West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-06-26


They opened the door and peered into
the room, and this Is what they saw:
a large, sunny room, having an air of
comfort; easy chairs and rugs and in
the windows blooming plants; In the
center OF the room Mrs. Mayhem, stern
and white, meeting their gaze with un-
daunted eyes; in one corner of the room
a bed and. sitting up I'm It, propped
with pillows. miserable old wreck OF
n woman, leering at them with wild.
cunning eyes. Her checks were sunk
en-; her nose and chin almost met: her
body was bowed almost double. The
awful light of insanity sbone out of her
Face like phosphorus.
At the wholly unexpected sight OF
her the three women buddled closer to-
gether, borrified and aghast.
Hey, hey" cried the old creature.
with dreadful hugh. "Why don't
you give the ladies cheer? BE they
ladies or bcan't they? If,tbey be. why
don't you give 'em n cbeerr"
Then. with her heart beating till Il.
seemed to shake her slight body, Mrs.
Mayhem spoke. "To what am | in
Mrs lIostettcr's speech had been long
prepared aud committed 10 memory.
but not word OF II came. Whatever
the three women had expected to find
behind that dove colored door. IL was
certainly not that bed and its dread oc-
cupant. The room seemed wbirling
nrcInd them. Mrs. Hostetter endeay-
ored 10 give uttcrance TO some Of her
carefully prepared sentences and failed
dismally. Finally she faltered ont
We've that is-we wanted to have
n talk with you"
"WeIlT"
"We-we've seen for long time that
somethln was a-goin on right under
our very noses"-bcr voice strengthen
cd as she went on--"and we concluded
we'd come and have n talk with YOU
"WclIY
We've seen you hang that birdcage
out on the right hand side OF the door.
and then we've seen that fellow come
and stay and stay. We don't propose
TO have such gOiD ons right under our
noses. You've got him bid here som.
ers now. If your husband can't put a
stop 10 IL. we can"
She paused. and there was intense ST.
lencc for a moment. Then the old wo-
man cried out: "Why don't you give
'em n cheer? BE they ladies or benn't
theyr'
u don't know" said Mrs Maybew
and laughed ont scornfuliy. but almost
instantly her face showed contrition.
"Oh, didn't mean tbatF she cried
turning lmplorlugly 10 the worIen IL
beg that you will forgive the. | know
you mean this In kindness. but your
words cut my heart like knives"
"Ob. we didn't calculate TO be re-
ceivcd OF two chips" plpcd out Mrs
Dean. I'VE braccd up to do our dooiy
like Christians. no matter bow hard we
might be iusulted." Her voice was as
sharp as her face.
"You can't deceive us an atom" put
IN Mrs Frazer. determined 10 have her
laurels too. mot an atom. we have
seen evcrything We have even seen
the cold feeIlns bctwixi you and Mr..
Mayhem. q man that this hull town.
from one cud to the other. looks up TO
Everybody hns seen the cold fcciin's
that's come beiwlxt You"
Now. indeed Mrs. Mayhcw was like
white lily smitten aud crushed Ivy a
storm She clung. trembling to the
cl5 and looked at them with dark.
terrified eyes
This this Is my mother" she fat
tered "Siic is old aud feeble. and she
shc had trouble I, affected her mind.
: had her brought ncrc so could care
for her as daughter should" She