Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-24

weird and shadowy even in dwight but now in dsnse and utter darknesa Though shs tromblsA e did the spring leaves above her, Lima went steadily on until she saw . light giimmering in the upper window of cottage standing back from the lane. Her eyes were co customed to the darkness now, and tho shadow of the trees was passed, 90 ahe built together, and that the one farther from High Athelston was. in darkness. "That light must be in the woman's bedroom" she said, noiselessly lifting the latch of the garden-gate. "Then this is the right one, and the shutters arc shut. There was not a sound of the girls cautious footsteps on the gravel, but . little cry of joy escaped her when she saw that, where the shutters should have l met, a ray of light shone out into tho night. Leaning her trembling hands upon the window-sill, Lima gazed eager ly through that slit in the imperfecsly- fitting shutters, from which the light
 crept through to touch her warmly. There was no blind to the window, and
 she could see portion of the bare little
 room, made distinct and bright by the
 clear. pale light of parafane lamp. Full in this light, . boy of g or 10 sat | at Q small table, on which a cloth was laid, with two cups and saucers. His head was bent over Q book, and Lima could hear the monotonous childish voice. The sound made her heart throb, as it proved that some one else was in the eroom-some one to whom he must be
 reading. She listened eagerly, hunger
 ing for another voice, but no sound in-
 terrupted the steady and weariful flow of the reading.
 She watched the little figure on its
 stiff chair, the long, delicate face, the
 ruffled hair, the thin hand and wrist
 which the coat sleeve did not cover. Every item was learned off by heart.
 and then again came the searching gaze around the lighted room, as far as her eyes could grasp it. No other figure
 came within her sight for long time no other voice sounded, and she grew chill and dispirited, though she never stirred, or faltered in her steadfast pur- pose.
 But at last voice came from the farther end of the room-the voice, evl- dently, of a man who was busy and en- grossed-and the few quick words made every nerve in Lina's frame quiver pain fully.
 "Put that book away, now, Jet. We have had enough food for our minds to- night"
 "Don't you like the book, father ?" the small voice asked, earnestly. Greatly, immensely-pretty we'll" quoted the quick, engrossed voice; "but l Ike 'Crusoe' better. Where did you pick up that thrilling gem?" E>urbk ,h,,> my Saturday penny, dad" ooh! see-the mortgaged penny for next Saturday week. Now, make the coffee. shall not be long,"
 The boy put away his book, and, talk ing the cotfee-pot from the hob, put it on the fire. Alter intently watching it as the coffee boiled fine, he went back to his old seat, and, apparently glad of change of occupation, took a comb from his pocket, wrapped it in paper and began to perform upon it. Not sooth- ing or harmonious music would this in- strument produce at any time, but now it made Lina's head ache acutely. Still she staid on, her ears strained to listen for that other voice, her eyes strained to see another form.
 She followed "Poor Mary Ann" to her grave. She sojourned for an indefi- nite period, In my cottage near wood" She listened awhile, for an endless time, "The heavens were telling" She would have grown really feverish in her anxiety, 5nly that a whistle now and then joined in with the air, mans whistle, clear and true and when the child-to whom time was rather stumbling g-block-made a worse than ordinary mistake, the cheery voice stopped him and put him right.
 "Plenty, Jet" it called at last, as the boy ended melancholy strain.
 "1snt it rather headachy?"
 "l like it, dad, and you are not ready
 "Like it, do yeP We'll, go on. Tune up."
 Again the whistle joined in with its cheering effect-improvisin variations now-and Lima listened without weari- ness. But as the whistling became more energetic and florid, the comb at tempted more energy and foridness too, and she felt that presently she should have to hold her head.
 Suppose you get your violin, and practice properly for a few minutes, Jet. That will do you good, put in the pleas ant, busy voice again.
 "Oh, dad, pleaded the boy, fretfully,
 1t makes my ears ache so."
 ,."' Peculiar ears. Then suppose you dish up the herrings
 "They are so small, dad," commented the boy, dismally, as he pursued again his culinary performances at the fire.
 "1 could eat both of them myself" could eat half a dozen," was the ready answer "but, then, it's wicked to overtax one's digestive powers. So, under those circumstances, two are enough for both of us."
 "When the woman came to sell them. you said you only bought two because you hadn't change, dad," insisted the
 boy, with childs delight to understand the motives of his elders.
 "Of course did. How could I possi- bly, tell her that she would not run away forever with a compound note, if I gave it to her to change?"
 A