The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-03-13

Why not? She would he fifty years
old in the morning. She turned it
over and over in her mind through the
long, still summer afternoon, and
gradually great resolution was born,
strengthening as the hours went by.
The next morning, Eneline. as
usual, was up at down. Her daugh-
ters came down to find the usual
routine passing under their mother 8
skiIlful, unresting hands. The morn
ing meal was cooked and eat en- the
milk strained and set and away. But
presently Sally said to Polly: "Where
on earth is mother? The milk things
amt scalded yet"
"I'l! scald 'em," replied competent
Polly. Soon it was her turn to cry to
Sally, Where do you suppose mother
is ? Them peas ought to be picked
right off"
"I'll pick 'em now," said the ef-
ficient Sally, and set about it. Then
both the girls sat on the back porch
and shelled the peas, ever and anon
saying, why, where can mother be p
An hour went by Emeline had
not been seen. Finally Polly found
Sally crying.
"What is the matter, you silly
thing ?'
"Oh, isn't it queer for mother to go
off like this? Let's 60 and look for
her"
"Where ?"
"Why-out in the barn-and down
cellar"
"I've looked in both those places"
con fessed Polly.
"Then let US. go down the road a
short distance"
II have" said Polly, solemnly.
"Oh, Polly could she have fallen
down the well /?
~ looked there, too," said Polly, be
traying the anxiety which she had
been feeling.
"Well," said Sally, firmly, "pm 60
ing out in the orchard. If she amt
there-she said yesterday she wanted
some greenin's for pies-Fm going to
blow the horn and call up father and
the boys to look for her.
"But first let's look all through the
house." urged Polly. "Father'd be so
mad to be called up hereifor nothing.
The cook-room, the milk-room, the
summer kitchen, disclosed no one;
the inner kitchen was vacant; by separ-
ate doors Polly and Sally hastily enter
ed the sitting-room, and there saw
Emeline.
She sat at shady window her cali
co dress was discarded in favor of her
second best alpaca she wore a white
apron, and she occupied comfortable
rocker with a farm journal in her
hand. Emeline in this guise at
this hour Of the forenoon was
an unprecedented and preten-
tious sight. Her daughters burst
into duet of inquiries
"Why, are you sick ?"
"Are you going away, mother:
"DO you expect company ?"
"Have you been anywhere ?"
Emeline sat upright, and silently
looked at them. and they returned
ber glance. 1t was sombre, but vivid;
and her voice, when she spoke, had a
ring of determination.
"Girls," said Emeline, choosing her
words, and pausing between the
sentences, "I am fifty years old to-day.
For fifty years | have worked very
udTu luuccu. L bdSO "oShSN eAN
ironed and cooked and sewed. | have
tended sick folks and waited on hired
men. 1 have brought up large family,
and my youngest child is ofage. Now
Ham never going to do any more work.
This is my time to rest. 1 mean 10 oe
waited on, hand and foot, the rest OF
my days, beginning with to.day-my
day."
Polly, her mothers own daughter. :,
recognized the crisis ; Emeline meant
Just what she said but Sally fell on
her knees beside her mothers chair,
crying nervously.
"Get up, Sally. said Polly, "and hell
me get dinner, Mothers 8 right she's
earned her time. I'll back you up,
mOther.n
She dragged the reluctant Sally to
her feet, and out of the room. Eme-
line sat back in her rocker, and alter
nately gazed at the lovely garden scene
without, or read her paper, finally
doing off, impelled by the quiet OF
the shady room.
She was awakened by Polly.
'.I've made it right with father and
the boys" said the second edition OF
Emeline' land we all want you to
come out and eat dinner with us. It's
ready now"
rINJDC CATT /