The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-25

Mrs. Holloway could not rest in her
snuggery in the inn. She rose from her
own special rocking chair and went to
the windows, drawing aside the warm
curtains to peep out at the storm. She
could not see two inches beyond the
glass, yet she remained many minutes
at the window, and her fingers twitched
and clasped each other in nervous dread.
One might have believed, so fixed was her
gaze upon the impenetrable night, that
she really could see through the storm.
could see across the roaring, racing
waves, and advance her spirit further
than mans ken to meet halfway that
thing which was approaching.
From the parlor music came, and the
commingling of voices. A mans ,ol=e
blended with a womans so tremendously
as to assure the nearer of something
more than frequent practice by the
singers, of an entire unison Of )Il ana
sentiment.
Ish weiss NIGHT was soil est bedeuren,
Das ich so traurig bin.
There was no note of undue sadness in
the voices of the singers. For them the
song was the fair expression of q dream
"a song of ''sweet melancholy. In the
far distance of the future they ight re-
port. Today they were too Young to
deeply think. To Mrs. Holloway the
song meant far more than to them. AS
her daughters music smote her ears, and
the lovers voice joined il, she suddenly
left the window and sat dow1 again in
her rocker. She hid her face with her
hands and wept.
Ich weiss NIGHT was soil EFT bedeuten,
Das ich so traurig bin
The singing ceased abruptly. In a mo-
ment there came into the snuggery from
the adjoining parlor young woman, fair
faced, and with eyes that were wide with
love. She kneeled at her mothers feet
and drew the hiding hands from the thin
face.
Mother, mother, mother, what does
this mean?"
A young man followed, sailor by dress,
sailor by bearing, sailor by his freckled,
sunburned, salt-beaten face sailor by
his big, rope-h hardened hands, sailor by
his keen, open, farseeing eyes.
Halo, motherl What's the matter?"
'He, too, bent over Mrs. Holloway and
with a sons regard. placed one arm low
ingly round her shoulders. Yet the dis
engaged hand sought his sweet-heart's
and pressed it also in an embracing de-
sire to comfort both.
Crying, mother? Crying this week of
all weeks in the long long year? o.
mother, mother! 1 thought we agreed
that there were to be no tears at my
wedding?"
Mrs. Holloway tried to smile, but
scbbed again. She caught her daugh
ter's hand and drew the girl up to her
breast and patted the sailors hand re-
assuringly.
Pm not sick, dears," she said, "and
think am very foolish indeed. because
don't know why am crying. It's the
storm, 1 suppose
mot so much of a gale, mother, and
Jacks not at sea at any rate"
The mother laughed through her tears.
90, of course" she said, eff Jacks
here and safe, it does not matter how the
wind may blow, but still, my dear, there
are many boats at sea and many Jacks.
/ suppose am nervous, but seem to see
the boats tonight rocking and tumbling,
and the men in them cold and hungry and
wet, driving on the shore perhaps, and,
o. perhaps not ready for death. o. Katie
dear. shall be so glad when you're mar
ried, and then I shall give up this inn and
get FAR, far away from the sound of the
sea-"
Kate Holloway looked at Jack. Beau
mont with worried raising Of the eye
brows, and Jack began to whistle softly
the "Lorelei."
Its very true" Mrs. Holloway said
and rose with a smile, drying her eyes.
81 don't know what has happened to make
me so sad, and you will both forgive
me. won't you? I shan't do it again"
Dear little mother" cried Katie.
Good old mother!" cried Jack Its
because all your summer boarders have
flown, and you feel the house lonely and
empty. But. really, you must remem-
Der your promise-no tears for the we'd
ding next day, only love and laughing
and kisses, and then we'll all live to-
gether wherever you like so long as you
are within reach when I come sailing
home to meet my sweetheart and the
best little mother in the world
They grasped the gray-haired tender
faced little woman between them, laugh
ing and embracing her, and drew her into
the parlor.
Dance" cried Kate Holloway Jack,
make her dance. 1t is the one perfect
cure for the doldrums. Go OIL shall
play"
- ho land