Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-10-04

1 remember how, on my knees be-
side her bed 1 wept distractedly. My
best friend had gone; the only one
who is able to hold a child with that
inflexible code of morality, in
sitting into its heart and soul re-
ligion without weakness, a sense
OF duty without compromise.
1t was the night before the day
my mother was buried that people
came from miles around to attend
the funeral, to see if my father had
come, and to learn more about my
business in general. They were all
seated in the little room which was
divided by bit of drapery and
lighted by an oil lamp. sat alone
in a corner, bordering over secrets
that were tucked away in my heart.
l knew ] had to have food, clothing,
and shelter such as had always been
provided by the one whose body lay
before me.
1 disliked the thought of living
with my aunt, the only relative l
had eve. known. She was an old
maid in every detail. To be mean,
and selfish was the habit of her
heart and soul. She was like most
old maids; nervous, irritable and pos
sessed with the belief that nature
had created this world for her own
special benefit. did not wish to live
with her, yet how could live with
out her?
1 sat bordering over all these mat
tiers, lifting my eyes to others, who
sat nodding between conversations,
when suddenly there was noise in
the yard which so aroused the at
Sention of the women that they
looked up at each other in confusion.
The sound came nearer-it was the
sound of heavy footsteps, first upon
the porch and then in the hall. The
women looked nervously at each
other as the door knob slowly turned
and in came human fgure--a man
whom practically all recognized as
my father His appearance aston
ished me- My emotions were so
torn that I did not know whether to
laugh or cry.
I sat motionless and watched this
handsome midle-aged man OF medl-
um height, slim, and with feminine
delicacy in his features, as he lifted
his hat and walked to the bed where
my mother lay.
An infinite peace, divine melan-
choly, silent serenity seemed to
surround this dead body and my
father.
Soon he lifted his head. and after
looking about him rested his eyes
upon me in the corner holding my
hands. Not word was exchanged
between the two OF us save What
was expressed in that long, silent
glance of man in whose eyes re-
pentance shone like an evening star.
He took me in his arms, kissed me.
brushed my hair backward and called
NE my child"
feel frightened when tender sympa.-
thy appears in its fathers eyes, Stlli
holding me in his arms, ne turned
to speak to the neighbors who looked
curiously at this demonstration. Inen
we walked over to large CHAIR
where we slept the night through.
"At last my father had come: Con-
seuuently, I would not have TO i've
with Aunt Emma" said to myseH.
OF course. Aunt Emma and the
neighborS were not glad to see MN;
They had called him coward"
brute" because he had left mother
when was still in the cradle, and
besides. they were country folk and.
like all country people. they depend
upon local scandals and their neigh
bors' private affairs to employ their
minds. They were disappointed be-
cause things had gone so harmoni-
ously. One by one. all left the
room.
Several days after my mother had
been buried my father seemed pc
culiarly nervous. One night he said
TO me: Molly. my little girl,
know you'll be lonely for your moth.