The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-10-25

AeS. AaSt spring, mary, the trees
were green and full of life Just as I
was when married Andy Dover and
settled down on our 20 acres. For a
while everything was bright. We loved
our little Annie with her long golden
curls and watched her grow into wom-
anhood and marry Clinton Mayes.
Then l buried Andy. But Annie COM
forted me and took me to live with
her. She and Clinton were good to
me; and the children, dear little
things, were so much company"
Aunt Emily paused and wiped her
eyes with one corner of the un-
bleached sheet. Mary still swayed
back and forth, and the click, cluck
of the loose rocker was .he only noise
that broke the silence except the low
hum of voices and the occasional
chuckle of foolish Ben" from the
other end of the hall.
"But Clinton wasn't much to blame
for not wanting to keep me any long
er," Aunt Emily went on, as she
cleared her throat. "Annie was sick
ly, and the doctors bill had to be paid,
although the miners wages were cut
down 20 cents day. My money was
all gone, and l wasn't able to work
much. Annie must be sicker now, for
she has not written to me for more
than a year, and like the trees I am
withering. look over there!" Aunt
Emily pointcd with her able hand to
the parper's burying ground across
| h.
coming through the trees, touched the
plain boards that marked each mound
''Mary, I'll soon be there"
Mary gave loud cough, wiped her
face with a piece of unhemmed mus
lin that she took from her apron belt,
and replied:
"Oh! I reckon not! Annie will
come for you some day and take you
home to get well. Let me prop you
up in bed before 60 to help get din
ner."
Mary soon had the invalid sitting up
with the two cotton-batting pillows
and ragged edged comfort at her
back. 'I'll go now if you are resting
all right" and the heavy shoes
|
Aunt Emily's only answer was: "I'm
afraid Annie will never come" AS the
sound of squeaking shoes died away
she shook her trembling head and
said slowly: ''She will never come"
In the kitchen the women were help
ing Mrs. Winters get dinner. The
Steam was rising from a couple OF
large iron kettles on the range in
bne corner of the room, and the odor
IF boiling coffee filled the air. Mra
Winters in gray calico wrapper and
blue apron was putting bacon into q
skillet. Her usually pale face waa
flushed from the heat of the stove
Mary got the dishes from the cup.
board and took them to the long
table at the other side of the room
She wiped off the brown oilcloth be.
fore setting the dishes in their places
and, as she worked, the wrinkles in
her forehead grew deeper. When the
|; table was nearly ready Mrs. Winters
came over and sat down on the end o1
a bench that ran along one side o1
the table.
J "How is Aunt Emily this morning
Mary?" she asked, as she wiped ths
perspiration from her face.
''She says she feels the same. But
she was blue and told me she would
soon be in the buryin' ground. She
seems to worry right smart because
Annie don't write" After pause
Mary added, with knowing nod, %
. don't believe she'll live long,"
!, II must go in and see her after din
ner," Mrs. Winters said, as she turned
, her head to the window with a sigh
Her kind face always looked sad al
if it reflected the poverty-stricker
misery around her; even when she
smiled it seemed from pity rather
than Joy.
That evening after supper Mrs. Win
ters took down tablet of writing pa
. per, the small round bottle of ink ant
, the red penholder and wrote the follow
. ing letter to Mrs. Annie Mayes:
"If you ever want to see your mother
!, alive, come soon."
II won't say anything about this let
ter to Aunt Emily" she said to her hus
band, because if Annie don't come i
will be such disappointment to th'
poor old woman"
One afternoon a week later Mrs
: Winters was interrupted in her sewing
, by a knock on the front door. Sh'
opened it and admitted frail looking
: little woman with large brown eye
looking from very thin face.
"Is this Mrs. Winters?" the strange.
asked. II am Mrs. Mayes."
: Mrs. Winters took the visitor int
l the sitting-room, assuring her that he
mother was no worse. After her wrap
: were laid aside she said:
Il Twill go to mother at once"
II am afraid the sudden surprise o
you walking into her room would b
! more than she IL able to stand" Mrt
. Winters said. "Just take this rookie
: and will go and tell her first"
!. After Mrs. Winters left the roof th
!. visitor rocked for minute or two q
the footsteps sounded down the hal
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