Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-09

daylight hours.
He had peeked into the room once
when going around the house. lt was
a 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,
serene of face, said nothing ABOUT II,
nor did Mr., Graves; but Elton knew
that the room held a secret. So, one
afternoon, he mentioned the room In
casual way, remarking upon its pleas
ant view. He saw Mrs. Graves face
change, look Of sadness overspread it,
q sadness so unspeakably deep that he
quickly caught the old farmer sharp
signal across the table, warning him not
to bring the subject up IN Mrs. Graves
presence. .
In the evening. in the barn, MIR.
Graves turned to him. and Ronald was
startled at the savage expression on the
farmers face as he said frankly I:
Never mention that room, Mr.. Elton.
Mother Graves is foolish about It. he
thought q moment. 81 might as well
tell We. That was my girl Mercy 3
room. She was Rllus kinda headstrong
an high tempered an three years ago
she was bound to go visitln' to sum-
mer resort. She met city feller there.
and fell in love with him. didn't
want her to 20 to that place, an when
her aunt, who went with her, wrote us
about the kind Of chap he was / swore
she wouldn't marry him; an told her
TO give him up an come straight home
She wrote she wouldn't do either. An
abe hain't, an she never will IL ! have
my say -,
The tanned face was harsh and cold
ma he went on. "She writes now and
then, but never open the letters. I
get 'em from the box-mother's too
lame TO go--an' ! destroy 'em. If she g
sorry, she'll come, an she amt the
kind TO be sorry for anything"
Elton next discovered that under
Mother Graves serene exterior there
were silent corridors Of suffering and
longing. lie discovered that che kept
the room ever ready for the girl who
did not come, and he saw meaning in
the frequent trips she made TO the kit
chen 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 Of con =
stant watching and longing - 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 ot
time he had been told by his physician
to rest in the country away from al
work. When he mentioned one evening
at supper that he must go soon Mr'
Graves looked up with sudden regret
I'm sorry, lad. I've liked to have you
around An, say, I want TO take, you
tomorrow on drive with that colt o
mine"
Elton accepted, but he was not en-
thusiastic. The colt was bit toe
wild for any man to drive, but he was
the pride of Graves heart.
Tomorrow came, as tonorrows have
a habit, and Elton went with Graves or
the northern road The colt was tas
but unsteady. and Elton soon wished
that he had found some excuse for no
going. His excuse for returning came IL
one tumultuOus moment.
He saw great headlights glare arounC
a wooded corner and felt himself rist
in the air, sink, and land with
breath taking bump. He rolled oveI
and up to his feet, staggered and rar
to where two men were Dcndlng over
huddled figure they had drawn from thu
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 1
month. Get up before that and you
walking days are over"
The sick man took the bad news will
anger, but he knew the old doctor wa
TO be trusted. lie fretted about hi
work, but Elton promised to stay ant
do the work until help could be secured
Graves looked his gratitude.
Through the days Of fever and de
lirium that followed, Mother Grave
was patient and serene as ever. bu
Elton could see that she was gentl.
but surely failing under the shock.
Then came the evening when the It'd
turned along the shore of their lives
Elton and Mother Graves were at sup
per when a carriage drove into the yard
They thought it was the Doctors, s.
did not 60 out When the door opened
slim girl stood before them he
bright hair waving away from under
small dark hat. She was smiling.
Hello, mother dear she sal,
gently.
Mother Graves rose, her face touche
with the light that must be some sug
gestion of the light on the faces Of thos
. who meet beyond the doors of dea tn
then she quietly tainted in the stron
! girlish arms that were opened to her
, l.. ii.