The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13
After Forty
 YearC
A ChristmAr Story By
 Elizabeth F.. Stow.

rCopyriRht, Ieo2 by Elizabeth E. stoW.l
 eoznehow she looked out of place among the ray throng of Christmas travellers tnat ennv ened the duh waiting room Whenever uhe e.o S room she started tensely. only to settle oack stiff and alert. as before.
 s;ha WAS small and slightly bent. Her decent black dress, though far from the latest cut had d nattiness Of it's own. She had probably passed .woscore and ten. yet there was 2 youthfnlness about her that had dened nara work and tnouble and sorrow. felt sure that che had experienced all three. At last she glanced shyly in my direction.
 '.Irs tiresome waiting is 1t not?" ven- tured.
 "oh. mol It's all so new and strange to me. and then I've only an hour to walt Her voice, like herself, had @ pleasant alertness.
 'ePerhaps you're unaccustomed to travelling, . ! suggested tentatively.
 This morning is the second time since l was 10 years old that I've been on train of cars" she answered. with suggestive ac. curaey T didn't used to mind staying at home. but the longing to 80 somewhere has seemed to grow me. Why. one time even thought of setting In the milk train that makes up at our station. It backs up and switches round for bout an hour, so could imagine I'd started for nobody knows where even got 90 far as hoping cinder d blow il my eye. like when 1 was a little girl an went to the city with father. It's e mercy ] never told my idee. Folks would have though [ was getting in my dotage. ain't tiring you ba IT. she asked anxiously. T don't know when I've talked so much about myself"
 I hastened to reassure her, remarking tha' home cares had doubtless prevented her gettins away.
 How did you tnow?' she said. with a bird like turn of the head Why. I was only | l when began making bread and pies. was the only child. you see. and mother began to bs lame then. She kept right on growing worse end worse till finally her joints all stiffened up. just like the bones between. She suf Rsred dreadful till the last fifteen years or SO, when the soreness kind of left.''
 "Fzow long did you say it was since you
 'Just forty years ago this morning. It was on my 18th birthday. was born the day before Christmas. I'm 66 today"
 T wouldn't have thought it."
 That's what folks all tell me. I should think I'd look as old as Methuselah, though somehow don't feel it. remember thAt day noTty years ago, just as we'll. Twas just and crisp undsrfoot. Goodloe said 'twas like fairyland. It was Goodloe Morton''--a fain flush came on her faded cheek-"who took me on the Christmas excursion to Buffalo. We was going to the falls. but something pre- vented It was the next Spring he asked me to marry him. Dear mel You wouldn't think tt hear me running on that you're the first person I've over told 1t to. I wouldn't let Goodloe ten at neither. was that afraid mother might hear. Sho was growing worse fast, and 1t would have worried her to think I couldn't leave home and marry like other girls. Good lo@ felt quite worked up for a spell. but finally hs married Sally Skinner. She's raised him 6 big family and been . good wife,
 fancisd Q sigh escaped her, but after . mo- e was saying. the last time I rod on the