-
traycd no note of unhappincss.
why, didn't know you'd gone to
bed. Edwin's gone out, and l won
dcred where you were" She came
across the room and sat down on the
bed. do you want anything? What
makes you SO tired, wonder?"
~ don't know. Nothing, guess.
just wanted to get to bed. I'm al
right
Tho boys are studying. 1 thought
we'd have a little time to ourselves
but I'm glad you've gone to bed if yor
wanted TO. l wish 1 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 GU
and closed the door.
Mrs. Allen sat up and looked arounc
the dimly-lighted room with its ricl
furnishings, and at the high windows
with their softly swaying lace curtains
perhaps after Mays past won
mind 1t like DO. Seems as if / ougli
TO smell the apple blossoms through
those windows. All the noises are s.
run together, and mean nothing here.
She lay down again and listene
ncrvously. At last the sounds in I'll,
street grew moro confused. and si
was almost asleep.
WHO is Il? What are you doing?
She started, and sat up in led Matte
is tina; you?n
a small face looked in at the half
opened door. Its me, grandma. hi
i scare YOU? Mamma sent me up /
listen, and, if you were awake, see
you wanted anything I tried to b
still" The boy opened the door, an
came into the room. Don't you wan
something's"
mo, guess not, Harry. was abou
asleep"
Don't you want glass of water b
your bed? Mamma said you'd bette
have it." lie held the door half oper
and squcaked it back and forth.
"No, never have to drink nights"
SIS your bell where you can reach
ifyou want anything2"
Eyes, it's right here by the bed"
"Vell, good night. hope you'll fec
better in the morning, grandma"
"Good night, dear; guess I will"
He shut the door, and she heard hir
going down the stairs two steps at
time.
The peace of unconsciousness agai
fell around her, and the loniiness an
inconsistencies that she felt SO lscenl
amid all this caro- wcre forgotten. lie