The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-28
A LONE OLD WOMAN,
1t Wcs Hor Old Country Homo
That Sho 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 stoo,.
looking down.
Pm getting so 1 don't say my
prayers no more. l wonder what I'm
coming to?"
Her snail face, framed in by her
lacc-cdgcd ni:.htcap, was wrnlslcd and
old, but there was IL childishncss about
her snail mouth and her clear blue
eyes.
~ don't know what Thomas would
say. l. suppose lie sees me faltcring
here now, with my heart all set against
God and rcbclious.
She turned out the gas, and went and
stool by the window, looking ont. She
could see the people passing back and
forth in the street below. An electric
car sped by with queer burning 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.
"Thcrc's another electric car comin,-
1t sounds for all the world like Il
thrashing machine. can sec the
stacks, and the men on 'cm, and
Thomas pitching, and the meadow be-
tween our house and IIcnning's-and
it's sold. l never would have thought
could have done it. Well, couldn't
do nothing else. couldn't live on
there alone. Seems like trying to pray
in brick oven here l ought to be
thankful had Il daughter to como to-"
The tears came into her eyes and rolled
down her checks UNDECIDED. There's
them papers i'll the bureau drawer say
ing 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 moment she got up and
crcpt 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 the room.
Are you here, mother?"
Yes, I'm here. I've gone to bed,
Matte. I'm pretty tired. thought
would" Her voice, controlled, be-
traycd no note of unhappncss.
why, | didn't know you'd gone 20
i
dcred where You were" She came
across the room and sat down on the
bed. "Do you want anything? What
makes you so tired | wondcr?"
81 don't know. Nothing, guess.
just wanted to get to bed. I'm all
right"
Tho boys are studying. I thought
we'd have II little time 10 ourselves;
but I'm glad you've gone to bed if you
wanted To. | wish 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 to
it. Good night. I'll so down and let
You go to sleep" She stopped over and
kissed her mother, and then went ont
and closed tho door.
Mrs. Allen sat up and looked around
the dimly-lighted room with its rich
furnishings and ut the high windows
with their softly swaying lace curtains.
Perhaps after Mays past l won't
mind it like 90. 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
ncrvously. AT last the sounds in the
street grew more confused, and she
was almost asleep.
WHO is it? What are you doing?"
She started, and sat up in bed. ''Matie,
is that you?"
A small face looked in at the half
opened door. Its me, grandma. Did
| scare you? Mamma sent me up to
listen, and, if YOU were awake. see If
you wanted anything. tried to be
still" The boy opened the door, and
came into the room. Don't You want
something's"
mo, ! guess not, Harry. was about
asleep"
Don't you want glass Of water by
your bed? Mamma said you'd better
have it." He held the door half open.
and squcalted it back and forth.
NO, never have to drink nights"
"Is your bell where you can reach it
if you want anything?"
Yes, it's right here by the bed"
'Wcll, good night. l hope you'll feel
better in the morning, grandma"
Good night, dear; guess will"
lie shut the door, and she heard him
going down the stairs two steps at IL
time.
The peace of Inconsistencies again
fell around her, and the loniincss and
Inconsistencies that she felt so kccnl;-
amid all this care were forgotten. I:.r