Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-11-09

Perry, sing knew she want no or
binary amateur. Her voice want
nothing wonderful, but 1t was sweet
and true, and she sang with some life
and snap. | says something about II
after she got through, and size said
she'd studied good deal and been to
some good teachers, but she didn't put
on no airs about 1t.
after that first call. went over
there pretty often, and We talked to
gether like old cronies. It was one
dag towards the end of my visit that
we had a specially long talk. 1t war
q rainy day, and Mr.. Perry was asleep
In the next room, so we had quite
spell to ourselves. We'd come to
kind of pause in our conversation, and
there want no sound in the room
but the clock ticking and the cat pur-
ring. Finally, Mrs. Perry laid down
her work-she was one Of the busy
kind and we was both sewing-and she
says, with a queer little smile: Aunt
Asenath, Pm going to tell you a
strange experience 1 had when l first
moved into this neighborhood. l never
lave told anybody but Alfred, and l
was ashamed to tell even him all OF II
"'You see, when he was taken sick
and the doctor said he must come
into the country, it was terrible blow
to me- I'd always lived in the city
all my friends were there, and | went
about great deal. To leave all that
and go into the country, which l hated,
especially with winter coming on, with
nothing to do but take care Of sick
maxwell, it nearly broke my heart.
1 actually was so childish and horrid
that | felt as If Alfred was somehow
to blame for getting sick. This wasn't
all; l had sort of compound griev-
Gnce: Alfred chose to come to this
lonely, out-of-the-way place, where l
was sure there was no society. 1 did
not like the town itself, and l did not
like this neighborhOOd nor the house,
and l made up my mind that should
not like the people. They called on me
very soon after l got settled, and
was just as horrid as 1 could be to
them. l told them how lonesome and
homesick was and how disliked the
country, and Dragged about my life
in the city and of all the advantages
| had there. After my callers went
told Alfred how countrified and boor-
ish thought them, and declared that
l never would return their calls. Poor
Alfred, what he had to endure! l
thought the country was good place
to wear out my old clothes, so l wore
old gowns that had seen better days,
and looked like fright, especially
as neglected my hair and wore shah
by old slippers.
1.-The doctor came out to see Alfred,
and he looked puzzled and shook his
head. 81 don't see why he don't gain
more" he said, and he looked at me
sharply and with a CLEAN Of suspicion
in his eyes.
"'i don't like to think Of that time.
The neighbors did not call a second
time, of course, and 1 was really very
lonely, though l did not admit it, and
kept saying how glad I was not to be
bothered by them. 1 could see that
Alfred was getting worse instead OF
better, and / knew the doctor thought
was somehow to blame for it.
never was so wretched in my life.
began to be really alarmed about my
husband, and it was when got my
mind off myself that the revelation
came.
"'It was one night after one Of AL
fred's very worst days that l lay
awake worrying about him. At last l
fell asleep, and had dream, or a
vision, l don't know which to call it. :
seemed to be in a graveyard, and
there was one stone that 1 seemed to
be drawn toward. I expected to see
my husbands name on it, and l trem-
bled with fear, but drew nearer and |
looked. 1 saw my own name, and be- !
low 1t I read these words: my Lady |
Disdain. No one loved her in life nor
mourned her in death. and no one
was ever made happy by her."
az awoke with a start, and there |
was no more sleep for me that night |
looked at myself as If had been
some one else, and 1 saw that if l
kept on as had begun, my epitaph |
would be a true one. Then realized
what was the trouble with Alfred. My
gloomy, fault-fnding, depressing at
mosphere was having it's effect on him.
AS soon as it was light l looked at lis
sleeping face, and / was terrified, he !
looked so worn and pale and unhappy. |
was sick with fear. Had learned |
my lesson too late?
at was hard to appear cheerful and |
hopeful when there was such a fear
at my heart, but somehow strength was
given me to do it, and you don't know
how thankful was that first day when
made Alfred laugh-something he
had not done for weeks l played to
him and read to him, and In the after
noon when he took his nap l went out
and called on one of the neighbors,
and every day when l could returned
one of the calls l had received. 1t
was hard for me to do 1t, remember
ing how disdainful and rude / had
been, but they were all so kind and I
forgiving and did not seem to remem-
Der the first impression.
"'Soon the neighbors began to drop
in often, and this helped to cheer AL
fred up, and the next time the doctor
came he was surprised at the improve
ment in his patient. He looked me
over from top to toe-I had changed
my appearance a great deal-and then
he nodded his head approvingly and
Il NJ