Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-11-21


a widow and left one child, a boy, tw
years old The writer, . neighbor I
the dead woman, went on 10 say Il
could care for the child no longer, On
II his relatives did not come for him /
would be sent TO the poorhouse. JOSEF
pondered the matter = day and = nigh
lie then coolly proposed sending Il
the child and adopting it His vii
fatty refused. What-a child, . tw
year old baby, to make litter on h,
clean floors and upset her orderly pla
Of life?
You must be crazy, Joseph" sh
said, severely. III 1t was a girl, nov
and big enough to be out from undo
foot might think Of it. But thel
haint no use talking about It,"
Joseph Busby rarely opposed h
wife, even In SO small . matter as tall
ing when she babe him be silent How
ever, this time he said:
1--WE air growen old, Mirandy. Th
baby would be something to love us.
These words came back to Mrs. bul
by ~ she bent over the wash tub. Di
she and Joseph need something to Low
them? She thought Of the ramblin
old house with Its many rooms, OF tn
fertile acres surrounding 1t, and OF Tn
comfortable bank account. Then he
mind wandered to the distant GENE
terry where a white marble eros
marked her baby's grave
II couldn't give Leah's place to an
other" she whispered. 'And yet h
might make a place Tor himself Oh
my baby, l miss her still"
Withdrawing her hands from tn
suds, Mrs Busby crossed the slttinl
room ana entered the parlor' NO ON
knew, not even her husband nov
many troublesome questions TN
mother settled before her chllds pic
ture.
She opened the blinds and LOOKED
long and earnestly at the Laughing
baby face.
DO you want me to, deary' sh'
asked tearfully. do you want me u
take q noisy, troublesome boy into thi'
home? Is 1T IN idol, Leah my want
ing everything SO quiet and orderly?
Ten minutes later she was back NJ
her washing The parlor blinds were
closed and all things were as they hac
been excepting Mrs l'nsby's eyes
there was new iight IN the'r gray
depths. AL hai1-past nine the ias'
clothes were on tne me neturnihl
from hanging 'oe'h "u'' ''i' iusos
found a neighpor' Mr vance, ~ inc
door
I'VE peei' Gown 70 .he s,a',oh, NC
said and the eight O'Clock 'ra'n
brought papy lor you or husoy'
rather
"A what' demanded MIS- busol'
Catching her nrea'h'
"a Dahy. ~ was pam 10 see III
Mr. Vance was enjoying Tue situation
"A woman VINO WIS EolhH easI oii i"
visit brought 1t from Kansas salu IL
belonged to some OF bnspys iolks.
Sho left 1T III care OF the t'cket agent
and he sent 1t over ny me us down
to the road III my wagon "no" .r"nA'
too. Inc little 'ellow mas crie" hos'
ever since the women iei' nim'
Mrs. Busby took down her green
gingham snnbonnet and prepared TO
follow him ont to the wagon without
a word
"Was yon expecting it"' MI Vance
asked, somewhat disappointed at her
quietness.
mot to-day" she replied, briefly.
1t was plump but tcar'stained lit
tie face that met her eager gaze
There were great blue eyes a rosy
mouth and closcly-curlins yellow hair
But the child was Enthusiastically dirty
and began crying again in a piteous
fashion.
Mrs. Busby held up her arms
"Come to auntie, dear" she said coax
ingly. You want some bread and
milk, don't YOU and to see the dear
little chickcns''
At the same leisurely gait OF the
morning Mr. Busby again traversed
the path from the barn to the house.
line OF snowy clothes dry
Ing in the sun brought to his mind the
conversation Of the morning, but he
expected no reference to 1t from his
wife. A surprise awaited him. Tho
table was laid for three, and at the
guests place stood clumsy little
high chair that for twenty years had
stood empty In an upper ROOM And
On the floor sat a happy faced child
surrounded by clothes-pins empty
bottles, a disused candlestick and o
like collection of impromptu play
things,
"Who-who Is that, Mirandy?"
Joey Hale Busby," was Miranda's
prompt reply, and picking UP the
,hild she put 1t In her husbands