The morning call., 1892-08-14

gone ND TO take her hat off in a moment
more she was hack again, running hither
and thither to get the tea so quickly that it
was really very little more than FIVE minutes
before she and Jim were seated opposite
to each other at the table. Jim sat down
silently. and as they began tea he
was quite as silent as lie had been
at dinner. Barbara's curiosity was now
thoroughly aroused. Jim always talked to
her at SUNDAY tea-time" even more than
on a weekday for he was sure to nave
heard or seen or done something Interesting
in his Sunday afterno oOns walk wh,ch ne
had remembered TO tell her. She looked at
him to see if she could if he were yeXed by
her delay. But there were no signs OF vex-
alton about him; he only stirred Bis tea In
an abstracted manner.
After little consideration Barbara said
ten latiyely:
as your tea TO your liking tonight, Jim ?"
YES" he said, 'It's quite TO my liking"
But there he paused abruptly. Barbara"
he began moment later, Barbara, meant
to tell You this mornin'; it's piece of news
as you amt heard yet."
News" said Barbara. her blue eyes very
wide with wonder. Jim was very strange
tonight. she said to herself.
Yes. i IN gon' to get married. Barbara.
It's Ellen knight; she says she'll have me,
and were to be ask in church next Sun
day"
You're goin' TO get married. Jim." The
words were spoken slowly. To Barbara it
seemed as II the room were whirlng round
as she spoke. TO get married, Jim ?" she
repeated. Amt | KEEP house tor you
right, then, Jim?" she added, more slowly
still She had grown suddenly very cold.
and all before her eyes was dim and misty !;
she e0uli not even see Jim's face.
'Oh, yes, child" he said, ''but n man
wants Wife, you see, and me and Ellen's
been courtiD, these six months. / know it
aln't long after poor mothers gone, but
she'd be the first to wish US happy. Amt
you going to give me joy, Barbara ?"
he ended, cheerilv. For Barbara sat quite
still, with one little hand holding fast to the
tea-tray almost as il for support.
"Oh, yes, Jim, do: that do, JimP' the
childish voice said with a sudden quick ear
nestneSs.
"OG course" he went on, you'll stay
along Of us here just the same"
THANK you, JIM" Barbara said: and
the chi wondered vaguely why her voice
sounded such a long way off and so odd.
"OI course you will, little woman" he
added. rising and beginning to prepare for
church. Jim was one of the ringers, and he
had 10 be in church early. Barbara rose
also and began to clear away. Jim gave
her a kiss as he went ont. 1.-THE child's
took II very quiet" he said to himself; ~
needn't have thought so much o. telling
her.
Mechanically Barbara finished all her
washing up. mechanically she dressed
locked the house and set out for church her
self. She saw none of the people she passed
IN the street, she heard none of their voices ::
she did not even hear Charlotte Robins a :
she smoke to her. She heard nothing but
JIm's words, and she heard them over aud
over again increasingly: "Im goiu' to get
married, Barbara"
She reached The church and stood for a
moment at tile open door. But she did not,
as usual, turn ia at that door and 90 to the
DelfTy u watch jim ring till it was time TO
go 10 her place. She turned away and ran
down the path that led to the yew tree
And there, behind il. the child threw her.
sell on the ground, with her head resting on
her mothers grave and crushing the yolets
she had put there so happily only two hours
ago.
"Oh, mother, mother" she sobbed. 81
tried to do for Jim. and | thought he was
pleased. But it was all wrong-I amt done
it right. and he's gon' to get mar led
Coin to get married, motherl But you
know l tried. don't You, mother? On.
mother, mother. did tryi'
The bells stopped. and even prayer be-
gan still Barbara lay there, shaken from
head to foot by her heart broken sobs. The
moon rose and Shone down upon The little
lonely figure In its pitiful grief. but the snhs
did not stop AT last the sound Of the first
hymn seemed To soOthe the child a little as
ii came to her through the evening air. IL
was "Sun of My Soul" and as the familiar
tune went on, her sObs grew quieter TIL
when the choir reached the last verse she
picked herself mp and went slowly home.