Iron County register., 1897-07-29
IN MOURNING. >
BT MARION HARL4El.

CHE had called strictly on business =
The fact was made known TO me in
. variety Of ways Before the tail fig
ure, draped IN sable. entered the L
bTary where I sat, l heard her impress
upon the maid who answered her ring
AZ the door, that she would de+ain me
for very few minutes having come on
business She would not send IN her
card but that she feared there might
be some mistake as 10 her name
The card preceded her on the maid 5
tray \ wide desert of inky bordering
cncircled a tinid oasis Of white in the
middle of which read her name. There
was no room for the address The own
er Of card and Eame ai.uded 10 the omis-
sion. when the business had been at
tended 10.
i should be glad TO have you look in
Upon me sometime" she was good
Il West til street Nv address Is not
OF my card because am not receiving
this season, being in such deep mourn
ing"
She had begun the conversation by
apologizing for setting foot within my
doors
You must think II strange that
have called even On business. But my
eTrand is one ! could not intrust TO q
servant. or explain by letter Other
wise I should not be here have gone
nowhere except once q Sunday to
church since my mothers death six
months ago. Sometimes have no heart
even for church service. They recall too
many narrowing associations"
In nearing the subject she drew out
a pocket handkerchief edged with two
grieful inches OF black. as a precau-
tionary measure. She could not have
stanched dozen tears with the sheer
linen cambTic center
Yet she was not fool, or even foolish,
upon other subjects. The business that
had brought her to me had 10 do with a
benevolent enterprise Il was 50 full Of
excellent sense, and she stated it so
clearly, that I exclaimed in honest ad-
nirsfion as she concluded / repre-
senfed, furthermore, that she was the
fittest person 70 lay il before the board
OF directors TO which both OF US be-
longed. She shuddered. as at breath
OF icy wind
''Oh, could not think of that! Twill
write out my ideas on the subject and
send them to the secretary. 10 be read
al 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 I shall be seen viii be
the board meeting. / seldom missed
one before my affection
hoped" by and by, that she was
taking advantage of the fine weather
10 walk and drive in Central Park and
in the country"
She sighed deeply, her smilelesS face
taking on q darker shadow.
I 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 veil isn't quite herself -
Il should think not, indeed,~ elacu-
lated I, involuntaritly. as 1t Just 10
yourself and kind 10 your friends TO Sc
clude yourself so Vigorously? Do not
your health and spirits suffer in conse-
quence?"
a deeper sigh and gentle futter OF
the sable-rimmed scrap Of cambric.
II could not reconcile any other
course with my sense of what Is due 10
her who has gone She deserves any
and every mark of respect can show
her. and there IL 90 little I can do for
her now"
prudently refrained from suggest
ing 9 doubt as 70 the benefit derived
By the departed relative from her
daughters dutiful depths Of sustained
misery. Nor did l ring for the tes
eouioage while abe stayed The sigh,
Of the social teapot and kissing kettle
would. felt, jar upon her finest sensi-
binties- Her presence grew oppressive.
Her gloomy Ewathings were voiuul-
nous and aggressive A crepe veil de-
oepded from q crepe bonnet; a mon
strous crepe butterfly started up from
the back of her neck; her light cloth
mantle was weighted with crepe trim
ming; the waist OF her gown was Of
creme. and the skirt of some fashion
able. c-ery kfnfF with foot trimming
of English crepe. She and her appoint
rreutS-I could not disSociate her from
.hem-sucked up the sun rays pouring
through the window behind Der, and
cxhaled in return 4 steam of black dye
chat poisoned the air Net . hnS 81
white relieved the picture, and the Efe-
less tones OF her voice. the duh misery
CT eyes and expression, were IN keeping
With the dense shadows
When she had gone, 1 rushed 70 the
windows. threw them open and gssped
for breath \ fold OF her crepe seemed
60 have fallen between me and the glad
some earth. and 10 dim the blue Of the
summer heavens. Had the visit lasted
ave minutes more, / must hare burst
into tears and 81 1wn hys1eTlcaL