Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-01-19
want to move to town--do we, Lib

is" ma explained. Libby and me
wouldn't feel at home no place else"
ITS too bad you feel that way
he went on persuasively. flor Dave
was so sure you'd like the idea that
he's gone ahead and made all arrange
| ments, and I'm afraid there might be
a little trouble about unmaking them"
He turned to Libby.
How soon do you think you could
move? BY the first of May?"
II suppose So" she answered, in Il
dull voice
April came, and for the fifticth time
the old woman watched the white give
way to the green on the hills that
curved in and out around her old home.
AS long as she could. Libby let her
have her dream Her heart was not
hard toward ma now Ma had not
understood. And Libby was glad she
could have those few spring days be-
fore she was torn from the old home.
MA" she began one morning, 81
think will have to be packing up this
week"
hacking up What!
"Why, don't you remember. ma,
we're going to town the first of May?"
"Oh, la, Libby. I've give that up
long ago! I'm going to die on the old
place"
But you know, ma. the arrange
ments have all been made. I'm afraid
we'll have to CO."
She turned to her GROSSLY.
"There's no use to argue wi me.
Libby Anderson. amt goin'w
But what about Dave?'
you can jest write Dave, and say
his mother don't want to leave the
place. Dave won't have nOthin' fur
Their to say"
She looked off ut the meadowland
as If it were all settled. Libby would
have to tell her.
Ma" she said, Its no use to write
to Dave"
why not?' she demanded. In a half
frightened. half-aggressive voice.
Hes sold the place, mar
"Whats that you say? Something
about Dave selling my place? Are you
gone crazy. Libby"
You know you decided 1t to him.
ma. 1t was his after you did that.
And he's sold it, and we'll have to
move out"
Hearing no answer, she turned
around and it was then she coveted
Dawes gift Of saying things smoothly.
The old woman was crouched low in
her chair. and her face was quivering
and looked sunken and gray.
II didn't think he'd do that" she
faltered.
"Never mind. ma" Libby said awk-
wardly Poor ma"
1t was the nearest to a caress that
had passed between them since Libby
was little girl.
Nothing more was said until after
ma had gone to bed. Libby supposed
she was asleep, when she called qua
veringly to her.
Libby" she said, you mustn't be
thinkin' hard of Dave. He must have
thought it for the best"
Libby was used to caring for ma,
and she needed care now.
'Yes, ma" she answered.; I'm sure
he must"
1t was not until the morning Of the
fourth day that the silence between
them was broken. Libby got up to take
down the clock when she heard
strange noise behind her, and, turning,
ha no ,afu 10,
in her hands, and she was rocking pas
sonately back and forward. and cry
ing as though her old heart had broken.
She put down the clock. and again
she wished for a little Of Dawes sikh
ness Of speech. But she did not have
it. and the best she could do was to
pull mas chair out from the barren
room into the sunshine Of the porch.
The hills, she thought. would still look
like home.
Ma did not get up at all next day.
Perhaps she was i'll, or perhaps it was
only that she did not want to go out
in the sitting room and see how unlike
home it looked. But the next day she
did not get up either, and then Libby
went to town for the doctor He said
the excitement had weakened her, and
did not seem very certain she would
ever get up again. That night Libby
wrote letter to Dave. asking him
again to let his mother die on the old
place. a week passed, and an answer
had not come. and still ma had not left
her bed. The packing was all done, it
was the first Of May, and she was just
waitng-she did not know for what
Her whole soul rose up against NOV
ing ma from the old place now. when
her days were so surely numbered;
and so she sent n telegram to Dave,
telling him his mother was ILL., and
asking leave to stay little longer.
There came a reply from his partner,
saying that Dave was away and would
not he home for two weeks.
That night the old woman raised
herself and sobbed out the truth.
ITS Dave that's killing me! It's to
think Dave sold the place and turned
me out to die!'
And then the way opened before
Libby, and she saw her path.
The disinherited child wrote a letter
that night and to it she signed her