The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-28

Her mother nodded.
II said II had been quite WHILE"
she said. I'm glad you're going,
Mamie, though we shall miss you So"
Nannie's face filled with pitiful
tenderness. Her mother looked UP
suddenly and noticed, and strange
expression came into her eyes. She
spoke with curious eagerness.
Mamie" she said, tell me true
don't l hear as / used to-"
Nannies face flushed. With sud
den impulsive gesture she threw her
arms about her mother, sobbing Bit
terly. But in her mothers eyes the
strange expression grew in to glad
light.
Don't feel so. Mamie" she said.
IL guess I'm almost glad. I'm 60
ing to tell your father" ~
Mamie went home the next day
soreIy against her will. She told her
husband that 1t almost broke her
heart to think Of them 30; IL It wasn't
for little Mamie she would go back
there and stay, but she couldn't take
the child-it might hurt her throat
seriously to have to shout to them.
Then she caught Mamie up and kissed
her again and again; she wondered
how she could live II she couldn't hear
that baby voice. She was troubled,
too, for the child had delicate throat
and she dared not take her often to
see the old folks-and they would miss
her SO!
So the winter passed and the sum-
mer, and then quite suddenly, one
night when the earth was lying
hushed and silent under soft fall Of
snow, the old man passed from the
silence of his life into the greater ST.
lence that is beyond the reach Of hui
man voice.
The neighbors for miles around
came to the funeral, and the house was
full of grave, decorous whispers, brok-
en- strangely when any one spoke to
the wife. She was pale and silent;
only once did she speak Of anything
that she wanted done, and then she
called Mamie hesitatingly.
"Tell him l don't want him to speak
SOS can hear. Tit wouldn't seem
proper, somehow. It won't make any
difference to Ezra now, and L" she
faltered a moment, and tender light
came into the faded blue eyes-I
guess he can't say anything about my
husband that don't know hundred
times better than him."
I'll tell him, mother" said Nam
ME, gently.
Her mother spoke slowly, choosing
her words. "And tell him." she said,
that we've lived together thirty
years, and it don't seem more than
thirty weeks as look back. And tell
him that in it all was never an angry
word, never anything but love I
can't speak of; and tell him." she was
crying little now, but her face was
tell him that the only thing I'm sorry
for now that there wasn't more could
do to show my love for my husband"
81 will tell him ALL said Mamie.
That was a strange funeral. The
: neighbors spoke of it afterwards. The
still figure that sat dead to the words
of tender healing spoken by the min
lister seemed to lend an element of
10 a and fho rpyfr ocf
between the darkened room and the
brilliant sparkling world outside fash
ed upon their eyes like miracle.
Mamie means all right" Mrs. Tar
box said, smoothing her black dress,
but she. hasn't time to set down and
make work Of entertaining her moth
err"
"'Tis So" answered Mrs. Slocum,
land Hester'll miss entertaining Ezra,
too. 'Tain't as though she wasn't at
fiicted, either way. She's young and
spry enough yet, but 1t seems most as
If it's no use."
II shall sort O. miss hearing them
summer evenings" said her friend.
I'VE were so near, you know-it SEEM
ed almost like company"
II guess we'll all feel bad to see the
house shut up" responded Mrs. Slo-
cum, her voice full of the solemnity Of
the occasion.
And Mrs. Banks, all unconscious of
the talk, was being driven over to
Nannie's. She was so quiet that her
daughter did not disturb her.
Il don't feel as If I knew what to
say to her, though she is my MOTHER"
she whispered to her husband.
They helped her tenderly into the
house and Mamie put her into the
easiest chair. From the next room
baby voice broke in upon them.
Mamma, can l see dran'ma Nam
ME wants to see dran'ma!"
Mamie was hurrying to the door
when a voice stopped her.
"Let me have Mamie, please-it's so
long since have!"
Mamie stopped at the door, a great
wonder in her eyes.
why, mOther!" she exclaimed.
Her mother looked up at her with a
tremuIous smile.
Yes, l know. I meant to tell you
before, but l couldn't, someways. I've
heard all the time; was only deaf a
day or two from cold. thought I
really was at first, then kept it up,
because it ed-him-somehow.
He'd felt be was old and breaking
down, you know, but when I did, too,
he felt better and cheered right up.
There was only one thing-I did want
the baby SO! And it seemed as if
twould break my heart when she did
come not to answer her, and have her
strain her little voice to make me
hear!"
"And you kept 1t up all these
months?" said Mamie, in hushed tone.
Her mother looked up; she was
holding little Mamie with eager,
trembling hands, and it almost seemed
as II the golden baby head reflected a
wonderful light upon her tired face.
II guess when you've loved man
more than thirty years that isn't
much to do" she sc i'd.
J. II. Porter IL Sons, wholesale and re-
tail milk dealers S, E. Cor seventh anu
M odison treota Roth Phones Gal