The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-17

tidiness. She began to straighten it up,
stealthily at first, as if she were afraid
some one would overhear her. She discov-
cred in the pantry some bakers bread, and
her heart reproached her, for she knew
Jot hated any but homemade. 1t took
but an instant to run home and get nice
loaf, TO which she added pie. These she
placed prominently on JOt's pantry shelves.
Then, as the whistles were sounding for
O'Clock, she went home
On the next Sunday afternoon, while his
sister was out, Jot went into her cellar
and brought up her tubs for Mondays
washing. setting them out on the bench.
Monday morning she went in, when there
was chance. gathering up his small wash,
and taking il home nicely laundried Tues
day afternoon. Then Jot began putting
up her clotheslines for her. So, gradually
they slyly exchanged work in way that
would have been comical if it had not been
pathetic. They talked together casually
of course. but neither would show a par
ticle of interested feeling toward the other.
On the Saturday before Easter Hiram
drove up to the Trynn property with
tiny passenger-a little girl SIX years OLD.
| There was tag attached to her person
which had written on it, Mr.. Jacob
Trynn," and the proper address.
"Now, sit right still, he said kindly TO
| the little creature, as he refined in his
horses. Then he got down and walked up
the path to the old Trynn house Jot was
away, for it was not quite g, and Dot, hear
ing the knock at her brothers door, put
her head out of her own.
"What now, Hiram?" she asked. "Who
on airth hev you got thar"
"The incest leetle package you ever see"
he replied. IT'S directed TO your father,
an materially / come 10 the old door, forgit-
tin that you want thar. / reckon you air
the one to see to the leetle thing. She
come all the way from Coloraydo, an she
saws her name is Mabel Trynn. Her pas
dead"
He turned away to get the child, and
Dot huttered about sorrowfully and yet
joyfully. ut must be Jacks child" she
whispered with tears in her eyes. Jacks
leetle girl"
"Here she is" shouted Hiram in the
front doorway, and Dot wiped her eyes
with her clean white apron and went for
ward with outstretched arms.
"You dear" she said, and kissed the
child again and again, taking her in her
lap and crying over her at intervals while
removing her wraps whats thisY" she
asked when she found an envelope pinned
securely in the inner pocket of the child's
light cloak.
"Papa's letter" said the little one. 1t
told how he was i'll and could not get well;
how he had not strength TO bring his child
to the old home and the father he supposed
| no. in, fnxu
words the various kinds Of business in
which he had engaged since they heard
from him last He had lost his wife, who
was an orphan with no near relatives, not
long before the date of the letter. He
wrote of what little property he had in
vested for the child, and how he had seen
to all the details of its settlement 10y some
one who would forward proper papers. and
closed with sad farewell.
Hiram met Jot as he drove up the village
street.
Il brung you an express package for
Easter Jest now, Jot," he said, stopping
his horses. II left it daown to your haouse.
Your sister she took it" and cracking his
whip Hiram drove on, leaving Jot standing
in the road.
oval, vum" he said aloud. "Wonder
what it is, and off he started again. Thar
hain't no one as | know Of to send me an
Easter package" he soliloquized. HE
says Dot took it. Why on airth didn't he
leave it to my haouse1 He knows where
the key alters is as we'll as do jest rs
likely as not Dot took the wrappers OFT to
see what it is. Women is SO Gurus"
Reaching home he entered his own door
first.
'Nothin here" he calculated, after
glancing hurriedly around. ~ didn't think
she'd keep it. Gosh, what's THAR" as the
sound of clear. childish laughter was heard
through the partition wall. "Guess Dots
got company. b'heye I'll see who it is
afore go in"
When the change Of homes had been
made, in the process Of general cleaning,
Dot had removed the covering from dis
used stovepipe hole between the two houses
and it had not been replaced Perhaps she
} had thought it would nc. be 50 Lonesome