The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-06-29

He Saw Me.
ing at once, and telling each other how
glad we were to see each other.
But he was looking for Mother-I
know he was; for the next minute aft
er he saw me, he looked right over my
head at the woman back of me. And
all the while he was talking with me,
his eyes would look at me and then
leap as swift as lightning first here,
and then there, all over the hall. But
he didn't see her. knew he didn't
see her, by the look on his face. And
pretty quick I said I'd have to 60.
And then he said:
"Your mother-perhaps she didn't
did she Gomez" And his face grew all
red and rosy as he asked the question.
And said yes, and she was waiting,
and that was why I had to 60 back
right away.
And he said, "Yes, yes, to be sure"
and, "good-by." But he still held my
hand tight, and his eyes were still row.
ing all over the house. And I had to
tell him again thatI really had to go;
and I had to pull real determined at
my haad, before could break away
I went back to Mother then. The
hall was almost empty, and she wasn't
anywhere in sight at all; but I found
her just outside the door. knew then
why Fathers face showed that he
| hadn't found her. She wasn't there to
find. I suspect she had looked out for
| that.
| Her face was still pinky-white, and
her eyes were shining; and she wanted
to know everything we had said
everything. So she found out, Of
course, that he had asked if she was
there. But she didn't say anything her
self, not anything.
| In the afternoon I went to walk with
one Of the girls; and when came in
I couldn't find Mother. She wasn't
| anywhere downstairs, nor in her room,
| nor mine, nor anywhere else on that
| floor. Aunt Hattie said no, she wasn't
out, but that she was sure she didn't
know where she was. She must be
somewhere in the house.
went upstairs then, another fight.
There wasn't anywhere else to 60, and
Mother must be somewhere, Of course.
And it seemed suddenly to nae as II
I'd just got to find her. I wanted
her so.
And I found her.
In the little back room where Aunt
Hattie keeps her trunks and mothball
bags, Mother was on the floor in the
| corner crying. And when I exclaimed
out and ran over to her, found she
was sitting beside an old trunk that
was open; and across her lap was
perfectly lovely pale-blue satin dress
| all trimmed with silver lace that had
| grown black. And Mother was crying
and CRYING as if her heart would break.
| Of course, I tried and tried to stop
her. and 1 begged her to tell me what
| was the matter. But I couldn't do a
thing, not thing, not for long time
Then 1 happened to say what lovely
dress, only what pity it was that the
lace was all black.
She gave little choking cry then
| and began to talk-little short SEN
tences all choked up with sobs, so that
could hardly tell what she was talk
| ing about, Then, little by little, be-
gan to understand.
She said yes, it was all black-tar-
nished; and that it was just like every
thing that she had had anything to do
with-tarnished her life and her mar
riage.. and Fathers life, and mine
everything was tarnished, just like that
| silver lace on that dress. And she had
| done it by her thoughtless selhshness
and lack of self-discipline.
And when l tried and tried to tell
her no. it wasn't, and that / didn't
| feel furnished bit. and that she
wasn't. nor Father either, she only
| cried all the more, and shook her head
| and began again, all choked up.
She said this little dress was the
one she wore at the big reception
| where she first met Father. And she
was so proud and happy when Father
| and he was fine and splendid and
handsome then, too, she said-singled
her ont. End just couldn't seem to stay
avav from her a minute all the eve
ming. And then four days later he