The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-12-29

| arranging and adorning until the slant
| ing rays of sunlight found the rooms as
| clean and attractive as home deserves
| to be-
And now. Pitcher" said Dora.
| catching up the baby in her tired arms.
you and | will pnt finish upon
this extraordinary fit of cleanliness by
actually dressing for teal"
A white frock, with no other orna-
ment except her golden curls, soon
made picture of little Pitcher; but
with her own toilet Dora took much
greater pains Her hair was scarcely
arranged it to it's best advantage.
Then against her black gown she
fastened some pale roses
When the children came in late they
| were greatly pleased at the changes.
''Hullo, Dora! why these togs?' in
| qrired Jack. Been out2"
No"
"Going out?"
No"
Company coming?"
No"
"Then, as asked before, why these
togs? These festive buds?"
A confused blush rose to Dora's face,
for she felt it rather difficult to ex-
plain. She also felt an uncomfortabl BILE
sense of how untidy she must generally
have been when her present neatness
attracted such extravagant attention.
But she wisely answered Jack in full.
II want to look nice for father, Jack.
and am going to try to make home a
little happier. VIII you help?'
Every time! I'm your mani What
do you want? Arnful of kindling?"
Not now, but if you will water the
front garden, and if Billie will pick
some flowers for the table, it will give
me time to make some of those rolls
that you all like so much"
asked for them last April, and am
really going to get them for this even
ing's tea-quickest response on record" :"
commented Billie, amiably, departing
with Jack upon their errands.
An hour later they both dressed for
tea, also, and Jack began to feel
charmed into extra vitality. billie,
must kiss you." he announced, making
preparations for that event by locking
the doors of egress.
j.. Billie raised dismal howl. Jacks
demonstration of affection was his
favorite joke, aid kissing Billie"
was always the signal for pande.
monium. If she remained calm he
would quickly tire of the gentle pas
time. but her kicks and threats and
howls always spurred him on.
$50 way from me. Jack Golden! If
you touch me Ill--rll let the cat have
your white rat: I've warned you now."
walled Billie, edging backward around
the table so as to keep a defiant front
to the enemy.
Just one kiss, Belinda, on those fair
brow" insisted Jack, advancing eau
tiously, and obstructing the path he
had travelled over by dragging chairs
across it When the collision was i'm
minent.' Billie gained a rescue by hear
ing her fathers step on the porch.
''I'd advise you to unlock the doors
this minute, Jack, my love, there's
father"
The altered condition of affairs i'm
pressed their father even before he en-
tered the house. The fragrance from
the wet flowers greeted him kindly. and
replaced the remembrance of the dusty
office He wondered further at the
bright appearance of his younger chill
dren; he wondered at the unusual neat
ness of the pretty dining-room. and at
the inviting cleanliness of the flower
decked tea-table. He wondered at the
grace of his eldest daughter, whose
winsome face recalled her dead
mothers; aud as he wondered, his heart
softened.
At the table the children were angels
of propriety. Never had Baby Pitcher
been sweeter, nor Billie quieter, nor
Jack more manly.
But the greatest surprise came when
the table was cleared and the lights
were lighted: for their father, instead
of leaving them abruptly as was his
wont, took little Pitcher upon his lap,
and sat with them. and with positive
contertment upon his face asked Dora
to play for him.
Trem bling with pleasure. she obeyed; |
but with her happiness there was
great deal Of penitence mingled. for she |
was saying TO herself:
II have been wronging father, for /
thinking him unloving and impatient /
with rs. it has been my fault, FL my /
fault"
She played very well, and as the /
chords of her music ribrated through /
the air. they filed the hearts OF the lis |
teners with peace and rested upon them
like a blessing. But Billle's prosaic na-
ture felt uneasy.
This is far too blissful to last" she
was thinking Well cool of by de- /
grces and this day week viii find u.
ten times worse than wc were this
morning / have my doubts OF it all"
But as it frequently happens that
wholesome fear OF relapse is the bes.
safeguard against its approach. i; is
just possible that Billie NAV hare
been mistaken Marion Hill, il Youths
Azure. bazar. chess, lilac, sash, /
=