The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-04-06

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and hoped she'd find things all right
he went away.
She was tired after her long ride
and did not venture out of her tiny
room. She made herself ready for
bed, and had Just fallen into q doze
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 a candle and calmly began
10 undress.
Granny sat up in bed and stared al
her. WHY don't understand" she
stammered, family, but the ugly old
woman paid no attention. Granny
raised her voice little. Haven't you
made mistaken" Still there was NO
answer and at last Granny put out
her hand and laid it 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 crept in beside her.
When morGing came, changing bell
set the house astir. Granny was taken
down to breakfast by her dumb COM
panion, and fund herself at long
table in a bare. whitewashed room.
Beside her sat the two old men. She
had no appetite for the attempting
| food before her. She wondered If 1t
was not all a dream; If she would not
waken presently, and hear Daisy's
voice coming up the stair to her:
"G'anny! Here comes me-"
She looked appealingly from face to
face, seeking for one that was not
blank, or forbiddins, or repulsive, and
failing in her quest. There came a
mist before her eyes. She got to her
feet and felt her way unsteadily to the
door, vaguely conscious that they were
calling to her, and jeering at her, and
then that a stern voice suddenly ST
fenced them. Some one helped her up
the stairs; a rough, but kindly, hand
smoothed the pillow for her and shut
out the suns glare.
When at last she opened her eyes,
the sun was gone from the window
and the curtain had been raised. The
ugly old woman sat beside her, knit
ting on coarse stocking. She grinned
and nodded as she met Granhy's gaze.
Then she laid down her knitting and
drew a small slate from her pocket.
1t had pencil tied to it, and q bit of
sponge. She wrote something upon 1t
for Granny to read.
Granny caught at the slate With
eager hands. She wroteI Better"
to the question; then: Where's my
daughters aunt?"
The woman read it, 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 it
toward her.
But Granny never read it. Just as
she put out her hand there was a furry
of skirts down the hall, hand upon
the door, quick rush of somebody to
the bedside, and there was Mary, with
her arms around her mother-Mary,
kissing her and crying as if her heart
would break.
ooh, do you know where you are?
Have you told herr" demanded Mary;
but the dumb woman grinned delight
eddy, swept the writing from the slate
and held it blank before Mary's eyes.
'I've come for you to go home with
me, dear little mother" cried Mary.
Henry and l have been keeping it for
a grand surprise. We've built two new
rooms to the house, and you're coming
to live with us. went to Johns after
ySu last ulSHi, anu you SohO, oO
|. came this morning, as quick as l
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.
I've explained it all to her. She
knows we're in a dreadful hurry"
The ugly old woman grinned 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 1t. Some
times she drops her playthings sud-
denly and goes to the stair door and
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