The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-09
TIE DAILY
The Roomsof Silence
IN "a. W.pEACH.

He had noticed That there was one
pleasant room sfaEng the boarh
meadows that was closed and never
opened, so FAR as no knew, during
tine daylight houfS,
ne had peeked' into the room
nce when going around the house.
Ut was a bedroom, spick and span,
nth one anpealing object IN ia
Nall pair Of slippers near the 1907
OF the bed. On the bed was a dainty
sntghtgown laid ID neat order. walt
ing for somcEon6 Whom he did not
see. s.
Little Mrs. Graves. whitelheaded.
serene OF face, said nothing about
e, nor did Mr.. Graves; but Elton
knew that the room held a secret
so, afternoon, he meatine1 the
pom in q casual way, remarking
I4fpon its pleasant view. He saw
Mrs. Graves face change, a look OF
sadness ~oversprend it, a sadness so
funspenkably deep that he quickly
3,caught the oidl farmers sharp sig
fnal across the table, warning him
mot to bring the subject up In Mrs.
Graves presence.
IN the evening, in the barn. Mr..
Graves turned to him. and Ronald
WRs startled at the savage expires.
Sfou on the farmers face as he said
Frankly: Never mention that room,
MrS Elton. Mother, Graves is foolish
about It." lie thought a moment
ri might as'well tell we. That was
my girl. MercXs room She was
aIlus kinda hendstrong an high.
tempered: and three years ago she
was bound tn 20 vIsitin' TO a sum.
,n1er resort. She met a city fellar
there, and fell in love with him.
lSdA't want her to go to that place.
am when her aunt, who went with
her, wrote us about the kind Of
cha he was | sw0re she wouldn't
EnafrS him: an told her to give
yhimu up an come straight home. She
wrote she wouldn't do either. An
fke hain't, an she ne"s. will II ;
ave my say"
SyThe tanned face was harsh nnl
lcogd az he went OH. She writes
now and then. butt never open the
letters. Eetgn from the box,
hnotheE's1tqo fghie to Eo-ar' I"dc.
troy efn. wifi she's sorry. she'll
III mean she afnt the kind to BE-
CORY for anythidgI.
Elton next discovered that rnder
Dther Graves serene exterior
sere were silent corridors OF sui.
c@Ttng and .l6iging; He discovered
HAT she keptttlle eNeT ready
Tor the girl, who did not come. and
he fSaw meaning In the frequent
#k34An8 pfy S,,ny 10 tD f6a lsf4p1@eAU NV,{Yt.
.8ow from which one coUld SEQ the
ilong road that wound ccnt!S dowa
fhe valley and I'M which II" girl
Would come-;f sha came. Three
genr of> constant %atchinC AMI
tpnginR-the tIroughs brought FL
sontunder IN SHADOW that lay d1on
she "a ee. Fhsk1 ow that the frail
SEE nfotlTA- who waited in III?
nce could not wait mar" wears
lore, for there is . time whfn IL"
3lgest waiting ends.
1.-Two weeks drew or--the length
time he had been told b. his
Musician TO rest IN tho country
4Fay frou all work. When he
lnentjnned xhe eYeninE at supper
hat mSERB@Eo .Roon Mr.. Graves
CnokeE IN. w~ltlL-EuGden regret. Tin
CORY. md. I've liked to have ynn
around. An, say. | want In take
you tomorrow on a drive w!:h that
colt o. mine"
I1lton accepted. hut he was nor
enthusiastic. Tho colt was IL bit too
Slid for n man to drive. but no
SYas the pride orrGrayes' heart,
Tomorrow came, rs tomdrrows
fhaVe q habit, Snd Elton went with
lGraves on tho northern road. The
gco1t was fast bnt unsteady, and III.
Non soon wished. thatsshe had found
3sone e~xcuse-for not going. His
excuse for returning came in one
bstImultuous moment.
III saw great. headlights glare
around a Wooded corner and felt
himself rise little, air. sink. and
land with a msttG9takSnR bump,
tHe rolled over 6hl,u6S t6Thfs feet,
N3aggered and ran to where two
sAen were bending over 4 huddled
figure they had drawn from the
qImpled wagon.
fThe next events took place rap.
In the last one, the gray
Headed country doctor looked down
IL the pale, suffering man in the
F6ld.fashioned bed. '*SIohn, you arc
due t. stay here a montl, Get up
before that and your walking days
are Overt"
The sick man took the bad~news
with anger. but he knew the old
doctor was to DO trusted. He
$etted about his work, but Elton
promised to stay and do the work
tutil help could be secured. Graves
poked his gratitude.
Through the days OF fever and
sirium that followed. Mother
Graves was patient and serene as
1eygS, but Elton could see that she
JrasS gently, but surely falling I'M
46r the shock.
Then came the evening whom
The tide turned along the shore OF
t04eir lives. Elton and Mother
Graves were at supper when a car.
l1iaRe drove into the yard. They
Thought 1t was the doctors, so
Id3d not go out. When the door
Nopened, a slim Girl stood before
Et6sSa: her bright hair waving away
tfrom under a small dark hat. She
sHello, mother dear" she said
Mother Graves rose. her face
SSched with the light that must