Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1905-11-09

kkEu ~Ip WlSucu luaL peUplS COuIu
realize how girlish she was at heart,
despite her fifty years and the gray
hairs that clustered round her fore
head.
Married at seventeen, Mrs. Hoyt
had been 4 mother before she was
was forty. Now she was visiting her
son. and was secretly annoyed at the
respectful consideration showed her
by all the family.
Her daughter-in-law treated her as if
she were seventy: the children were
never allowed to play with her long.
lest she weary of their lively antics.
This morning young Mrs. Hoyt had
been summoned to a neighbours bed
side, and had left Eleanor with strict
injunctions to be very good to grand
MA and very quiet. 1t was compara-
lively easy to obey the first order, but
how was such a bright-eyed tomboy
as fourteen-year-oid Eleanor to carry
out the second?
Quiet? Quiet, when the ice Oh the
pond was like glass, and this was prob
ably the last skating Of the season?
OF course it was lovely to have grand
ma visit them, but how pleasant it
would have been had she waited until
spring!
Eleanor flushed at the inhospitality
Of this thought, and was glad to be
distracted by 4 knock at the door. In
came Clara Roe, with glowing cheeks
and sparkling eyes.
20 Eleanor, put on your things right
awayw she cried. "The skating is the
best we have had. Every one else il
there"
II know" said Eleanor, her lip
trembling a little, "but-but mother
has gone away, and I have to stay with
grandma"
"Oh" Clara's bright face clouded a;
the thoughts of her friends disappoint.
ment, then cleared as she said, "Bu,
why not take Your grandmother, too::'
"Take grandma!" echoed Eleanor. a.
if Clara had proposed to take thu
house and barn.
"Certainly," said Clara, in her posi-
tive manner Il believe she'd like it
She looks as if. she could have as mucl
fun as any of It's, if she only had
chance"
Eleanor made no reply, and after
moments hesitation Clara said, "Any
way, I'm going to ask her!"
She marched straight into the sill
ting-room where grandma sat with he
knitting, looking out at the bright sur
shine. Mrs. Hoyt looked up with
welcoming smile; she and Clara ha
been friends since their first meeting
"Mrs. Hoyt," said Clara, putting
persuasive arm about grandma
neck, don't you want to go skatin
with us?"
Down went the knitting, up wei
Mrs. Hoyt's eyebrows. Skating!
grandmother skate!
1.-THE ice is like glass" Clara conti1
ued, eagerly, "aAd it may not last al
other day. We have an extra pair {
= skates, and I'll run home for the
Y While 0 and Eleanor get read.
You'll come, won't you?"
r. The fresh young voice had carrie
-
grandma back to the happy da,
5 when she had fitted over the ic
ayowedly the best skater in the lit
town. But that was long ago; ST
would not know how to stand on II
ice now. much less skim over it. 81
stihed the longing to try her SIX
T. c more, and shook her head.
n "Iou are very kind to invite Ine.n 81
# said, "and I appreciate j. very mu,
L. indeed, but I fear that my skatil
days are over"
o. Clara was not a girl to be east
h thwa"ted: besides, she had seer t
" first look of yielding in grandma
q, eyes.
Of "Of course You could not skate
that long skirt" she said, thoughtful
ID Il have one that's just the rio
length for her." Eleanor interr,1ptt
n. eagerly. "Iou See, I'm quite us tall
it grandma"
=" My scarlet cweater would be i,
lie the thing for her," added Clara. "a
T." Bring It with the skates"
grandma flushed again. She h
to worn a red jacket the night that 10
-aow long ago it seemed.