The Topeka state journal., 1921-12-10
EUening Story
The Room of Silence.
BY A. w. PEACH.

Ronald Elton had not been at the
quaint and comfortable Graves's farm
house day before he stumbled on the
mystery. He had noticed that there
was one pleasant room facing the
broad meadows that was closed ana
never opened, SO far as he knew, dur
ing the daylight hours.
He had peeked into the room once
when going around the house. 1t was
bedroom, spick and span, with one
appealing object in it-a small pair
of slippers near the foot of the bed.
On the bed was a dainty nightgown,
laid in neat order, waiting for some
one whom he did not see.
Little Mrs. Graves, White-headed, Sc
rene of face, said nothing about it,
nor did Mr.. Graves; but Elton knew
that the room held a secret. So, one
afternoon, he mentioned the room in a
casual way, remarking upon its pleas
ant view. He saw Mrs. Graves's face
change, a look of sadness overspread 1T,
a sadness so unspeakably deep that he
quickly caught the old farmers sharp
signal across the table, warning him
not to bring the subject up in Mrs.
Graves's presence.
In the evening, in the barn. Mr..
Graves turned to him, and Ronald was
startled at the savage. expression on
the farmers face as he said frankly:
Never mention that room, Mr.. Elton.
thought a moment. 'I might as well
tell We. That was my girl, Mercy's
room. She was allus kinda headstrong
an high-tempered; an three years ago
she was bound to go visitin' to a sum-
mer resort. She met a city feller
there, an fell in love with him. l
didn't want her to go to that place,
an when her aunt, who went with
her, wrote us about the kind of chap
he was I swore she wouldn't marry
him: an I told her to give him up
an come straight home. Sne Wrote
she wouldn't do either. An she hahn L
an she never will if have my say.
The tanned face was harsh and
cold as he went on. "She writes
now and then, but I never open the
letters. get 'em from the DoX-
mothers too lame to go-an' L destroy
'em. If she's sorry, she'll come, an
she amt the kind to be sorry for
anything"
Elton next discovered that unde"
Mother Graves's serene exterior there
were silent corridors of suffering ana
longing. He discovered that she kept
the room ever ready for the girl VINO
did not come, an he saw meaning IN
the frequent trips she made to the
kitchen window from which one could
see the long road that wound gently
down the valley and up which the girl
would come-if she came. Three years
the thought brought Elton under the
shadow that lay upon the home. He
knew that the frail little mother who
waited in the silence could not wait
many years more, for there is time
when the longest waiting ends.
Two weeks drew on-the length of
time he had been told by his physician
to rest in the country away from all
work When he mentioned one even
ing at supper that he must go so0n
Mr.. Graves looked up with sudden
regret. I'm sorry, lad. I've liked
to take you tomorrow on a drive with
that colt O. mine"
Elton accepted, but he was not en-
thusiastic. The colt was a bit, too wild
for any man to drive. but he was the
pride of Graves's heart.
Tomorrow came. as tomorrows
have a habit, and Elton went with
Graves on the northern road. The
colt was fast but unsteady, and E!-
ton soon wished that he had found
some excuse for not going. His ex-
cuse for returning came in one tu-
multuous moment.
He saw great headlights glare
around a wooded corner and felt him
self rise in the-air, sink, and land with
a breath taking bump. He rolled over
to where two men were bending over
a huddled figure they had drawn from
the crumpled wagon.
The next events took place rapidly.
In the last one, the gray-headed coun-
try doctor. looked down at the pale,
suffering man in the old-fashioned bed
John. you are due to stay here
month. Get up before that and your
walking days are overt"
The sick man took the bad news
with anger. but he knew the old doc
tor was to be trusted. He fretted
about his work, but Elton promised
to stay and do the work until help
could be secured. Graves looked his |
gratitude.
Thru the days of fever and delirium |
that followed, Mother Graves was pa |
tient and serene as ever, but Elton |
could see that she was gently, but !
surely, failing under the shock.
tI,n