The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-11-02

}@>@l considered old. She
lIsl lSl) wished that people could
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
lad been Il mother before she was
| twenty and a grandmother before she
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 We're 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 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 brighteyed tomboy
as fourtoen-year-old Eleanor TO carry
OHt the second?
! Quiet: Quiet. when the ice on the
pond was like glass, and this was prob
| IDLY the last skating of the season
f! OF course it was lovely to have grand
nia visit them, but how pleasant it
! would have been had she waited until
spring.
| Eleanor flushed at the inhospitaiity
| of this thought, and was glad to be
distracted by a knock at the door. In
| came Clara Roe. with glowing cheeks
and sparkling eyes.
~ Eleanor. put OH yt,,lr things right
away:' she cried. The skating is the
best we have had Every one else is
| there
Il know" said Eleanor her lip
trembling i, little, ''but-but mother
has gone away. and have to stay with
grandma
'Oh,' Clara's bright face ciouded at
The thoughts of her friends disappoint-
ment, then cleared as she said, "Rut
why hot take your grandmother, tou?'
Take grandma" echoed Eleanor, as
II Clara had proposed TO take the
house ana barn.
"Certainly," said Clara In her posi-.
tive manner. II believe she'd like it,
She looks as II she could have as much
fun as any Of us, ii she only had
chance"
Eleanor made 10 reply, and after a
moments hesitation Clara said. ''4Any-
way, I'm going to ask herr
She marched straight into the sit
ting-rOOm where grandma sat with her
knitting. looking out at the bright sun
shine. Mrs. Hoyt looked up with a
welcoming smile: she and Clara had
been friends since their first meeting.
"Mrs. Hoyt," said Clara, putting a
persuasive arm about grandma's
neck. "don'i YOU want 10 go skating
with us:''
Down Went the knitting, up went
Mrs. Hcyt's eyebrows. Skating, 4
grandmother skate.
"The ice is like glass" Clara contin.
ued. eagerly. laid 1t may not last an.
other day. We have an extra pair of
skates. and I'll run home for them
Willie You and Eleanor get ready.
You'll come. won't your
The fresh young voice had carried
grandma back to the happy days
when she had fitted over the ice.
avowedly the best skater in the little
town. But that was long ago: she
would not know how to stand OH the
Ice now. much less skim over it. She
stlhed the longing to try her skill!
once more. and shook her head.
You are very kind to invite me- She
said. land I appreciate it very much
indeed. but I fear that my skating
days are over"
Clara was not a girl to be easily
thwarted; besides. she had seen the
hrst look Of yielding i'll grandma S
eyes
"Of course you could not skate in
that long skirt" she said, thoughtfulIy
Il have one that's just the right
length for her." Eleanor interrupted.
eagerly. You see I'm quite as tai! as
grandma"
MY scarlet .weater would be lust
the thing for hei." added Clara, land
I'll bring It with the skates
Grandma flushed again. She had
Worn a red jacket the night that John
how long ago it Seemed!
Then I'll go for the sixties and
sweater" said Clara, decisively, "while
you get your own things ready" She
was out Of the door before Mrs. Hovt
Gould utter word Of protest. Then
the humor of TIL. situation struck
grandma. and throwing back her
head. she laughed till she cried. A
grandmother go skating.
But when Eleanor came dancing in
With navy blue skirt. confident that
tn matter was quite settled. Mrs.
Hoyt hesitated moment. She glanced
ut hex trim. almost giriish figure, ut
her pretty little foot and ankle. aud
yielded. It was Q ridiculous thing to d.,