The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-10-15

NRu INN tG VI II WAS beautiful
NN Inn iii old face, too, with
I'LL %'Myh n fringe of white
" MN@S whiskers all around
y Ids under the chin,
wide open, mild gray eyes and ruddy
cheeks. Yet did harmless deceit
lodge there but for moment the
eyes lau ghed and twinklcd, and all
but called aloud, "Hero it is; and
the next instant the secret was dis
lodged and scurrying off in plair sight
OF every body, and nobody more sur
prised than Mr.. Petit himself.
Consequently, when Mr.. Petit
stepped into tho kitchen upon GER
tain Juno evening, aud hung his hat
upon the peg behind the door, Mrs.
Petit, suspendfpg the kettle high in
air from the operation of pouring
boiling water upon the tea, said, In "A
tone of conviction; "Ephraim, you've
got letter from John"
"WelI, now, | want to know !" said
MIR. Petit, throwing an appealing
glance around upon an imaginary and
admiring audience, eff women don't
beat all A! L was saving that letter till
after supper"
1--WE can just as we'll have it with
our tea, said Mrs. Petit, pulling the
cosy over tue teapot, and leading the
way to the supper table. "John must
have something particular to say We
had letter from him this week"
The two snow crowned heads were
bowed for moment in simple grace.
and then, as Mrs. Petit poured the
fragrant Tyson into the old-fashioned
china cups, her husband proceeded to
open the letter.
Not very much, after ali. Two
square eyellow tickets and one of
those short notes that are always Dor
tentous:
CHICAGO. H.. juno 10th. 1895.
Dear Father and Mother; I inclosc YOU
two round-trip tickets for Chicago. which |
expect You I" make use OF right away. Our
boy Is To lc christenel next week. and the
christening can't 90 on without YOU. Your
loving son JuHN PETIT.
j. T..
Mrs. Petit dropped her hands into
her lap with n look of bank dismay.
"Why, Ephraim, she protested, II
can't go.
John wouldn't like it, said Mr..
Petit, softly, combining his gaze to
careful stirring of his tea. 'It's our
first grandchIld, you know"
Involuntarily Mrs Pettit's gaze
nlercd through the open window TO
tiny hillock, which, with its mar
bic shaft showing dimly through the
twilight, told its own tale of 'Eleanor,
aged seven"
81 have never left her, she said,
with troubled eyes.
"She would wish it, said Ephraim.
gently. John knows all, md he
wishes it. Sixteen years is long
time for grieviug, mother. She is a
grown woman i'll heaven by this
time"
Nothing more was said after this.
The soft darkness of June night be.
gan to fall. The katydids called from
the grasses; n huge June bug beat it.
self noisiy against tho window screen
the COW lowed from the meadow with.
out.
At last Mrs. Petit pushed aside her
UNLISTED food aud said, with pitiful
tremOr IN her old voice: oven po.
Ephraim. It's wicked OF inc To- be
staying at home grlcving, and neglect
ing the loved ones that need me. We
will write to John tonight and tell
him SO.
Thus it came TO pass that n few DAYS
later certain train pulling out of
Wilson's Ferry carried with il q quaint
old couple with whom we have to do.
The old gentleman wore his whiskers
after good old country style, and
looked over his silver bowed glasses
with The most bcnignant eyes in the
world. As for the old lady, fellow.
passengers glanced idly upon her, aud
then turncd 10 gaze again. Such a
sweet old face, scanned with added
years and care, but beautiful withal
in IT. franc OF clustering gray curls.
No one smiled at the ld.fashioned
bonnet the long, slender. wasted
black dress, or neatly folded shoulder
shawl No one seemed to think of
the oddity OF tho black silk mitts with
Their short fingers, although they had
not been put OH before since Elcanor's
funeral Every ono seemed kindly
interested in tho big brown basket
with cover and two handles. Before
the Journey ended it had opened wide
ITS hospitable cover 90 sootho with
ginger cakes and tart5 the cries OF
more than half dozen travel-worn
babes, and had won tho earnest bless
lngs of as many tired mothers.
Six hours of rumble and noise and
dust, glimpscs OF waving green fields
and distant towns, heeting acqusir%-