Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-10-04
shelter in ,i,s Building. Marcia sh-an>

shelter III tie Building. Marcia sh -anS
back in terror. but he treasured her.
..Oh, it's safe enough now! Light.
ming amt apt to strike twice in the
same place; and it wasn't lightning,
anyway, but hurricane that's miles
off by this time, troubling other
folks. Good deal more danger OF
your taking cold out here, Miss
Marshy, than there is of the school
house takin' to its heels again. This
rain II soon be over"
The rain was soon over, as he had
predicted, and the sun was lighting up
the drops that lay on the grass as
Marcia took her way homeward.
Every thing was just as usual. The
storm had brought only one of those
almost casualties that so constantly
threaten in one form or another, pass
on, and are forgotten.
But that one minutes outlook had
suddenly settled the question that had
been vexing her. A strange light falls
on many things. when we stand for 9
moment at the gates that open out.
ward, and see life stretching away in.
to the beyond. Little pleasures are
not so weighty as they had seemed,
and "next of kim did mean gooG
deal. So it happened that, after the
event of the afternoon had been dis.
cussed and exclaimed over that even.
ing, Marcia said. simply:
1--we been thinking, Uncle Seth.
that we'd better take that child instead
of letting it go to Joel's."
The rugged. homely face bright
ened, and there was quick light il
the eyes under the shaggy. gray brows
I'm kinder glad to hear you say
that. Marshy, l am, really. It'll make
harder times for us, l don't doubt, an
tough pullin' sometimes to get along,
but l never did shirk yet, an seems &
if twas late to begin now"
He was off on his journey in the few
days of Marcia enforced vacation, and
she and Nancy had ample time for
planning. They hunted up old muslin
dresses that would cut over nicely, but
decided that the matter of making
clothing must await clearer kncwl-
edge of the young strangers size.
They pondered whether the east
room O" the '.best room" could be most
comfortably transformed into nurs-
cry; and, from its long nanishment in
the attic, they bought down az cd.
fashioned cradle.
Softly pillowed and daintily equipped.
the cradle stood beside the fire on the
evening that Uncle Seth was expected
home. while on the stove was cup OF
catnip tea, which Nancy now pushed
forward to warm, now backward into
obscurity, according to her fuctuatina
opinion of the age of the baby.
When the familiar step at last sound
ed at the door both women started for
ward. BIZ: Uncle Seth entered alone.
1.-The baby" exclaimed Marcia
"Where is the child?'
"Shor' Uncle Seth's face wore a
look of confusion, and he laughed in
an embarrassed way There amt any
child; that was just mistake of mine
David bein' such a mighty poor
writer. 'Twasn't little incum' rance,
like the way / read it, but little income,
rents and the like Anyhow, that's what
the lawyer made it out. though he
lowed mebby he wouldn't, if he hadn't
knowed what it was afOrehand.
david calls it little-he always hal
high no.ions--but it's enough to be-
worth a good deal to us, Marshy," and
the kindly old eyes rested tenderly or
the girls face. ''YOu can have the Old
house fixed up now. and good many
things you've wanted to have done
I'm right glad for you. child"
Nancy whisked the catnip tea fro,c
the stove, and surreptitiously emptie;l
it into the sink.
WELL" she said, with long breati,
"It sort of makes me think of that
story you read one day, Marshy, about
St. Christopher: how he was willin' to
carry the child across, though it was so
heavy, and afterward it turned cut to
be-Well! Under the circumstances
it's just as we'll we didn't let it 90 to
Joel's. kate ". Hamilton, in Youth S
Companion.
aannEo ~ ACC ln10TS