The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-12-26
Grandmother

II pc i'll or need anything, you have tn
a telephone. Still, if you feel the leas
u bit like
GRANDMOTHER Weber made a gestur
of5impaticnce. Was she bit Of deli
cate old china, to be guarded from
breakage?
4 shall be all right, Ruth. Rur
on! The day will be like all othcl
4 days. | shall read and doze and pot
ter among my flowers when it gets
cooler. Don't worry about me!'
We'll, be careful of yourself =
Young Mrs. Weber still spoke doubt
* fully. 'Take your nap and don't eat
anything that will upset your diges.
I ton. And be careful Of draugh1s. Sus.
pect we'll have to hurry or the boat
will leave US. / wish you were able
to go with us but of course the trip
would be too trying. Good-by. Well
have lots to tell you when we get
back ]"
Mother and daughter hurried away,
eager to join the gay excursionists on
the deck Of the Fairy Queen where
hundreds Of little flags beckoned and
patriotic music set young blood dane
ing. They were going to Hamlet's
Hill, to feast and frolic. There would
be a reunion of friends and ncghbOrs,
b q barbecue, speaking and dancing.
The music came in gay drifts to
Grandmother Weber. 1t was ghost
music Of dead days. A ghost girl in
white was one of the fitting crowd.
The girl was the center Of the joy and
laughter. The youth beside her was
--ah, he was asleep on Cemetery Hillt
today!
She walked restlessly to mirror,
looking long and earnestly at the re-
Election there. Was this the girl whom
Gabriel Weber had asked in marriage
that Independence day so long ago?
A spark Of the old fire famed in
gray ashes. Why was she times cast
way-she who longed for the stir
and surge Of life, who listened for the
first bird note in spring?
Y With a sob she jerked hairpins loose
and shook down IN cascading waves
the silver which once had been gold. |
Looking hungrily into the eyes of her |
changed self, the hint of resurrection
glory touched her. She was not old
She was not Grandmother Weber j
She was Kitty Gable, the girl in the
white dress, the girl Gabriel loved and
married! u
nHer hand quivered as she drew the,
through her hair. For years she,
lad Wofngit like silver crown. Now
he shaped its crinkling abundance in
he way granddaughter Bobby was fol-
owing. People had always exclaimed
yer the beauty of her hair. 1t was
zone the less beautiful because Of it's
ouch of snow! !;
& She studied her wardrobe discon-
.entedly. There We're house gowns,
pretty dressing sacks and rich satin,
orimly and elegantly correct and Slar-'
ngly new.
With chin well up and shoulders,
squared she crossed to Bobby's rooms
She and Bobby We're nearly Of one,
stature. She could borrow from the
child! Lying on the bed were gar:
nents, soft and white, skirt and
mildly, one of those gay little blOus2S
With collar, belt and lacing Of scar
ct. There were undergarments, too,
acy and inconsequent. She shrugged
nto the pretty things, dabbed powder
IN her nose and stuck rose in her
lair.
The person in the mirror smiled at
Ter most audaciOusly. With light step
she went out on the rOse-shaded ver-
INDIA and found it's easiest chair. The
street was quiet now. The crowd had
gone it's way and the band was still.
lhe canary swung in its cage above
INV anu tACu al loIS |
ny, calling note. From an alley came
The secretivc, jubilant snap Of fire
cracker. Farther off sounded the hum
If an approaching automobile.
AS the car swung into sight and
,ame careening to the curb, Kitty ca
de leaned out and waved her hand. ,
The handsome youth, grandson Ken
lerly, answering her salute, was the ,
bride Of her heart. He ran up the ,
Ieranda steps and Joined her.
Did you miss the boat, BObby?" he
,alled anXiOusly. "What are you do
ng here by your lonesome? Didn't
he croWd-well, for the sake of Mike!
Grandmother His establishment was
| thrilling tribute.
Hush, Ken she cried her eyes -,
lancing with excitement. Don't give
ne away. I'm not your grandmother
oday. I'm your fathers relative, Kit
Y Cable, come to visit you. Pm just q
S light-headeu and impossible as your
e,,st .