The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-14
WAITING FOR HER SON.
Topeka WOman's SOrrOWful
Mission in LeaVenWOrth.

Leavenworth, Kan, July 1.-THE
Times says:
Il wonder if he will come today?'
YEARLY but anXiousIy queried aged
woman at the union station yesterday
afternoon. The sun was sinking low in
the west and about the depot the day
employees were preparing to go away
while the men who work at night had
begun to arrive
I wonder if he win come today %
again the plaintive voice arose from a
seat in the corner of the depot waiting
room where a little old woman sat
crouched. seemingly terrorized by the
noise and hustle about her and by the
nonappearance of the one she awaited.
For two days or over since Saturday
afternoon the little woman with the
gray hair of one of many years. had
sat in that corner with never a word
except the often repeated mutter of
worry about the failure of him to ap-
pear. Once only during that As hours
did the little woman of the snowy locks
leave her post and that was when Sun
day night the pangs of hunger had over
come her and compelled her at last 10
seek food. She had stepped across the
street to the nearest restaurant where
she remained only long enough to Sc
cure a few mouthfuls, not enough TO
sustain life in an infant. Back to the
depot she hobbled and resumed her seat
In the corner. Every few minutes she
would be heard to mutter and once or
twice every hour she would rise from
the bench and going to the window
would peer anxiously out at the train
platform and a. the waiting trains.
The prolonged stay of the woman at
tracted the attention of many, but
nothing could be learned from her by
questioning for all efforts to get her
to talk seemed in vain. She would look
up at her questioner with eyes full of
sadness and wonder, then instead of an
swering a panied expression would be-
come visible in her cOuntenance and
with sigh of WEAKNESS she would turn
away her head or bury it In her apron
| leaving nothing but the crown of snow
white hair showing.
Yesterday afternoon when the Times
reporter reached the depot he found her
in the same place with no change ex
cept a Sadder and more haggard ex-
preston of her countenance. He deter
mined to try once more to learn some
thing of the strange lady and her sor-
row. At the sound of his voice she
looked up at him, her eyes wavered and
she started to turn her head aside. But
as if by a great effort she controlled
herself and turned again to the ques
toner and in broken English showing
plainly her Polish nativity began.
You ask me who l am and why I
wait here so long by myself and seem
so lost and sad. 1 did not want to teE
can help me. 1 am, as you can know
by my talk, a Polish woman my name
is Veronica Gorzski. But 1 have lived
in your country many years, and the
last ten of them I have lived here in
Kansas. most of the time at Topeka.
My husband died &c years ago, one year
before / left my country to come to
yours. l had only one child spared to
me- for the other two died when
ba bies.
John was a big boy when we came.
sixteen years old. We reached America
and in the coal fields of Pennsylvania
John found work. 1 could not find
work there. but was offered a good
place with a family coming to Mis-
souri,. 1 came there and stayed Is
years, then the family came to Kansas.
to Topeka. and 1 with them. All this
time 1 heard regularly from my son.
Then two weeks ago he wrote me THAI
he was coming here to your city. He
had decided to come here to mine anu
wanted me to meet him here day before
yesterday and we would live here
Il have waited but he has not come
He is still my little boy to me. though
it has been Is years since l last saw
him. had always missed him, but
never so much as now when I expected
to see him so soon. It is sad to me to
have to wait, but he does not seem to
come. 1 am going back to Topeka to-
night and must try and wait patiently
but l do miss him so much" And with
a great burst of sobbing the head
sought its place in her arms and the
/ little woman was once more the silent,
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