The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-01-29

The head Of the family, impoteni
bowed his head.
In answer to his wlfe's: "What coult
they do now. how live for the rest Of
their days?" lie answered laconcally
II don't know"
And what Is he to do to-day who los
everything yesterday.
1--WE must try for a pension" sl,
said.
II have no right to one." he M
swered.
"Stll we can try; perhaps they'll b,
iDdulgent."
He only despaired of success.
| SO she decided to move in the matte
herself.
Before entering on her last undertak.
Ing this woman looked at herself for +
long time in the glass.
She watched her eyes ill scvcra
times with tears: several times she
watched them change expression. anG
then, putting on n black dress. sht
| placed several papers in n small hand
bag, and left the house.
At the Office they listened politely tt
| her demand. but informed her that
they couldn't push the matter. which
was without the slightest Foundation
| and therefore TO do so would be, le
gally, to defraud
She then solicited audiences of those
on which depended the examination o.
her application.
Somebody thought that. perhaps as
an exception for her. the matter NIGH
be looked into.
She was refused
She began to cry. For the first time
in her life tears flowed involuntarily
With inexpressibe entreaty she fixed
her eyes on him who had the power
and yet refused to grant an audience.
She didn't utter word He granted
her request
Now everything depended on this In
terview.
The faded beauty, the faded silk
dress. the faded but still beautiful
eyes. and at last the tears the
quiet, silent tears lent words tc
express the request which slowly
III eyes.
Her husband was saved from beg
gary.
But from that day her tears seemed
dried up-she always looked severe and
cold. When her son, once more in debt,
blew out his brains, she didn't shed o
tear.
The tears of this woman had done
their work, and they were dried up foI
human things, and the tears. given her
for that purpose. could not suffice to
soothe the sore Affections of mankind.
On his death bed her husband, hold.
ing her hand. asked suddenly: "You
don't cry. Don't you love me?"
Something distorted her lips. Was it
a smile? 1t was more like ,he spasms
of pain.
do cost You no tear?"
"My love-" she whispered. soothing
his forehead and gray hair with her
trembling hand, my love. don't talk
like that"
The dying man closed his eyes.
She remained as she was seated FOR
several minutes without moving mus,
Gle. Suddenly she rose.
She laughed aloud.
She squeezed her throat to stop the
laughter that was bubbling up.
She rushed TO her room. ana there
began to laugh 50 loud that they had
to send for the doctor.
He said it was an acute paro-ysn
OF hysterla.
When her husband died the attack
renewed Itself, and on her lips it left
chronic smile.
Whether the llps were distorted with
pain or whether this smile took the
place of the tears that had disappeared
1t was difficult TO decide. but after this
her eyes never filed with tears.
She took small furnished room and
lived alone like misanthrope. The
neiShbors said she must be made Of
stone.
She died strangely.
The landlady will tell You that n few
days before her death she went mad.
She had mumbled something and when
the landlady had listened at the key.
hole she could only distinguish one
sentence:
where are my tears:"
There! She's gone and lost her
tears" laughed the landlady. "Now
Is 1t worth while to cry for tears"
and within she heard repeated
Tears. Tears. Give me tears"
''Lor'! What fool.' said the land.
lady, going Off.
The third day the lodcer. who but
seldom left her room, did not go out
ut all.
And the next day she did not go out.
They called. She didn't answer. They
broke open the door.
The lodger was dead.
The doctor said it was paralysis of
the brain.-New York News.