The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-09-27

you hoW tWaS, Dut-twO
years ago-I lost my husband-my
motherNthen my brother. 1t left mo
aione-absolutely alone. don't get
over 1t. Sometimes" Her words
sank. Sometimes think 1 shall on
crazy-that may end it"
Mrs. Penfield regarded her CALMLY
Guess most Of us feel that way. first
or last But it's only selfishness talk.
Ing to US. Easiest thing we can do is
to CO."
Mrs. Sanders stopped in her pacing
The keenness Of her establishment
drove the tension out of her bearing
she was suddenly limp from the shift.
ing of emotion.
You" she exclaimed.
Mrs. Penfield gave her a smile that
had nothing in it of amusement. az"
she confirmed. my dear, you didn't
s'pose, did you, that the Lord had
singled you out to see IL He could
break a string in your hearth
But you! I'd never thought as
you"
Mrs. Penfield's face settled into
lines that Mrs. Sanders had not seen
before-into the rigidity of forced
control. II don't speak of it." she
said jerkily. 81 can't. 1t hurts more
Amt nobody here knows.
had pretty home once. My-my
husband was contractor; he had a
fine income. We had th-three chill.
dren." The words trailed into silence.
Her brown eyes, with heightened
focus, were fixed on the wall beyond
her hostess, as If she were seeing pic
lures out of a past that had receded
but not grown dim.
Presently she went on, her voice
lower, her breathing uneven, speaking
more to herself than to another, so
far was she withdrawn from the pres.
ent. "We were happy = happy -
until There was an epidemic. The
worst of it had passed. We had
escaped; we thought we were safe.
The relief from anxiety made us
more thankful, happier, than ever.
One night we've had jolly sup
per-the FIVE of us, at the round
table. There was green peas and
custard pie. Little David loved to
see it tr-tremble. He was
three. His curls were like
twists of sunshine. and his eyes
were the deepest blue. And
all so well, rosy. full of laughter !.
But-that very night-first one and
then another. In the morning
they were-gone. Think of it Be-
fore day broke, they were-all my
babies-gonep Her eyes lifted; the
lines of her face were twisted in
agony. She had forgotten her sur
roundings, re-living those hideous
hours
"Oh. my dear" said Mrs. Sanders
softly, show did you ever stand itT
stand itY Mrs. Penfield took up
the words with momentary vehe-
mence. II didn't stand it. l went mad
raving mad. Ev'rything I'd ever be-
lieved in, went down." Her sad eyes
came back to her neghbor's face. Mrs.
Sanders gaze had lifted to Mrs. Pen
fields heavy hair, nearly white
strangely out of keeping with the
look of youth that fingered in her fea-
lures and expression.
Mrs. Penfeld caught the glance. III
turned that night" she said indiffer-
entity. at didn't matter"
"And your-your-"
Mrs. Penfield's lips worked. III
killed my husband" she replied SLOW
ly. mot at once, but-he never got
over 1t. He was devoted 20 his
family. He hadn't been well. :
He ran down fast. We sold-traV-
eled-evrythlng. IL uiuh
help. In six months"
"Oh. my dear!" repeated Mrs. san
ders pityingly. "That was when
Mrs Penfield nodded. ut would
have been easy-so easy-to CO. 100
The hard thing was to stay-in on
empty world. Nothing"
I'll know how you Ieit' iou '
cared"
"Cared!" Mrs. Penfeld's tone
shook the word to shreds and cast IL
aside. part of me died-when ne
did. i hain't never been the same
I try-but / can't
Her Voice broke. She wheeieu
swiftly and went over to the window
standing with her back to the room
she stared into the meshes Oh @ ,ne
muslin curtain. beating Ithe casing
with her closed hand. Those plows'
the outlet Of long=suppressed torluie'
nounded into the silence of the room
with nncanny contrast. as OF physle"'
violence upon some sacred stiffness, ~,
Mrs Sanders scarcely breatneu,
awed into motionlessness py 'ne
depth of the anguish which she had
unwittingly stirred. Her own griei
was swallowed up in the grier OF
another.
AT last Mrs. Pendeld turned and
cho ,,yaIkad firmly. Her