Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-02-23
THE SILENT ONES
~ VERA T. ROGERS

Mother Rowland took her yisitint
daughters worn coat and smoothee il
on the spare" room bed with lingering
touch. Her eyes were thoughtful
"You didn't get the new fur one, did
you, Janetf' she querIed.
mo. mother--not yet"
Janet unrolled haIf-fnished 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 ] had quite a time
Janet went on, rather hurriedly
what with burning wood In the kitch-
en- range and coaxlng the furnace
along on small ratlons-phew quite a
hustle y She smiled into her mothers
eyes.
Hood Juniors 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, l know you think II
strange-about the coat; but I've
thought perhaps l wouldn't get 1t this
year" II was Janet speaking
Christmas present for something elser"
Mother Rowland asked. feeling q
trihe guilty with her success.
"Oh no." replied Janet. letting the
knitting fall to her lap. But, some
how II seems as if-as II Hood didn't
want me TO buy IT," Her face was
tragic.
ut isn't that Hood says anything
when I mention getting the coat; It's
Just that he says nothing at ALL there
was CULVER in Janets voice
Child, have | ever told you about
Sue Ella Gayf" asked mother. NO, !
don't think have" she went on.
sue Ella married Luke Somers
mother Rowland raised her-that's
how | came To know what happened
mother stated In her homely and
leisurely way. Luke was taclturn
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 Hcwlands were sea faring
folk, as you know, and when the we'd
ding took place, your uncle was away
on voyage He thought the world OF
Sue Ela--loved her like an own sister
Gle was great business man. Luke |
was. He and Sue Ella moved to the |
city right away after the wedding.
"They had one child but lost II, Rld |
Sue Elias health began to fail. Then |
your Uncle Gideon sent Sue Ella a |
thousand dollars
"That should have renedied 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
clothes; he was living In big things,
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
chippln's wouldn't buy anything worth
while.
your Uncle Gideon came home from
sea and was shocked nj the change in
Sue Ella He talked II over with Luke
and a 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, hut the operation
came too late to save Sue Ella"
Mother Rowland confronted a pair
OF hurt gray eyes filled with tears.
Mother YOU aren't implying that
Hood isis that kindT
"No, my child. I'm not Hood is
dear good boy-if Re is the silent kind"
said mother, gently. And Luke wasn't |
that kind eltherat FIRST he lust got
headed wrong Sue Ella, poor thing,
hadn't enough ground under her inia-
tive, | suppose you'd call it, Good |
ness !" Mother glanced al the clock
81 must hurry With lunch. Junior will |
be racing in from school I'm a few |
minutes"
"Well all come 10 dinner with you |
sunday. mother smiled Janet at part |
ing; and" her cheek pres ed her |
mothers as she whispered: I'm wear |
my new fur coat; won't you invite |
Uncle Gideon, too?"
Her mother kissed her--in silence