The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-06-24
"A PAGE FOR WOMEN AND THE HOME
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
From the Beginning

N|AA-A8NN
y her lap, heaved a great sigh.
'Zoblah." called a weak, complain
NC voice from the other room. And
1obiah lifted her angular form and
llltloSsly walked to the bed where lay
. fran, old woman.
what IL It, mother?" she asked
gently, though her voice had a weary
note in H. "aren't you comfortable? ?"
lt Jest seems as II I can't get com
L0Flable,' was the queTulous responce.
II face the window, the sun bothers
ne; ana II face the door, don't see
ne sun; and II ! set up, my bones
pcne. And the voice dwindled off in
, whining wall.
Iobiah did not answer. She lowered
ne shade 10 CT. off the bright glare Of
ne sun, Strengthened the pillows, and.
OlaWlng up a chair 10 the bed. picked
% 9 book preparatory to reading.
7 don't want to be read 70 and you
ought 70 know t." the old lady mutter
"a, her brow furrowing in a million
lnkles, you don't pay no attention
me % all, though | don't know as
e-8ht to be expectin' much more from
Q stepchild."
1oDlah seemed restrained from argu
ing BY the invahdt weakness. Now
mother" she softly replied. laying the
OFFENDING book on the table, don't
work yourself up. You know Doctor
Mcrfilield said you should not get ex.
clted--yOuF heart won't stand IT,"
Mrs. Seagrave waved her shrpnken
hands dramatically There ydu 70
mentioning that doctor again TO me
Amt told you how hate him with
bis vile tastin' medicines and pills that
stick in my throat?" Her voice rose
y q shrill sccent. anyhow. pears 20
me he dent come 10 see me-eyery
other day woulG be enough to take
keeP Of an old woman. TO say nothing
Of twice a day like he's been hangin'
around ] suppose it's my money what
he's after as soon as I'm cold-runnirg
~ q big bill like that" And the out.
burst Of temper was followed by pro.
tractcd, racking cough rendering the
body 90 weak and helpless II scarcely
seemed alive.
leb!ah Dettei the scaut, aghy-white
hair. Il am sure Doctor Mortified
does not want your money, mother"
she soothad. "he hasn't taken a penny
yet for all the medicines he has given
you. We all want to see you get we'll"
Her ministratiOns were interrupted
By the entrance Of a quiet earnest
looking man, whose bald head and
boWiegs seemed strangely at variance
re smiled eacouragely az Zcbiah.
."HoN did she sleep last night, Miss
SeagrGVc?" he questioned in a low
tone.
Il was M all night, doctor. as the
cough gave her no rest. She is not
much better this morning."
As tho doctor turned with profess.
sional interest toward the patient who
lay 90 white and still, Zebiah stole
quietly from the room. It was the
mirror in the gilt frame. sole adorn.
mont Of the bare walls Of this Sitting
room" that claimed her attention. The
close inspection did not please her and
quick tears OF selfpity came to her
eyes. AS she stood off so that the
small mirror might reflect her figure.
the flat-chcsted, hipless, colorless re.
Election brought forth audible suffer.
ing.
"Yos, I've given her my best years.
even II she isn't my mother. I've
stood her abuse and I've given up
friends"
The thought seemed too great for
uiterance and Zebiah sank into the
cane bottom rocker which creaked
sympathetically, as she buried her
head In her arms, her shoulders shak.
ing with hor sobbing. Doctor Merri.
forted, patting her head, "you mustn't
take such things so to heart. Your
mother has been I'll a very long time
and you know she has been getting
field entered the room.
Come, Miss Seagrave," he com.
steadily WOrse."
1ebiah rose and wiped her eyes in a
handkerchief already sadly wet. ooh,
IFS not that"
know you have been very patient
ana good" the doctor continued. and
he added In a hesltating manner; ~
hope you will be rewarded"
The pent-It1 gates Of suppressed
emotion gave way. What has nv
goodness and patience brought me? /
have become a recluse-even the chill.
dren can point out old maid Zebiah.
our minister questions me what dispo.
altl0n ! win make OF her money and
but yesterday heard Widow Bliss re.
ler 70 someone as homely as Zebiah.
What reward can atone for all that"
You must not let such unkindness
WeiEh upon your mind, Miss Seagrave.
EHen my life has not been a bed OF
zobIa 0ked up at the kindly face
n surpFi
For pat many years" he con.
tlnued, not policing the interruption,
turned over every cent / earned as
a machlnist 10 support my crippled
father and invalid mother oad TO mt
ny brother through school, longed
i01ludy medicine, but"
The memory seemed too poignant
pain o. recall. Zebiah's faded coun.
ion'nc assumed a look Of sympathetic
undelst1nding. "And for how long aid
iagtft
When was thirty.fiVe," he spoke
softly, father died, and mother
~ |but q month longer. My brother
u and then / started TO learn all
Il { know. It is not easy to learn
40 u ly-flVe-not medicine, at any
I1ie-r and it was ten years later be.
Ipre ] got the right to hang out that
1'1n you see IN front Of my office. AND
u -nLLI.lLlO. Q new doctor hnea not