Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-03-12

mother. Mabel's mother is widow, as
mine is Strange to say, l have never
seen her, and have never entered her
house.
The day has come and gone, and l
am sitting by a winters fire, talking
by fits and starts to my old mother
about one thing and another. 1t all
comes back to me as clear as the noon
day sun. The years that have passed
since then and now melt away, as
though they have never been.
Not an hour ago left Mabel's house,
and l am gazing now at her blue eyes
and fair face, which appears before
me in the fires glow. l have been
talking great deal during the night
to Mabel and her mother, relating what
stories of the sea within my own OK
perience 1 deemed would be most In
teresting to them. Mabeps mother
and I have shaken hands for the first
time. She is fair, like her daughter,
and her eyes are blue; but not that
beautiful blue which makes Mabels so
charming. Her behavior to me has set
me thinking.
When I entered her house, her cold
hand greeted me in a fairly cordial
manner; but l noticed even then that
although her lips smiled, her eyes did
not. When Mabel smiles, her eyes
light up; there is no soul in smile
when the eye plays no part in it. Up
on my leaving Mabel's house her
mothers hand lay dead in my palm,
and it did not return the pressure of
mine.
Her husband Fad been O. small
builder, and when he died, had left
barely enough for the support OF her.
self and Mabel. So much learned be-
fore I went to her house.
Now, what has set my thoughts
wandering as I look into the fire? Her
cold hand which lay dead in my palm!
No, not that alone. What else, then,
in connection with that? A simple
thing-a passing expression on her
face, that was there but a moment, and
then was gone.
In this way: We have had tea, and
the a-things are cleared. l am talk
ing and talking, and Mabel and her
mother are listening. I, full Of my
theme, am Numbering away on some
startling startling to them,
/ mean-and Mabel's eyes are fixed on
my face and my eyes are fixed on hers,
when an unusual stiffness arouses me
from my dream.
For l am dreaming. The magnetic
influence of a presence that love has
cast a spell over me, and has made
me unconscious of everything else
about me. For the matter of that, Ma
bel and 1 might be alone in the world.
An unusual stiffness, say, and it is
what 1 mean; for, although before
receive this new impression the sound
of my voice is the only sound to be
heard in the room, and although NO
person but myself has spoken for
many minutes, the new silence Is diff
ferent from the old. There are
Thoughts that move like living things
within you, and here are some work
ing their spell upon me. And under
their influence my eyes wander from
Mabel's face to meet her mothers.
Well, see frown there, that is all
but a frown that tells story l cannot
read as yet. l am striving to spell
out that story now.
1t was not a shadow from the fire
falling on her face, and distorting the
lines there, or playing on it to its dis
advantage; it was frown like a black
cloud. And when 1 bid her good night
her hand lies cold and dead in mine
And Mabel's good night? 1t Is as
kind and warm as ever it was; ant
she does not see that my mind Is
troubled. being, mayhap, unconscious
of the cause.
come home, where 1 am surrounded
Iby the shells that dead man gath
cred when life was strong within
him. I gaze into the fire, and 1 SCI
Mabers face; l gaze upon the shells
and l see the tokens of dead man.
love. Ay, in these dull, inanimat'
shapes 1 see the star that illuminate
the world, and beauties 1.-THE Sta
of Love.
turn toward my mother, with {
shell at my ear. In reality she Is
small. shriveled woman, in whom on
would imagine but little sentimen
could abide. havenoticed lately that a
she grows older her form shrinks, ant
becomes more spare. But as gaze
her now she becomes transformed. TIL
lines and wrinkles disappear, the fiesl
becomes firmer; the eye regains 1t
luster the cheek it's color; the shrunk
en- form fills out, and in my fahcy l Sc
her as I saw her in my childhood, be
fore my father went to his death
comely, pretty woman.
Now, what causes me to throw m
voice in the direction of the door, an
Ito call out suddenly and unexpectedly
"Yo; heave, ho!'
My mother starts up with scream
and runs to the door with a brighten
ed look. There she stands, tremblin
land white, with eyes that see nothin