The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-10-11


There was moments silence
Then Mrs. Dillon held her sister at
arms length and carefully studied her
face. Mrs Daley was worn and wan.
she wore faded but clean print
press her sleeves were rolled up
above her elbows, and specks OF
-four chung to her toll hardened hands.
Katherine Dillon's keen eyes noted
the warm kitchen. Then she glanced
at the three girls. What hav" YOU
been doing with your mother, Firli'5'
Il is not only that she is warm and
tired. but what has brought this old
look? You are only 40, Margaret, and
should be comparatively young
woman"
The days went by Mrs. Dillon's
comfort and pleasure was so d'f'ly
ministered to that she could not be
grateful enough to the brightiaced
girls whom she was learning to love.
The only drawback to her enjoyment
was her disappointment regarding her
sister.
What was wrong Katherine did
not doubt her sisters love. Bur the
hours of companionship she had look,
ed forward to were few and unsatiS
factory. Mrs. Daley spent tn" great.
est part OF her time In the Kitchen.
When not there. she was silent. her
daughters evidently not expecting her
to take part in the conversation She
seldom went into society, read little,
and was really behind the times
Mrs Dillon gave the matter much
thought She saw that the girls were
much surprised when she expected
their mother to take her rIGhtful
place both at home and in the society
OF the little place. II was not easy
to tell where the fault lay
A month passed September gave
place to October and the air grew
| crisp and inyigorating.
a week more" Mrs, Dillon an
nounced one morning at the breakfast
table, "a week more OF pleasure.
Then We must decide which Of you
is to go with me, and | must HE mo
away to Chicago to provide a suitable
| outfit for myself and my companion
IT was the first time she had direct.
| ~ mentioned the matter The color
deepened In each girls checks, but
| they made no reply. They had ali
grown very fond of their aunt, and a
winter with her had many attractions
The week that Mrs, Dillon had men.
toned went by They were again at
the breakfast table when the southern
| trip was referred to-
81 shall start on Thursday" Kath.
crime said. Now as to who is to go
with me"
She paused and rehectively stirred
her coffee. Girls. | hope you will
all be satisfied when tell you |
have decided to adopt your mother
No one spoke. The canary trillcd
! Gayly, a passing wagon ratified along
the street, and Mrs. Dillon finished
her graham gem with apparent rel.
ish Then she went on:
Il meal IL. girls | don't know
/ whose fault II Is, but there Is some.
thing wrong in your home. Instead OF
being your friend and cOnfidante. In
stead of being petted and care for,
instead OF enjoying the Indian summer
OF her life. your mother u kitchen
drudge. More than this-she is fast
approaching IA broken.down and love.
less old age. She may be as much
to blame as any one. | am going In
make one effort to bring Sunshine into
her life. | shall take her to Chicago
and purchase her a supply OF suitable
and dainty clothing Then ! shall
carry her to the south for the winter
She shall rest. read, enjoy pretty
things and bright people. and be loved
and petted. In the spring she shall
come back to you-lr you deserve
her"
oh, Katherine. don't" cried the
mother. Il couldn't leave my girA
alone, and besides would rather they
should have the pleasure"
Aunt Hester Main, my housekeep
or, is to come and spend the winter
i here" was Katherine's cool reply
About your going let the girls speal
for themselves"
Another pause. Then the laten
nobleness OF Margaret Dailcy's daugh
tiers asserted itself
| Beatrice arose and went round 4
her aunt. I'VE want her to go. Than
you, Aunt Katherine You have taugh
us a lesson. and We needed IT,"
Bernice added: We will try to de-
serve her when she comes back.
| Gladys caught her mother In he
arms. Precious little mamma! W
do love you, even If we have been s.
careless"
Mrs. Dilion's programme was car
ried out The lesson was, as BeatriC
had said, needed one: but, lik
/ many such, the learning Of II was no
pleasant A quiet winter at HON,
sharing the duties that had been to-
+. long relegated to the mother, contras!
ed sharply with the pleasures cacI
, had confidently expected for herself
/ They missed and longed for the ger
/ tie presence they had so little prizet
, The mother and aunt, happy in eac
| oth., nnxip,tv Tn thn roni 49,,