The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-12-05

~ reckon on harvest OF crumbs Wnen
the meal was done.
A little later, a baby would be handed
through the window to the old-looking
nursery-man. Baby did not think him
odd or ugly, however, but sprang to
his arms with gurgle Of welcome, and
buried his fat fingers in the sacred pig
tail. Following the baby, the gentle
mother would appear, languid from the
hot climate so lately left; then would
come kissing, romping, grand cho-
rus of "goOd-mornings;' some chas-
ing up and down the level floor, and
then the small brood would vanish,
swept away, as it were, by their noise
less attendant, and for q while the bal
cony would be left to silence and the
sweet morning sunshine, Pickering
through the vines rs best it might, and
lying in bright glinis on rail or carpet.
Toward noon there would be an hour
or two of grandmamma and Dotha
with their great mending basket. Then
the children again, fresh from their
bath or wash. Then a drowsy hour
with some one swinging in the ham,
mock, or some one reading aloud, while
the others listened in dreamy silence
And toward sunset. when the cool
breeze blew in from the bay, visitors
would drop in. lingering to enjoy the
shade, the smell of flowers. and the
peaceful leisure of the spot. Then
came tea, and then used to come
Frank. The moonlight, the late even
ing, belonged to him and Luta. All
summer long it had been so; all sum-
mer long had seen the two heads close
together, the clasping arm; had heard
the low-voiced talk, always on the same
theme, yet always new. go on and on
till ten o'clock struck, and eleven, and
the old Judge put his head out of the
window above to ask if they were going
to sit there all night. Mrs. Swallow,
reused from her beauty sleep, would
pop hers from the nest to witness the
parting-a lingering parting always, as
of those who could no: bear to sever.
There were no partings now, no meet
ings. No wonder Mrs. Swallow was
puzzled and dissatisfied.
HAS Frank been out of town.
asked the Judge. How easy it is for
even loving families to be unconscious
of an incipient changed!
81 imagine SO. He has not been
here for some days; but forgot to ask
Luta about it, said the sister-in-law.
81 don't think Luta is looking quite
well" remarked the more observant
Dotha. "Now, Marie, put down that
stocking. You have enough mending
to do when you are at home in Shang-
hal"
That's just where you are wrong"
called in John from the hammock, tax
ing his cigar from his mouth and
blowing little rings of smoke into the
air. lin Shanghai, Marie never mends
or makes ut all. What 5 the use, when
you can get Il machine and Il fellow to
run it for fifty cents 4 day?'
Grandmamma looked little grim.
1t sounds somehow shiftless to nv
Yankee notions" she observed. II
know should not fancy having a man
darn my stockings
assure you, mamma, they do it
most beautifully. 1t is rather like
weaving than darning, and puts our
home mending to shame" remarked
her daughter-in-law. She leaned for
ward, searched the big basket for
sock, turned out the heel, and held it
up, just as her mother produced no.
table specimen of Dotha's best BLADDER
stitch" and each exclaimed, "Therer'
in a tone of triumph, which tickled the
Judge into tit of laughter.
''Luta, hope you will have your
| wedding before we go back" cried Ma
rie, as Luta came out on to the balco-
ny. "Just think, may never have
another chance to be here for one of the
home celebrations, and to see the fami-
ly all together. You ought to consider
that. think. Do choose a day before
Christmas.
Poor Luta! 1t was easy enough to
give Marie's light remark as light an
answer, but not to allay the inward
pain and perplexity which it had called
into being. Would there ever be any
wedding ut all? Must she tell the fam
! lily that all was over between her and
Frank?-and acas it over? The rest
went in to tea; she fingered on the bal
cony. Her arm was on the railing
She bent her head lower, lower. Great
tears ran down her cheeks and FLASHED
c the blue sleeve of her dress. Mrs.
5 'allOw watches from above.
footsteps rang on the stones below,
but Luta did not hear them. The wave
of sorrow which was sweeping over her
deafened her ears. 1t was all true,
then; she must give up hope. She
might as we'll tell the family tonight.
This was what she was thinking as the
steps came on unheard. But Mrs.
Swallows hearing was sharper, as, all
in a tlutter of eager interest, she poised
herself On the trellis overhead.
"That is he. Why does he not look
up?' meditated Mrs. Swallow. "He
shall look" And, as led by some
heavenly impulse, with wild call, a
drive, and swerving drop, she let her.
self fall almost into the face of the
passer-by, who, with bent head, was
perusing the street as he went. He
looked up, of course-whO would not
at the shock of such salutation?-and
saw Mrs. Swallow, indeed, but also the
golden head bowed on the blue sleeve
upon the balcony rail above.
Frank wavered-stopped.
"Luta,' he said at last, in very
| low voice.
She raised her wet face. A dazzled
CLEAN shot into her eyes.
"You are crying! What is it?'' The
tone, meant to be matter-of-fact, was
| unmlStakaDly tender.
II AMI was," stammered Luta.
"Oh, Frank!'
He was on the balcony in a moment.
and by her side. There was rapid
murmur of explanation, a sob or two,
a kiss. How easy reconciliation was,
after all! How hard to believe that
they could so have mistaken each other,
ard been so needlessly unhappy! The
habit of loving is a hard one to break.
In quarter of an hour all was as if no
discord had come between, and two ex-
ceedingly happy young people were
ready to join the family at tea.
"Ah, Frank, my boy. come back?''
said the old Judge, cheerily. Frank
did not think it necessary to explain
that he had not been away. Only he
and Luta and Mrs. Swallow ever knew
that there had been any quarrel at all.
And now my pretty one is happy"
| remarked Mrs Cwo11O,v 40 che oOvo