Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-11-30

| they would have-lived more like other
people" said Matilda, indifferently,
when explaining the cause Of her moth
er's absence.
81 wouldn't keer 30 much" the old
lady was sobbing TO herself upstairs,
'if only pap he'd sent me some little
word that he wanted TO see me Chil-
dren's most alters ungrateful any ways,
specially them that's he'd the most
done fur 'em, an I've wor ked my life
out for mine.
But / wouldn't had 'em II IL hadn't
q been for love Of pap, an don't think
he'd ort to forgit me nowr'
Down in the city the warm spring
days awolSe new restlessness in old
Mr.. Paine. His daughter Jane was as
kind TO him as kind daughter could
be. Her children were taught TO ad-
dress him respectfully and to wait on
his every wish because he was their
grandparent But the warm sunshine
called up visions of the country home
where the grass would be just deepen
ing into green again and the maple
boughs bursting with buda
He had always had lettuce bed lust
through at this time. And the spring
longings recalled the days Of youth and
the little children who had played
about him as he weeded and hoed In
his garden, and the busy mother often
taking time from her own work to help
him. But she had always scoldcd so
much, he muttered deflantly 10 himself,
and was ever 80 determined TO have
her own way. Then a twinge Of con-
science told him her way had generally
been the best, for she was clearer
sighted than he, and he picked up his
cane and hobbled away TO the park In
funny sort of little dudgeon. Then as
he sat in the park he thought of Henry
and tears came TO his eyes In spite OF
him.
Hes mighty fond of his mother--an'
she was a good mother, too; I'll say
that for her anyways Henry was
fine boy. He'd a-been the finest we got
II he'd a-lived, for he seemed to hev
more sense an good-heartedness, some
ways ] don't know as | blanc her,
after all, for bein' 80 bound to hev him
90 TO college,"
And, the barrier of stubborn reproach
once loosened, some way everything
began 10 look different, and when he
hobblcd back TO the house the old gen.
tleman was very heart-sicls to SEQ the
wife he had treated SO brusquely the
past many years.
lie went straight TO his old satchel
and took out well-cared-for book, but
one of an old binding and print It
was Latin grammar and had been
his secret and most carefully.preserved
treasure for over thirty years.
AS the mother had gone to the grave
of her most ardent ambitions, SO he
now turned the pages of his boys
book, one word OF which he could not
understand, but could only regard with
awe. Then he came TO page on the
margin OF which was much fine writing
in elegant script 1t was not hard for
him to read, little book learning rs he
had.
"Mother-dear mother Wife and
mother, mans truest friends-guardian
angels in death Mother-sweetheart
-wife-Edith."
"llc must a-been in love with some
body himself" unused the old father,
but he didn't forgit his mother neith-
er. She was my sweetheart onctp
Before grandfather went TO sleep
that night he had formed fresh deter
mination.
Jennie" he said to his daughter in
the morning, you know the Barltn
cottage up to the Crossings? Well, Pm
goin' up and see II can't rent II.
Theys nice garden patch with It, and
'tain't too late yet to put in garden
stuff, an'-an'-don't ye think mother'd
be willin fur to cook fur me"
Eyes, father you know she always
sends you her respects" There were
tears in James eyes, despite the smile
on her lips.
AN I'm pretty sure / could make
enough with the garden fur her an me,
an you children could help u.s. Idon't
believe Henry would want us 10 live
this way; do you3"
mo, father"
That night, an hour or SO after the
express thundered past the station, q
couple of miles from the crossing,
Grandfather Paine walked up Matilda's
front yard and around TO the back door,
where the old grandmother was put
ting away the nights milk
bAtuhhlpAhtI BuNc llLJlc Blau cry
and dropped the crock of milk all over
the tabby cat, and threw her arms
around his neck.
81 just couldn't stand 1t no longer,
Mary, an lowed as you and me he'd
run 1t this long we might stick togeth-
er for the few years that's left to uA
An mother, I'm powerful sorry fit
you like | alters did about Henry's
goin' to college"
Matilda started 10 oppose the new
arrangements. She said they weren't
fit TO be left alone at their age and
would be an endless trouble to the
children.
But for once Matilda was overruled
and in few days grandmother was
busily engaged In "axin' up" the little
rented nest, only stones throw from
the old home where the ten children
had been sheltered and had died or
married. And, as they say In moro ro-
mantle tales, they lived happily ever
afterward. Belle " Logan, in Chicago
News.
Mrs Artlayer-"So her marriage
turned out TO be happy one after alp"
Mrs, Stayson-"Yes indeed She got
all the alimony she asked for. Modern
Society