The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-05-23

30 that madcap. having written a letter
to her sweethearts, found herself alone,
and wandered out on an expedition that
ended in the forsaken dairy.
But presently she grew deaf to the
splashing noise in the sense of deser-
ton that filled her heart, and to some
one who passed the door, the young
shape in MOlly's apron that leaned
against the churn had a lonely. deserted
look, so that he involuntarily made q
step forward, as one may toward q child
that one sees lost in perplexity or tro u
BILE.
He had come quite close to her before
she knew his presence, but when she
looked up, he saw that in her eyes were
tears that perchance had washed away
the contempt for him that they usually
held. AS they stood looking at each
other, with quivering lips, in that first
trembling moment of reconciliation,
perhaps there was danger to the two
souls that swayed lightly to each other
as two flowers in summer breeze.
They were so young, so bound together
by natural tastes and ties, and they
loved each other so dearly and, as Mad
cap timidly stretched out little tremb-
ling hand, Frank stopped and kissed it,
knowing that it had given him hack his
kingdom. When he had let it go, and
they were standing apart, like two
children who could make up their quar-
rel but were too shamefaced to speak
of it, she said. with the tears rolling
down her cheeks, II have been very
wicked-I could not forgive you; but
perhaps God has. And it was not for
me to Judge you; you are better than l
am"
She had moved little aside, as one
who wishes no reply, and stood looking
down on a dish Of curds and whey, a
faint smile of memory that struggled
with tears crossing her lips.
do you remember how | used to
make you steal Lady Betty's curds and
whey, and how | always ate my own
share and yours too?" she said.
Those were happy days." he replied,
sadly.
but there is no Lady Betty to make
us miserable now,o cried Madcap; land
we will have happier ones yeti"
But Frank shook his head; he knew
that no such happiness was possible
out Of Arcadia. 1t is so easy for love,
with both it's hands full, to dictate to
friendship, but the friend who wants a
little love, not liking to his share, is
apt to look bitterly on his own side of
the bargain.
1--WE are older now,'' he said at last,
and Madcap laid down her wooden
spoon, and turned to look at him with
kind of wonder, that grew in her eyes
as for the first time she recognized the
lines of suffering and care that the last
month had wrought in his features.
Are we so old?"' she said, wistfully,
as one suddenly alive to the value of
onp,atbipr thot ic acooni,,or hin,
Love is never old, f" he said, not look
ing at her, land you have that in plenty;
it is only the unloved who grow old.
Looking up, Madcap somehow
thought of his mother, and of how she
would have loved him. Perhaps her
own motherhood bridged over the near
ness of their years, as stepping forward
and taking his hand in both her own,
she said:
But we all love you; and there are
others to love you, too" she added
then shrank away like child who has
set its careless fingers on a half-healed
wound. If there was bitter tension
about his lips as he turned and looked
at her, as he realized with what grace
woman will offer her basket of scraps
to starving soul, while hard by, a man
will, unobserved, have lain down his
last gold coin without word there was
no bitterness in his eyes as he said:
And love you all, Madcap."
"Dody loves you" she said softly, and
put up her hand to the sweet-brier, that
sent out faded Whit of sweetness, as
if it reminded her Of the hand that had
brought it..
EYES," said Frank. walking away to
the open window; land he is taken
Is a Il h.. 20
his kisses on the paper? And | think
his fingers left some smudges too. l
told him that you were coming back
soon, and he began at once to pick a
nosegay to put on your table. He
thought soon must mean tomorrow"
II have never been away from him in
all his life BEFORE" said Madcap, the
slow tears gathering in her eyes, land
Don't cry" implored Frank, dis
tractedly; lit will make you ill-and
what will Mr.. Eyre say?"
"Mr. Eyre will say nothing" she said,
balancing herself on her pattens with
suddenly recovered dignity, ''he is with
the Duchess. Did it ever strike YOU"
she added, as the impulses of her youth
toward Frank required. that Mr.. Eyre
knew anything about dirtings"
Frank, considering Madcap, thought
that she must have had some knowl-
edge of the art to keep Mr.. Eyre for six
years tied to her apron-string, but said,
"She is his hostess-he cannot be rude
to her."
"A pretty pair" said low but audi
BILE voice in the doorway behind them.
At the sound Of it Madcap's mood
changed; without turning, she said:
would you like some curds and whey,
FaankY" and gravely filled the wooden
spoon and held it out to him. t.