The morning call., 1892-08-14
CHAPTER III.

A month had gone by since that Sunday.
1t was a lovely May evening, and Jim's
wedding day. He had been married at 9
O'Clock that morning. and had gone by an
excursion train for day az the sea with his
bride. They intended to he back at Mpld-
ham at s o'clock, and at Barbara was on
her knees IL the kitchen washing the floor
II had already had more than one washing
that day, but this was a final and polishing
touch. Everything in the house shone with
cleanliness, everything, upstairs and down,
was as neat and "a well prepared for ,jim's
wife as any gr0wr-up woman's hands could
have made it, Fresh geraniums were in the
window, new cloth on the side table aud
new whited cr0cheted chair back of Bar
baTa's own work was hung over the one
cushioned chair.
Charlotte Robins and Mrs Smith, who
had, earlier in the afternoon, been severaIly
TO look az Bar3ara's preparations. had each
made the same comment. namely, that IF
Jim's wife weren't pleased she ought to
be-"
Both women had asked Barbara more
than once TO come home and stay with
tn-m, NJ any rate for time. But Barbara
had refused both offers. She meant to go
to Liza" she said, and live with her.
Barbara had grown very white and tired
looking in this month. her pretty blue
eyes were dim and there was dark lines be-
meath them. 1t was as though her tears
had left traces on her little face which
nothing would ever move again.
II seemed 10 the child that everything
around her was changed and different since
the terrible shock Of that bitter Sunday.
Gradually, and by degrees, she had realized
it all, and with each fresh shock of reallZl-
tiOn her grief had gone deeper and deeper
into her little heart. With childish ipcom-
prehension she blamed herself over and
over again for mot having made Jim hap
pier she went over and over again all the
ways In which she thought she might have
done better for him, coming back always
al the end with bitter grief at the thought
that now he could do no more for the work
she could do for Jim was almost over 1t
seemed TO the child as If, now, there was
nothing left for her 10 do, and no one
wanted her.
She was not morbid-she meant to do her
very best to be a good girl to Liza" and
help her all she could-but simply, she felt
as If all her happiness and all her work had
gone away from her with Jim.
She bad not shown any outward signs of
her grief; she had taken the deepest posi-
bic interest IN every one OF the new arrange
ments jim had made in the house and gar
den for his future wife. And Jim said to
good sensible child," and said or thought
no more.
No one knew of the nights when Barbara
cried herself TO sleep In her little room at
the head OF the stairs; no one knew of the
countless childish prayers she said in that
'be good girl always, and 60 TO mother
some day''-no one but the child herself
Her face was very composed and quiet
now as she arose and stood in tns middle #
the room, contemplating the effect of her
work. 1t was the last time she should
tidy up" the kitchen for Jim, and she
meant it to be done as we'll as she possibly
could. both for Jim himself and TO please
his wife for his sake. She was feeling fairly
satisfied with the result, when all al once a
inv rrf A4arN .faf No. IL
In the corner by an old press-a press so
heavy that IL was never moved. 1t had
stood there as long as Barbara could remem-
ber, and she never looked upon it as any,
thing but fixture. To-day. however, IL
suddenly occurred TO her that the accumula-
iion of dust behind and beneath it must be
very great ''It'll never do for her to find
the dust there" Barbara said thoughtfully
to herself IN get 1t out and wash behind
it bit" She went up to the press with
her little face very intent. her blue eyes
eager with determination.
AT about $50 o'clock Jim and his wife
came home. Come on in" he said to her,
cheerly, as they walked up the garden
path. "Barbara'll have some supper for
rs" He was little in adv nee of her
and as he ended he opened the door of the
house. There before him was Barbara.
The press was moved out little and Bar
baTa lay on the floor before it. Jim turned
sharply round, his face suddenly very pale
Nell! ne Salu 10 MS VILE IN a strange,
frightened tone, ''come here. quick,'
Sne obeyed him. her heart beating very
fast. though she could not have told why,
and followed him as he crossed the room in
two strides and knelt down beside his little
sister.
What is FTP" she said to him in dow,
awe-struck voice
But Jim did not speak. He raised Bar
bara's form in tender, hasty silence. In
that moment he had seen that the childish
face his tears fell on would never look at
him again. the blue ewes never smile at him
any more. Barbara's prayers were both
answered-she was gone TO her mother, and
she would be good girl always"
They said that the child had died of a
sudden strain 10 a naturally weak heart
brought on by trying 10 move the heavy
press.
Charlotte Robins alone refused any expla-
alton but her own. THE child was heart
broke at Jim's marryin'," she repeated
again and again with tears.-All the Year
Round.
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