The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-06-13

y
at home. 1t looked all ki nd of shut
up"
Mrs. Carter groaned again. Didn't
You see anybody, Cyry?" persisted
Luther. "Now You think real hard.
Who came to the door?"
Nobody did. L walked in, after
I'd kept knockinga while"
Cyrus began to look embarrassed
under this fire OF mysterious Qucs-
tons.
well, nobody gave me the paper.
| took it. It's always lying on the
table, waiting to be taken. l guess
Mrs. CANDLES got sick of getting it
for me; aud the last time she told me
to go into the sitting-room and get it
myself. / had to hunt all round. 1t
was under the sofa. Say, pa, why
don't we take our own paper?"
Did she look as if she'd been cry
ing, Cyry?" quavered Mrs Carter.
I didn't see her, l said-only her
picture hanging up. That looked
real solemn. | guess somebody was
crying, though, somewhere. | heard
sniffy sound, real loud"
Luther and Mrs. Luther cazed
gravely at each other, signing.
'Mnrietta's such sensitive woman
poor Marietta murmured little
Mrs. Luther, tearfully
She rose suddenly, upsettiug the
dGrning basket. 'I'm going right
down there, " she said. II feel ns if
I'll ought to- If / can't be anv other
comfort to Marietta, / can wash up
the dinner dishes and trim lamps.
Cyry, you run and get my shawl"
She looked down thoughtfully at
her flower sprigged dress. Eyes,
spose Ia better put on n black
dress. l s'pose so, out of respect for
Marietta's feelings.
Soberly begowned and shaved,
Mrs. Carter, n few minutes later.
tapped gently Mt the Gamble back
door She noticed that the blinds
were nearly all closed and the shades
down. An air of hushed solemnity
brooded over all things, animate and
lnanimate, in the small dooryard.
Poor Andrews choice Plymouth
Rock hens went about as if on tip.
toe, with dropping tail-feathers. 10
Mrs. Carriers sensitive ear, even the
old cocks growing hal q doleful,
drawn-out wall in it.
She tapped again softly. Nobody
responded. Then adjusting the cor
ners of her mouth to appropriate
droops, she stole gently into the
kitchen.
There was no one there. The little
room had on its prim afternoon dress.
and looked unsocial and stiff. Thy
faintest possible hint of cliuki~g
knitting-needles drew the visitor IN,
consciously toward the sittino-room.
Mrs. Andrew Gamble sat there knit
ting in the still, dark room. She
gave little start as Mrs. Carter en-
tered.
ooh, she said, in n low voice,
I'm really glad TO see You, Mrs.
Carter No, don't take that chair-
that's Andrews, and / can't bear it.
The rockers easier to your back. I'm
do your shawl, DO.
81 had TO come over. Marietta
seemed as il must I couldn't bear
the thought of you sitting here all
alone. ] wish / could help you-O.
Marietta, ] wish couldr
Mrs. Gamble looked M from her
knitting quickly. Eyes, 1t is lone
some with Andrew gone" she said.
quietly. She was slight, sweet faced
woman, and the loose wisps of hair.
turning gray, curlod prcttily ground
her face.
For very little space neither of
tho women spoke The sub1ucd crenk
of their rockers sang dirgo i'm the
visitors ears. She was wondering
how Marietta could knit stockings.
and looked 500 composed, and curl her
hair. Still She had been crying. Her
eyes looked Redeemed.
hon .ho visitor spoke i'm n sharp
whisper, drawliug the words ont sol
cmniy. Wasn't it dreadful sudden.
Mnrietta2"
Yes, % was sudden Still I'd been
expecting as likely rs not it might
happen Hcsucycr boon real hearty s."
Noy' Mrs. Corfcr assrnted. with "a
doubtful, upward infection Andrew
had looked hearty. very.
Ever since he sprniued bis knee.
joint last fall he's been ailirg sspcc
tally, 10 seemed io usc him up.
81 never noticed that ho limpe9."
Well he did, going up hiIl aud
coming home oitcra long trip"
Another pause, and another stanaa
OF tho crcokng dirgo
When did It, happen, Mnrictlog'
whispered Mrs Luther Carter then.
Three o'clock this morning. or n
few minutes past We wero mp all
night with him. didn't get n wink