Christian fiction; Families -- Fiction; Love stories
And now they passed out from the narrow streets, through crowded
thoroughfares for a brief space, then out beyond, and free, into the
wider reaches. Fair houses and glimpses of green were appearing. The
car was gliding smoothly, for the sake of the invalid not going at high
speed; and she could see on every side. The trees were in full leaf;
the sky was large and blue; the air was filled with freshness. She
drew a long breath; and closed her eyes to pray, "Oh, my Father!" and
then opened them again to see whether it was all true. Shirley,
sensitive for her to the slightest breath, turned and drew the robes
closer about her mother, and asked whether she were perfectly warm and
whether she wanted another pillow under her head.
Graham did not intrude himself upon the family behind him. He was
absorbed in the two boys, who were entirely willing to be monopolized.
He told them all about the car, and discoursed on the mysteries of the
different makes with a freedom that gave George the impression that he
was himself almost a man to be honored by such talk.
It was nearly seven o'clock when they reached Glenside and the big
stone barn came in sight, for they had travelled slowly to make it
easier for the invalid.
Elizabeth had sighted the car far down the road below the curve; and,
switching on every electric light in the place, she fled down the
ladder to the basement, dragging the willing Jenkins after her. Here
they waited with bated breath until the family had gone inside, when
they made their stealthy way out the east end, across the little brook
under the fence, and down the road, to be picked up by the car
according to previous arrangement.
As the car came in sight of the barn a deep silence suddenly fell upon
the little company. Even Doris felt it, and ceased her prattle to look
from one to another. "Whatzie mattah?" she asked Shirley shyly,
putting out her hand to pat Shirley's face in a way she had when she
was uneasy or troubled. "_Whatzie mattah, Surly?_"
But Shirley only squeezed her hand reassuringly, and smiled.
As they drew near, the young people noticed that the bars of the fence
in front of the barn had been taken down and the ditch filled in
smoothly. Then they saw that the car was turning in and going straight
up the grassy incline to the door.
Mrs. Hollister, lying comfortably among her cushions, was looking at
the evening sky, hearing a bird that reminded her of long ago, and
scarcely noticed they had turned until the car stopped. Then in silent
joy the children swarmed out of the car, and with one consent stood
back and watched mother, as the strong young man came to the open door
and gathered her in his arms once more.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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