Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1920-10-14

"Son, am too old for flattery.
look at this head of gray and have
more respect for old age" She
smoothed back her lovely silver-white
hair. She was charming old lady in
her soft gray dress. Her eyes were
blue as Ernest's were and she had
aged most gracefully.
DINNER is served" William announc-
ed as he threw open the doors to the
dining room. The son and daughter
took their Mothers arm and the three
passed into the dining room to dinner.
The table was pretty, with it's white
drapery, shining silver and silver can~v
die sticks with lighted candles in the
center. Ernest helped his mother in
her chair.
"Now everything would be perfect
if Jack had not gone to California.
A wistful note crept into her voice.
Gladys and Ernest dared not look
at her. Ernest replied, seemingly
DuSV WIN his Sdldu
"California is beautiful stats.
though Mother. Just think of it is
almost summer there now. Phil and
his wife have very handsome home
there now It has just been complet-
ed. They sent us a picture of it the
other day. Will show it to you after
dinner" He tried to turn his moth
er's conversation.
81 know Jack will enjoy it too. He
never was real we'll after that wound
he got on the Somme. Bless his heart.
l haven't had a letter from him in
some time now He just writes notes
when he does write" Mrs. Gilbert's
eyes had a far away expression.
Mother tell me what the styles are
in Paris now. l haven't thing to
wear and must buy me some right
away" Gladys voice was anxious.
"Give Mrs. Gilbert glass Of sweet
milk, William" she instructed the
butler.
"Gladys l hardly know. l really
went out very little while in France,
and rarely ever to Paris. Ernest, how
is your business now?" she turned to
her son.
"Well l wound up big ccl(tract
with Wells & Wells the other day and
have more orders than l can fill at
present. Business has never been
better Money is pretty tight on
Wall Street just at present but it
doesn't seem to affect my business
much" He tapped his plate with his
fork.
The meal continued, Mrs. Gilbert
telling them of her time spent in
France. She had been to the Somme
where Jack had received his wound.
She went to the opera in Paris. Some
of her days had been spent in illness
, in the country, where she stayed.
They retired to the living room
for coffee. Ernest sat on the lounge
gazing into the fire as he smoked
cigar. Gladys by his side slipped her
coffee slowly, chatting with her moth
er who strolled around the room look
ing at various objects in the room.
She reached a carved cabinet and
picked up a photograph in silver
frame from it's top.
,"This is the best picture Jack ever
had made" She looked intently at the
face smiling at her from the frame
with the happy eyes and clear-cut,
handsome features. "He looks just
like Daddie did when he proposed to
me. Daddie would have enjoyed all
this so much" She swept her hand
indicating the handsomely appointed
home her children had built. "He
always wanted a beautiful home" re-
miniscently. She set the photograph
back in it's place. 'These roses are
lovely" she drew long stemmed one
from vace. 81 love roses, and these
are so red. Well children, Pm going
up to the room for awhile and rest,
as l am little bit tired. Won't you
come up with me, Gladys?" The old
lady went to the sofa and ran her hand
thru her daughters soft brown hair.
Gladys rose.
ernest will be down in a minute
She put her arm around her moth
er's waist and they passed out the
room and on up the great stairway.
Ernest sat and gazed in the fire.
Fires always made him remember
things. He remembered the time
shortly before Jacks death when Jack
had said:
"It will be just like playing a game
All Of you can just imagine I'm away