The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-10
CHAPTER XVII.

Mrs. Lockhart sat in tine doorway of the
little brown cottage on the hillside, she'll
ing beans into her blue check apron with
an expertness born of much practice. The
beans were to be hung up in little canvas
bags against the rafters of the shed-room
for winter use. Though her eyes rested
upon the beans in her lap, her thoughts
went in an entirely different direction,
and little, amused smile flickered about
her dry lips.
Mr.. Lockhart was not very far off, She
could see him pottering about, examining
the apples in the orchard. He was stand
ing under Lady Jane Grey" their very
best. He was waiting for the hired man
TO come back from the field with another
load OF hay, which he would help him to
pitch into the loft over the cow-shed.
He had already made the cow
shed snug and tight for winter
Already signs of the dying summer were
plentiful, and autumn was placing her
flaming torches ali up and down the hill
sides. The old man Strengthened his back
and called across to the old woman sitting
in the. doorway Smelling beans. He had
two large red apples in his hands. e,
az say, mother"
There had been a child born unto the
house Of Lockhart many. many years ago;
but it had only abode with them long
enough for the old man to fall into the
way Of saying mother instead of "Mi-
handy"
GNVo III Ill nan 81
81 guess I'll be filing the doctors bar
rel of Lady James and be getting his maple
sugar weighed"
Il guess wouldn't be in any particular
hurry, Lockhart."
The amused smile broadened on Mrs.
Lockart's features.
al guess l amt in a hurry" came back
to her, crisply. "He most generally
leaves on the lst of Septem Der, az punct-
ual as cock-wOrk, and here it is tomorrow
the 3D."
II know il. I've got a calendar hang
| ing straight before my eyes over the
| kitchen table. All the same, Davie, I'd
wait till the doctor ordered them apples
packed"
| Mrs. Lockhart's entire manner of deliver
ing this practical advice was so much out
of the ordinary that Mr.. Lockhart, still
holding fast his two big red apples. came
slowly across the strip of yard that sep
arated them, and, fiinging the apples into
her lap, sat down on the steps at her feet
whats the matter, Mirandy?"
Nothing as | know OF, Davie."
| but what makes you so mysterious ?''
Mysterious about what, DavIe?"
"Why-well-I can't just exactly say
only something seems to be amusing you
nightly"
| Upon this Mrs. Lockhart permitted the
smile to take full possession of her discreet
old face. 1t curved her thin lips. wrinkled
| her withered cheeks, and danced merrily
/ in her keen blue eyes.
ut is funny, Davie, and l couldn't help
| thinking, sitting here Smelling beans, oil
| how meek | said TO him, that maybe he
would get used to her like he got used to
Roger. You know he couldn't abide Roger
that first summer, Lockhart."
'Yes-no. You ought to have let me
stuff Roger mother. / believe he would
have kept the mice away, dead or alive
He was a cat"
'Pm not talking about Roger specially.
Just now, though I'll tell you now, as
told YOU then, if you think / would have
a cat that had been following me up anC
down ever since it was weaned, lust like
dog. stuffed and pumped down in one
| place to be staring at me out OF glass eve!
for the rest of my natural existence, YOUR,
mistaken, Davie Lockhart | loved tina
cat, Davie"
The smile which had disappeared dur
ing this brief tribute to Roger returned in
full force.
"Oh. my and-'does she play on tn,
piano?"
The joke had finally penetrated Mr.
Lockharts comprehension. He was o
Scotch extraction. which must explain
the slowness with which he caught up
He took one knee in both hands now anC
laughed aloud. 1t was not the first tim,
he and Mirandy had privately rehearse,