Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-11-06
CHAPTER xx.--cen,Inued.

Mira. Anon WAS IN an hhlP'Hihb '"""'
reading Ia Mrs. Grrrn. Mrs, Green
va. woman one could love at a
glance aud love always. her sweet old
face was flushed with pink. her brown
eyes were soft and gentle, her ni'hcn
White hair was brushed In waves back
from her face and Hoftcncd by cap
Of lace. her voice was what woman
yoioo should he. sweet hut arm. low
hut perfectly moduiatcj. She took
Dolores right into her mothorly heart.
knowing every word of her history
NJ far nv her son know ". knowing.
too, without being told. that this was
the gIrl hcr son loved. Aud the Hl'n'
der. silent girl seemed to melt toward
he, as toward no one rlHc. though at
nrst Il was very bitter this having 10
accept hospitality from the mother OF
tn. man who had bccn 80 wronEcd'
She had been forced Ia accept the
hospitality uf his mothcr-bccn forced
aud with No excuse to place the ac'
ccp,ancc out of tho question. because
there was no excuse she could oncr
when they took her father from tho
little house, bearing him carefully TO
III. carriage waiting Tor him at the
gate, soft with cushions aud pillows OF
down. To the station and the city some
thirty miles below the town down the
valley. with Doctors nunwlddic and
Grey aud her uncle. They had every
thing that money could buy to snin
comfort Tor him. 4 ear was reserved
Tor him on tho train: everything alb
ftat N.aN
his comfort And then they had
forced urou her the acceptance OF this
hospitality.
Airs Grccn was watching pulorcs
through tho opcn doorway. leaning
back On the cushioned sofa, her sof,
hands folded In her lap at this hrr
'tcst time" of tho day as she listened
Ia Mrs, Mlrn's reading. her thoughts
somehow tausicd with tina, and tho
Eirl at the western window In the sun.
set lishta and the boz ct her heart
their only child. the hcst son. she oi,cn
Esii. laughing. that mother ever had.
Dora was partly In shadow though
her face. too, caught the GLOW from
shave The silence that had followed
DOLORES all her lie seemed to fall Ike
veil auund her. pnd cvca to her
csusin Tor the time, The sunset lights
faded aind died; mellow darkness
cnVciopcd the eastern slope of the
mountain; the rcad that wound ur Its
siic VAS like slender thread In the
darkness. Suddenly tho sound ot a
church bell smo,c the air, aud roloreS
started. turning from the window.
What is ~" she asked cf Nora. and
Dora arsc ~ she answered. her;
Church bells. ioric." touchtng the
hand nearest her shyly, a. though Snc
were half afraid "rhis Is Wednesday
evening, and the boil Is ringing Tor
prsycr meeting"
Tlcicrcs made no further remark On
tho subject she kuci. rothiaE y.
yraycr meetings or church bells. the,
had little interest fnr her. her
thoughts were with hsr father. with
young cucen. with many things out.
sldc of this commonrlacc Snhjcct.
she turned from tho window. however.
bringing her face iatc shadow Mrs
Ailca had ceased her reading. aad was
watching the girls with an inseui;ahlc
cSpuNsSion In her cS~S, Had she failed
sn,cr all her plsnuiaEs There scrmcd
M difference In tho Friendship Do
tween this sirl aud the soa " their
host Aud a. she could not win Dora
trnm her cousin she could at least
make thls stupid Eirl feel some Of the
bitterness she held in her own heart.
That. a. least. VAS ~nrih planning
tNr. Shs was ~ dccnls buried Ia
these thoughts that she started ucr>
VNuSly when Ms, Green eai,ri the
girls in hcr sott, low NNiec.
My acsrS," she said. arr yon NOT
really 10 N,ln US now We have watch,
sd the picture you mako until now Ne
wish yourselves, There IS nNNn Tor
each " yoa beside nc here On the
sNta, or will rNra play something
sweet and low ~ charm away the
darkness while Loyie and sit here
together"
Hcforc they could answer her. how
ever, quick stc.S sounded on the
piazza. the oUtrS dNay was opened. and
SNnUs Grcsa catered tSe r,,Az, where
the elder woman sat Mrs, Grcca aroSc
in haste her face suddenly palms,
Charlie, Mat Is the rnA;tcrs'
~nont be rrlsNtcuc,i, mother" Casr,
bc said, Nurgic5ty with a oa,oN r.aaoc
arNpad The ro,Naa, taking her hands In