San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-07

wait mere so long tndt iihdiy III
strange, incredible visitant lettering
now in the living room would leave.
She would come down, as one emerged
1 from a dream of overcharging fear. In
hysteria of relief she would find the
tea table ready; find Margaret smiling,
little impatient. They would draw
their chairs snugly together-and all
the shiny plans for Nora Lees future
would be again outlined.
FEW TO MOURN
Her mind tricked her again and
again with these cruel phantasies. She
would Dome sharply to the bald and
agonizing present. Miss Sanford, the
nurse, would knock gently to tell her
of friends that came with their conf
fort; of flowers that we're sent; of
business that only Nora Lee could
transact.
She rise silently to these remote de-
mands. She went into the living room
and glanced distantly at the group Of
school friends who had come.
Once, seeing how young they were;
how frightened and uneasy they
seemed, her feeling rushed up in a
bitter storm of pain and resentment.
She went out quickly, overcome with
The abrupt realization of the. stark
loneliness-the bitter injustice that
had been heaped on Margaret.
She who was still young, who had
such wealthy capacity to love and
serve, had come and gone. And now
there was not one; not a single one
except her child to mourn. None who
knew how rich and sainted all her days
had been. She had passed, her royal
quality unguessed-the very loneliest
Of pilgrims.
1t was too sad. She said to God.
frey Bell when he came night after
night to sit with her: mo one knew
how beautiful my mother was. No one
knows what grief she had. Oh-not
a single compensation"
He regarded her with an overwhelm-
ing sympathy as though he would glad
ly take her sorrow; make her a glad
and fiery thing again. He said with
throttled vehemence: You must be
her compensation then. Ny mother
used to say her children were her
monuments-the only ones she wanted.
Perhaps your mother had a hope like
that?"
She gave him a glance of grateful
understanding; "How did you know?
Yes; think she did hope that"
VIRGINIA COMES.
twas indeed what Margaret wished.
He went on talking. But Nora Lee
no longer heard.
The people coming and going where
remote and unreal as shadows, sud-
denly gifted with speech. They how
cred on the banks of this grotesque
world that had suddenly closed about
her. They were no part of it. She
was alone here-she and the dear,
quiet one who smiled and held q
flower in her chill, white hands.
Virginia came. Her words were the
first to pierce Nora Lees blank, cou-
fused apathy. Virginia's dark, troubled
eyes filled with tears. Her small
teeth sank in the full, red under lip.
She said: Il want to ask favor,
Nora Lee. Let me be that one to
ride with you"
ride where? Ohio the GENE
terry? Never mind. Virginia. I'll ride
alone. have to-"
ONE WHO UNDERSTOOD.
"No-don't do that. Let me come
because j know what grief is-what
real grief is, and want to come with
you" She flung her arms about
Nora Lee, repeating and sobbing: "Oh,
please-I can understand"
Nora Lee said wondering: "Oh,
can your" And she chung to Virginia
and listened to her comfort.
But no one could understand. No
one ever has. Yesterday the loved one
smiled at US: yesterday the loved one
spoke. Today we are alone. Call out
reach wild hands as we will, the
wide limits of the earth yield back
no soothins'echo; give up no fluttering
touch. Not anywhere the dear, behold
ing eyes: not anywhere the tones that
moved US so.
Nora Lee stood at the gate, return
ing from that LAST, desolating ser.
vice. She looked up at the house
and turned from it with a beaten
despair.
Gone! Laid away. Even the still
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