Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-06-25

daffodils that boriered the path shon
fainty golden. Inside the two oil
women rocked and knitted. It ha
been so long since either had spokel
tnat the last words seemed like din
memories of some far distant past
When Martha Whipple brought be
chair to a sudden stop, the movemen
had something startling in it. Sht
leaned forward impressively, hel
round forid face settling into heavJ
lines of determination.
Its borne in on me to say some
thing to you, Mary" she began. "Ive
set out 10, do it more'n once, an then
I've backed out. It's jest what every
body's 3sayin'. / hope you won't lay
it up against me if l tell you what's
for your own good. It's four years
now since Tom went away, an three
since he was married. an he amt
never come home though he knows
you're a-lookin' for him., I guess there
amt been q night since he was mar.
ried that You amt lit up the best
room an opened the front door as if
you thought he an that city wife Of
: his might ccme walkin' up the path
any minute. Sometimes I've got fair
ly ragin' over it. All this time you've
been a-watchin' an waitin', an you
have never set eyes on him nor his
wife nor baby. Now tell you what
it IS: I'd jest make up my mind if I
was you to let it all go. 'Tain't right
for perfessor to wear herself out
So"
She stopped short, staring at ner
friend. The little old woman had ris.
EN- to her feet, trembling with excite
ment We've been neighbors thirty
Jears, Martha Whipple," she said,
but if you say another word I'll nev-
er forgive you IS long as you live.
guess you had better go. guess it
would be safer so, an besides, I've
got considerable to do tonight.
didn't tell. you before, but I'm goin'
down to TOMS tomorrow"
Miss Martha had risen with tragic
indignation but the news was too
much for her. She turned back in
undisguisej amazement.
For the lands sake, why didn't you
say so?" she exclaimed. Cant help
you to get ready? How long do you
calculate to stay?"
II calculate I'll be- gone about
week. Being the spring of the year,
i can't stay longer, for there's the gar
den to see to. amt got much to do
to get ready. If you'd feed the cat
once day-'twouldnt do no good to
bring him over; he wouldn't stay
but I'll leave a saucer on the back
porch, an you can put his milk there"
q will certain" answered Miss
Martha. She had quite forgotten ner
resentment in the keen relish: of shszI
The next day. She looked back when
she reached the doorway and bade
her neighbor goodnight.
Goodnight" the. elder woman an.
swerei. Her voice had afcurious. half
frightened tone in it. and her yes
were full of dismay. She gave sisn
cf relief and shut the door; then she
locked around her, and the look was
that of an exile about 70 leave home
forever. - =
p "I dunno what made me say it" she
cried. "I said it before thought, an
now I've got to go. An don't know
how can either, with things all start
ing to bloom So pretty. An Tom
might come too. Supposin' we should!
pass each other, an he come while
I'm gone. But I've got to go. Folks
shant say any such things about Tom,
as if Tom wouldn't be glad to see his
motLer!"
When morning came, he made her
self cup of tea before going care.
fully over the house for the last time.
Then she dragged her valise out on
the doorstep and locked the front door
behind her.
When the stage came she walked
steadily down the path between the
daffodiIs. She looked straight ahead,
but her old face was working pitifully,
and the yellow blossoms seemed to
dance like Pickering lights before her
eyes.
The day was close and sultry. an un-
seasonable one for spring. The old
woman sat bolt upright beside her
yalise, holding her ticket in her hand.
AS they left the fresh air of the hills.
the heat became worse. She grew
faint, and a terrible fear began to
creep over her that she would never
reach the city.
AS they neared the city the train be-
gan to be crowded. Presently a lady
stopped beside ner and asked if the
seat was engaged. She did not under
stand the phrase; but, obeying sud-
den instinct for companionship, sne
moved her valise.. -
"You can set here if you want to"
she said. "The cars real full now"
: The lady thanked her and took tle
seat She was evidently used to tray-
cling. The old woman looked at her
wistfully. Presently she leaned over
and touched her.
"Is-is Boston very big?" she ask
ed timidly.
The lady glanced at her companion
with a quick smile that changed as
she saw the worried old face.
"It is pretty big" she replied gent
ly. "Are you going there?"
The old woman smiled up at her
eagerly. "Yes," she said, 81 thought
I'd go. You see, my boy Tom he mar
ried, an haven't seen him for four
years. / amt even seen the baby.
They kept telling me to come and last
night i made up my mind to, an
up an started. hope it won't be
hard to find the place"
Wont Tom be at the depot to meet
you?" asked the lady Indignantly.
The old woman looked up with