Ellsworth American., 1922-02-08
THE SILENT ONES
BY VERA T. ROGERS

q, 1922 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Mother Howlapd took her visiting
daughters worn coat and smoothed 1t
on the spare" room bed with lingering
touch. Her eyes were thoughtful.
you didn't get the new fur one, did
you, Janet?" she queried
mo. mother-not yet"
Janet unrolled half-f1nished sock
as they drew chairs near the cheerful
log fire in the sitting-room.
Are you getting plenty OF coal,
mother?" she asked.
Mrs. Rowland smiled at the obvious
attempt to bury >the matter OF the
coat
Hood and l had quite a time"
Janet went on, rather hurriedly,
"what with burning wood in the kitch-
en- range and coaxing the furnace
along on small rations-phew! quite
hustle! !" She smiled into her mothers
eyes.
Hood JuniorNs school work was next
discussed, the eyes Of both women
warm with love for the boy. At last
silence fell-the silence for which
mother waited.
Mother knew the value Of silence,
that trap for the unwary.
Mother. know you think 1t
| strange-about the coat; but I've
thought perhaps l wouldn't get 1t this
year." 1t was Janet speaking.
'"Then you've spent Uncle Gideon's
Christmas present for something elseT
Mother Rowland asked, feeling a
trife guilty with her success.
"Oh, no." replied Janet, letting the
knitting fall to her lap: But, some
how It seems as if-as II Hood didn't
/ want me to buy It," Her face was
tragic.
! 1T isn't that Hood says anything
when mention getting the coat; It's
just that he says nothing at ALL" there
was quiver in Janet's voice.
"Child, have l ever told you about
Sue Ella Gay?" asked mother. mo,
don't thtek have" she, went on.
"Sue Ella married Luke Somers.
She was an orphan. Your grand
mother Howland raised her-that's
how came to know what happened
mother stated In her hOmely and
leisurely way. "Luke was a taciturn
kind Of man-sO silent at times folks
wondered how he ever managed to
propose to Sue Ella. she was so lively
and gay. But he did, anyway, and the
wedding was at your grandmother's.
"The Howlands were sea-faring
folk, as you know, and when the we'd
ding took place, your uncle was away
on a voyage. He thought the world Of
Sue Ella-loved her like an own sister.
"He was a great business man, Luke
was. He and Sue Ella moved to the
city right away after the wedding.
"They had one child but lost 1t, and
Sue Elias health began to fail. Then
your Uncle Gideon sent Sue Ella a
thousand dollars.
THAT should have remedied things,
but it didn't. Luke had grown into a
way. your grandmother told me, Of
settin' silent and sort of sad when Sue
Ella mentioned anything so foolish as
Luke was; he had so many irons in
the fire, Luke had, that Sue Ella felt
real sorry for him. and in the end,
/ her thousand was invested along with
all the rest-sunk in such way, the
chippin's wouldn't buy anything worth
while
"Your Uncle Gideon came home from
sea and was shocked at the change in
Sue Ella. He talked it over with Luke
and specialist was called in.
IAN operation was necessary, Sc
we're one, and would cost lot of
money.
Luke got more silent and sad as he
looked at Sue Ella. Luke raised the
money at the bank, but the operation
came too late to save Sue Ella"
Mother Howland confronted pair
of hurt gray eyes filed with tears.
"Mother! you aren't implying that
Hood isis that kindT
"No, my child, I'm not. Hood is a
| dear good boy-if he is the silent kind"
| said mother, gently. And Luke wasn't
that kind. either-at first he just got
headed wrong Sue Ella, poor thing,
hadn't enough ground under her, inin-
! tive, suppose you'd call it. Good
ness!" Mother glanced at the clock
II must hurry with lunch. Junior will
/ be racing In from school in few
| minutes"
"Well all come to dinner with you
| Sunday. mother" smiled Janet at part
| ing; and" her cheek pressed her
mothers as she whispered: "I'll wear
my new fur coat won't you invite
Uncle Gideon, too?'
Her mother kissed her-in silence.
Elenhant Gravevards