The Holly chieftain., 1897-08-13
IN MOURNING
BY MARION HlRLkN0.


CHE had called "strirrly on business
y The fact was made known to me in
Il variety Of ways. Before the tall hg-
nrr, druprd iu sable, entered the Ii
hrary where / sat, heard her impress
upon the maid who ausw cred her ring
Mt the door, that she would dctain me
for very few minutes, having come ON
husinrS-. She would not send lu her
card but that she feared there might
be some mistake rs to her name"
The card preceded her on the maid 5
tray \ wide desert Of inhy bordering
rncirclci tuid oasis OF white in the
middle Of \, hich read her name. There
was no room for the address. The own
rr Of card and name alluded to the oruis-
sion. when the business had been at
tended to.
II should br glad TO have you look in
upon me sometime" she was good
cuuugh to say. I'VE are still living at
- West IN street My address is not
on my card brcouSr I am not receiving
this season. being In such deep mourn
ing"
p y
apuIogiliug for setting foot within my
doors.
"Nou must think it strange that !
have called even on business. But my
errand is one could not iutrust To a
servant. or explain by letter. other
wise l should not he here have gone
nowhere except once a Sunday to
church since my mothers death siN
months ago. Sometimes have no heart
even for church service. They recall too
many narrowing associations"
In nearing the subject she drew on.
a pocket handkerchief edged with two
gricfrul inches Of black, as prccnu-
tinnary measure. She could not have
stanched dozen tears with the sheer
linen cambric center.
Yet She was nos fool. or even foolish.
upon other subjects. The business that
had broSght her to me had to do with Il
benevolent enterprise. 1t was so full Of
excellent sense. and she stated it so
clearly, that | exclaimed in honest ad-
mirarion as she concluded. | repre-
scented, Furthermore, that she was the
fittest person to lay it before the board
OF directors 10 which both Of us be-
longed. She shuddcred, as at a breath
OF icy wind.
"Oh, could not think Of that Twill
write out my ideas on the sub icCt and
send them to the secretary, to be read
ut their next meeting, provided. of
course, that my name is not mentioned
in connection with them. When | be-
gin TO go out again. one of the first
places at which | shall be seen will be
the board meeting | seldom missed
one before my afiliction."
hoped by and by. that she was
taking advantage OF the fine weather
to walk and drive in Central Park and
in the country"
She sighed deeply, her smileless face
taking on n darker shadow.
Il drive out every day-with the
windows closed, of course, until We are
out of town, and then choose the lone,
lest country roads. But Nature seen
through crepe yell isn't quite herself
l II should think not, indeed!" eacu,
lated |, involuntaritly. is il lust tc
yourself and kind to your friends to Sc,
clude yourself so vigorously? Do moi
your health and spirits suffer in conse
quence2"
\ deeper sigh and gentle flutter O,
the sable-rimmcd scrap of cambric.
Il could not reconcile any othel
course with my sense of what Is due I,
her who has gone. She deserves any
and every mark OF respect can show
her, and there is SO little / can do TO,
her now"
! prudently refrained from suggest,
ing doubt ms to the benefit derive,
by the departed relative from he,
daughters dutiful depths of sustained
misery. Nor did | ring for the ter
cquipage while she stayed. The sigh,
of the social teapot and kissing kcttI,
would, felt, jar upon her finest sensi
bilities. Her presence grew oppressive
Her gloomy swathings We're volum
inous and aggressive. a crepe veil de
pended from crepe bonnet: mon
strous crepe butterfly started up from
the back of her neck; her light rlotl
mantle was weighted with crepe trim
ming; the waist OF her gown was OF
crepe, and the skirt of some fashion
able, CrcpN stun with foot trimming
of English crepe. She and her appoint
ments-l could not dissociate her from
them-sucked up the sun rays pouring
through the window behind her, ant
cxhaled in return n steam of black dy,
that poisoned the air, Not a line o.
white relieved the picture, and the life
less tones of her voice, the dun niser,
Of eyes and expression. were in keeping
with the dense shadows.
When she had gone. rushed TO the
windows, threw them open and gasped
for breath. a fold of her crepe seemed
10 have fallen between me and the glad.
some earth, and to dim the blue of the
summer heavens. Had the visit lasted
five minutes more, | must have burst
into tears and grown bysterical.