Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-07-20

InlnK III over, SAID Aunt Mile.
But I've written he returned,
frightening little.
couldn't you write again?"
~ suppose So"
81 hope | haven't made you angry,
Frederick" she said, as he rose to go.
"Oh, no." he answered somewhat
shortly
That night at supper there was hard
ly word spoken. Jabez never talked
at meal times. Fred was thinking. He
looked at Annie furtively. Her eyes
were red, and he thought she did not
eat much.
When she began to wash dishes, he
took the dish towel away from her.
She looked at him in establishment.
II can wipe them, she said, huskily.
$50 can l." Fred answered.
He did not sleep much that night.
The next morning after breakfast he
followed his father out to the barn.
He was gone long time. When he
on his face; satisfaction, regret, re-
sentiment and high resolve. He got
the writing materials and sat down at
the dining table. Annie was pairing
apples. She watched him closely.
Want to send any word to Joe?" he
asked, looking up, Pm writing to
him."
"Send my love-" she said, and bent
over the apples. Fred noticed, and
smiled
"Want to read it?" he asked
Yes" she said. "Pll wash my
hands first"
She took the letter and began to
read.
Poor little girl" Fred thought, as
he looked at her woe-begone face.
The woe-begone expression did not
stay long. She looked up quickly, and
saw him smiling at her.
She opened her lips to speak, but
choked instead. She threw her arms
around his neck and Rugged him
tight; it was his turn to choke then.
"Oh, I'm so glad" she sobbed. at
would have killed me-"
Fred had to write the letter over
again, it was so crumpled up in the
embrace.
This happened the last of May.
When Fred told Aunt Mile about it
the old lady looked pleased, and when
he told her something else she laid her
knitting down deliberately, walked
over to him, took his face between her
hands and looked into his eyes.
IF you do it," she said, you're a
regular Well, We'll wait and see. 4"
Then she kissed him.
What are you reading?" asked An
ME one evening.
"A very interesting book" answered
Fred, gravely.
She looked over his shoulder. "The
cook book?"
"Why not?"
Don't feed you enough? Are you
hungry"
IL have enough to eat, but want to
learn to cook, VIII you teach me?"
Annie laughed. Get few more
who want to learn, and I'll start a
cooking school"
Fred looked serious. I'm not jok-
ing" he said. Please take me seri-
ously for once VIII you teach me to
COOKE
What do you want to cook for?"
81 have feeling that perhaps am
a born cook. Who knows but what
may be the genius of the family
Think of the salary French chef gets,
and do not, beg of you, refuse to give
me my first lesson"
IF you are in earnest, you can come
and mix up the bread" and Annie
whisked off her apron and held it out
to him.
Fred sprang to his feet and caught
the apron from her hand.
why don't you have the strings
longer?"
They are long enough for me. Here
I'll pin it with two pins"
Fred brought rockingham from
the sitting-room, and made Annie ST
in it, "Now, tell me everything tc
do
Fred took great pride in that bread
for it turned out we'll, and after thai
he insisted on making all the bread.
His success was not so good witt
other things When Annie gave hin
minute directions he got along al
right, but when he tried to go alone
he met with mishaps
Fred kept his temper, and studied
the cook book diligently. Sometimes
he would take his perplexities to Aun
Mile
Say, Aunt Mile! made an old
fashioned johnnycake this morning
and when tried to turn it over it al
fell to pieces; what made 1t do that?
Did the water boil when you put i
into the meal?"
Not quite"
That is what's the matter"
Then the next time he saw her h
, would say; II had the water boilin,
this time, and the johnnycake was
| number one"
) Fred did not devote all his energie
, to the art of cooking. He worked witt
, his father a part of the time, AM
| Annie noticed, with surprise ant
: pleasure, how well they got along to
: gether,
5 One evening in July, Fred said t.
/ Annie; "IIow long is it since you hav
| been to see Mary Slocum2"
: Mary Slocum was one of Annie
friends, who lived in the next town.
81 have not been there to stay an,
r for two years"
Haven't You got standing invita-
ton to go there and stop month";"
YES, but"
l Then write to her this very nigh
l and tell her you are coming next Fri
day to spend a week with her."
"Uow can | leave?"