Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-04-28
CHAPTER.
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"Wanted.-A young woman TO per
form the customary duties of COM
paniOn to an elderly lady. To person
OF the requisite qualifications, willing
to live in strict retirement, n liberal
salary and comfortable home are offer
ed. References required.-Apply to Al
IL. E., The Ivies, Eldon.'
read the above advertisement aloud
to my mother in voice that trembled
somewhat, Notwithstanding all my eff
forts to render it calm and even.
Here it is, mother DEAR" said, with
foolish little laugh that meant moth
ing, and yet concealed much. "I have
searched long enough for it, in all con.
science"
For what, my dear?" my mother
asked, with innocent surprise in her
pretty, faded blue eyes.
''FOr a response to the various APP
peais l have made to the future" I
replied. She looked bewilderment It.
self.
You mean-?' she began, and
paused in helpless perplexity.
ct mean that those few lines THAI
] have just read to. you represent the
only attention that Fate has ever
vouchsafed to accord to my incessant
applications for assistance in unravel-
ling the tangled thread Of my destiny"
l answered in 4 tone Of solemn sig
nificance.
but l don't see, Dorothy"
mo, of course you don't, you IN.
superstitious little soulr' I cried, with
n laugh that was really now the proper
thing, the precious little woman's utter
lack Of comprehension was so genuine
and amusing. you were born O gcner-
alton too early for endowment with all
the marvellous physical gifts which ara
the birthrigbt of my era. We of this
age can look into the future as well as
divine the thoughts Of our fellows, and
in this bit of typographical matter I
can see what life holds In store for
me as IL were at the end instead OF
the beginning of existence. i see Kis-
met written all over this advertise
ment, where youssee but the expressed
needs Of a fellow mortal"
She still looked dubious and uncers
tain.
What Is It you mean?" she asked, a
little impatiently for her.
Her want of sympathy with my
mood somewhat sobered and steadied
II. Mother and daughter as we were,
loving each other fondly though we
did, we were OF such absolutely con-
trasting natures and temperaments
that we rarely understood each other
by intuition; we never fully entered in-
20 each others joys and sorrows.
went over to the low chair where she
sat with her sewing lying idle in her
lap, and knelt down beside her. 1 took
her small hands, worn with much labor
and ceaseless industry, into mine and
raised an earnest and serious face to
hers.
Dearest" I said, "you are going 10
be annoyed with mRtaeain; YOU are
going TO feel again Tint you have inSt
cause to consider mo bslish auC M
consequent. ForgiEe,pe'first aBPthcn
l will explain whfHsause there is foc
She smiled In&ElaefSly at me, FOR. In
deed, she was B4er very fierce estr IN
her most int6lefant moods. and leai.ii
forward she kissed me lightly on t....
brow.
The touch OF her lips almost undd
me, there seemed such sort OF final
fly in the caress. 1t was as II she We're
giving sanction to my own thought,
that I was about to pass for ever from
close and intimate contact with her
self, the familiar, If uncomprehending,
companion of this first clIipter OF my
life, which l felt was swiftly nearing
its conclusion I drew in my breath
ton, and obeyed her injunction to pro-
coed with my explanation.
Mother" began, you will saw that
1t is only one of my ridiculous fancias
when l tell you that have an impress
Sion which amounts to conviction that
some strange tie is already forming
itself between me and this lady Of the
initials who needs "A companion. 1t Is
no chance that has brought her neces-
sity to my knowledge; it is the natural
drift of that subtle agency which goy-
ems our lives. ] can almost hear this
woman calling me to her side; l feel
that she has long been waiting for
me; l long to share her strict retire
ment; | feel the mysterious bond that
exists between Us tightening itself AMI
abridging the distance that parts rs
l shall reply at once to her cry for com
partnership, which know to be a sum-
mons directed at me alone of all the
world and when the doors of The Iyies
open To me, as open they surely will
they will receive within them not a
temporary guest, but lifelong ipmore
who shall finally leave them only 10
enter upon a new sphere of existence
which battles even the most advanced
psychics."
l tried to round out my period with
another IauSn, put the ATTEMPT was
wretched failure. My voice broke.
SLID quite down upon the floor at NV
mothers side, and hurst into a reoIII
hysterical At Of weep ng, which hettn,
than any verbal appe; |, deprecated tbs
material resentment for the thin
worn, loving hand quickly stole for
ward and rested soothingly upon my
head
Why, Dorothy, Dorothy love, what
is IT? There-there! What ails my
enid to-nightE and ny dOwncast
head was raised from its position and
tenderly pillowed on the loving breast
which had been it's earliest resting
pace. For q while l let il remain
there, for it was borne in upon me, in
that strange prophecy of spirit which
had come upon me, that not often in
the days to come would il recover that