Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-05-31

1 HG W0hb hWAys
! She was tired after her long ridt
and did not venture out Of her tiny
room. She made herself ready foi
bed, and had Just fallen into Q dose
when, to her dismay, the door opened
and In walked the ugly old woman she
had noticed in the hall, and who now
set down candle and calmly began
TO undress.
Granny sat up In bed and stared al
her. "Why--I don't understand" she
stammered, family, but the ugly old
woman paid no attention. Granny
raised her voice little. Haven't you
made q mistaken Still there was NO
answer, and at last Granny put out
her hand and laid 1t on the woman's
sleeve, but the intruder only grinned
and nodded again, and went ON with
her undressing.
Presently she turned and pointed her
finger at Granny, then at her own lips
and ears, and shook her head. Dis
may seized upon Granny. She scram-
bled to the other side Of the bed and
lay close against the wall, for her
room mate suddenly blew out the can
die and crOpt in beside her.
When morning came, a changing bell
set the house astir. Granny was taken
down to breakfast by her dumb com
panion. and found herself at a long
table In o bare, whitewashed room.
Beside her sat the two old men. She
had no appetite for the attempting
food before her. She wondered II 1t
was not Ill a dream; II she would not
waksn presently, and hear Daisy's
voice comIAg up the stair to her:
"G'anny! Here comes mol"
Che licked AppOalinSly from face to
faos, sesk1ag for ono that was not
blank Or forbiddinE. or repulSivo. and
faIisnE n her quest There came
mist before her eyes. she gCt 70 her
feet and fSit her way unsteadiiy to tho
door, vGSaSly conscious that they were
sallinE 70 Aer, and jOoriAg at her, and
then CAAt q stern voice suddenly d.
lsDesd thNn. Some one helped her up
the StaAss; q rough, but kindly, hand
snooth1d thO pillow for her ana nAut
Cut tie saA'S glare.
WhNa ct last she opened her eyes,
to Oun was gone trSn the window
and The curtain had been raised. the
aGlv Old woman set bssids her, kAtt-
tn on . coAESS stocking. She gTiAnSd
and nodded % she met Granny'S gaze
ThSa she lad down her knitting ana
drew q snail slate from her pocket.
II had q DsnCn tied To 1t, and Q bit q
sponge. She wrote something uDoA 1t
Tor Granny to read.
Granny caught at the slate with
eager hands. She wrote: Better, "
to the question; then: where's my
daughters aunt?"
The woman read 1t, and stared hard
at Granny.
81 came to visit my daughter-in-
laws aunt" repeated Granny's pencil.
81 want to see her."
The old woman read the message
and looked at Granny again. Sud
denly she began to sniff, and to wipe
her eyes on the stocking she was knit
ting. She took up the pencil again.
Don't you know where you are!"
Somewhat Of fear leaped into Gran
ny's eyes. She glanced about her. The
old woman wrote again upon the slate.
This is the poorhOuse," and held 1t
toward her.
But Granny never read It Just ~
she put out her hand there was furry
Of skirts down the hall, q hand upon
the door, q quick rush Of somebody to
the bedside, and there was Mary, with
her arms around her mother-Mary,
kissing her and crying as Il her heart
would break. H..
"oh. do you know where you aref
Have you told her?" demanded Mary;
but the dumb woman grinned delight
edly. swept the writing from the slate
and held It blank before Mary's eyes.
i've come for you to 90 home with
me. dear little mother" cried Mary.
Henry and have been keeping It for
q grand surprise. We've built two new
rooms to the house, and you're coming
TO live with US. went to Johns after
you last night, and found you gone, so
| | came this morning, as quick as |
could get here. You are to put on
your bonnet and come right away, for
the buggy is waiting to take us to the
station" And then Mary cried again,
and kissed her, and patted her bent
shoulders, till poor Granny's wits
seemed scattered to the four winds,
SO that she gave up the puzzle and let
Mary smooth her hair and make her
ready to go.
But / amt seen Lidy's aunt" she
said, suddenly.
1--WE seen her." answered Mary.
"Tve explained 1t all to her. She
knows we're In 4 dreadful hurry"
The ugly old woman grlnned and
nodded as she watched them drive
away. When they had turned the cor
ner and were gone, she cried again,
wiping the tears away with the gray
stocking. Then she kept on with her
knitting.
Daisy cannot understand IL Some
ur.a. sha drons her nlavthinra sud