Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-05-04
AT the close of an hour Pauline rose,

long breath OF satisfaction. "'m glaG
you come instid of sendin' me mess oI
jelly and cake. My daughter-in law
makes jelly and cake good enough for
me, but she's got weak lungs, and CAM
make me hear. What ! want is news"
The bearers of jelly and cake had fallen
into the habit OF bringing those delicacies
and themselves-to the side door. where
Granny could not "catch" them.
81 am sorry for Granny" they invar-
iably said. 'but it is such hard work TO
make her hearl"
Pauline stood for a moment looking
down at the stiff, old-fashioned white cap
that covered Granny's scant hair. The
girls big blue eyes widened with the
shock of a sudden idea. "Why, | never
could do i'll" she said TO herself, violently
81 should hate it, and it's as queer as il
would be disagreeable! How Willis
would tease if he found it out l''
"It's talk want and not iell," repeated
Granny, emphatically. Then she peered
up at her caller. 81 suppose you won't
come in to see me again until | make you,
eh ?"
eyes," returned Pauline, haltingly.
"P'-she paused and raised her voice
al am coming again tomorrow"
"What!" cried Granny She cupped
her hand about her ear. The complaint
in her face gave place to amazed delight.
Tomorrow, did you say ?"
Tomorrow" shouted Pauline. Her
voice was firm now, made so by the de-
light in the lonely old face. Tomorrow
at two o'clock"
That night Pauline allowed the rest OF
the family TO do the talking. The change
was so marked that Willis teased her.
afflicted with melancholia, are you,
Chatterbox, tonight2 I've not heard such
a silence, when you were around, for
eighteen years. The first knowledge J
had of you was impaired by your voice,
and"
Here Willis's attention was called else
where, and Pauline escaped to her room.
81 do hope he doesn't hear OF itp she
sighed. "When tell mother shall ask
her to keep still. If only it were not such
queer task p
But Pauline reckoned without an &C
curate knowledge of Willis. Three weeks
later he entered the living-room, smiling
peculiarly.
Mother" he began, "do you know
where your daughter is TO be found at
this hour ?"
"Out somewhere"
81 saw her about two O'Clock going
down Lowe Street, volunteered Mr.. Van
Cover, laying aside his paper.
Willis's eyes were quizzical. They
shone, but not with the spirit of teasing.
'H dropped into Lonnard's to see him
ABOUT the lumber, and heard Chatterbox
talking at the top of her voice in Granny's
room. She described the pattern OF the
Browns new rug. Then she told about
the new hats in the millinery shop and
the State bridge over the Pawtauket, and
the new baby at the Wilson's and the
lilies you are trying to coax into bloom
for Easter, and-well, il would take ME
all day to tell what she did in an hour"
Mrs. Van Cover smiled and said nothing.
Willis stuffed his hands into his pockets
and examined the toe OF his shoe criti-
cally, his head bent forward. at seems
she has been there reeling off the news
of the town to Granny every afternoon
for three weeks. LoLnard said he hadn't
seen his mother so happy ard contented
in years and so much like her younger
SELF"
Here Willis fixed a questioning eye on
his mother. "Now ! take il that the
work our Chatterbox has cut out for her
self during Lent is to make life pleasant
for Granny Lonnard."
Mrs. Van Cover nodded smlingly.
"And now the child's conscience is trou-
bling her trifle because it has ceased to
be work. She has become so interested
in Granny and her house plants and her
stories that the calls will not stop with
the end OF Lent"
Willis Van Cover looked at his youthful
sister that night with eyes in which
amusement and affection were blended,
and no teasing was forthcoming. Nor
were the Lonnards mentioned in the
family circle until Easter morning. Then
Miss Courtney dropped in on her way
to church.
81 started early" she explained, "in
order to arrange these on the altar" She
uncovered big box, in which lay a dozen
fresh, waxy Easter lilies. "Mr. Lonnard
brought them TO me this morning from his
mother. have never known her to send
flowers before, althoughherroom is bright
with them at Easter time. But this morn
ing, Mr.. Lonnard said, she had him cut
them all for the churches and the sick
there were not enough for her to giveP
Here Miss Courtney paused and looked
lovingly at Pauline. "And | learned from
the son that these flowers-and Granny's
happy heart-are thank offering for a
Daughter of the King who does not pass
down Lowe Street on the other side"
The late Bishop William N. McVicar
of Rhode Island harbored a large soul in