Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-12

n she lived only q few weeks.
need her very much, for l am a
great care to Ivory. He is son and
daughter both, now that MT. Boynton
is away from home. You did not see
any one in the road as you turned in
from the bars. l suppose?"
NO" answered WaitstiII, surprised
and confused, but 1 didn't really no.
tice. / was thinking OF cool place
for my horse to stand"
Il sit out here in these warm after
noons," Mrs. Boynton continued. shad-
ing her eyes and looking across the
fields. because / can see so far down
the lane. l have the supper table set
for my husband already, and there is
a surprise for him. n saucer OF wild
strawberries ! picked for him this
morning. If he does not come / al
ways take away the plate and cup be-
fore Ivory gets here. 1t seems TO make
him unhappy"
He doesn't like It when you are
disappointed. suppose" Waitstill ven
tured. Il have brought my knitting,
Mrs BOynton. so that l needn't keep
you idle If you wish to work. May l
sit down Il few minutes? And here is
a cottage cheese for Ivory and Rod
man and n jar of plums for you pre-
served from my own garden"
Mrs. Boynton's eyes searched the
face OF this visitor from world she
had almost forgotten and. finding moth
ing but tenderness there. said. with
Just a trace of bewilderment: Thank
you. Yes. do sit down. My work
basket is Just inside the door. Take
that rocking chair. / don't have an
other one out here because I have
never been in the habit of seeing visi-
tors"
Il hope l am not intruding" stam-
mered Waitstill. seating herself and
beginning her knitting to see If IL
would lessen the sense or strain be-
tween them.
Not ut MI. Il always loved young
and beautiful people. ana so I'D my
husband. If he comes while you are
here do not go away, but sit with him
while l get his supper. If Elder
Cochrane should be with him you
would see two wonderful men. They
went away together TO do some mis-
sionary work in Maine and New
Hampshire. and perhaps they will
come back together. do not welcome
callers because they always ask so
many difficult questions, but you are
different and have asked me none at
ALL"
II should not think of asking ques-
tons. Mrs. Boynton."
Not that / should mind answering
them" continued Ivory's mother, ''ex-
cept that it tires my head very much
to think. You must not imagine / am
ill: it is only that | have a very bad
memory, and when people ask me to
remember something or to give an an
swer quickly il confuses me the more.
Even now / have forgotten why you
came and where you live. but l have
not forgotten your beautiful name"
Ivory thought you might he lonely,
and / wanted so much to know you
that 1 could not keep away any longer,
for am lonely and unhappy too. 1 |
am always watching and hoping for !
what has never come yet / have no |
mother. you have lost your daughter; |
! thought thought-perhaps we could |
be n comfort to each other" And !
Waitstill rose from her chair and put !
out her hand TO help Mrs. Boynton |
down the steps. she looked SO frail. so |
transparent, so prematurely aged. Il
could not come very often. but IL l
could only smooth your hair sometimes
when YOUR head aches or do some |
cooking for you or read to you or any
little thing like that as would for my