The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-02-15
sob, it's In my room, she said,
looking little guilty; and she hurried

sob, it's In my room, she said,
looking little guilty; and she hurried
out.
~ hope it hasn't been tempered
with observed, when she came back
again.
"'No, indeed!' she said; but she
flushed under my glance. It's only
been settin' on my chest of drawers,
where could see it plain
81 asked her if she had a lamp with
red shade? Yes, SIR she said, and
started for the door.
"And bring in a couple of shallow
dishes, pudding or vegetable Dishes l
said, and pair of scissors
81 examined the kodak, but couldn't
detect anything amiss. Still, 1 was
full Of foreboding. The presentiment
that something had happened to the
particular picture wanted became al
most conviction.
SAT my direction the wooden shut
tiers were closed, and pair of blankets
and an eider-down quilt were put over
the window. The small, red-shaded
lamp gave out dim glow. On the
table at my side were the dishes and
the bath of a developer.
"Now you can go, Mrs. Shall, I
said. I'll call you when I'm ready
$50, sir!
":Yes, won't be very long
"sOh, you mustn't send me away,
sir she said. Let me stay, an I'll
help you. I can't go away an wait!
She began to sob.
II wished to the Lord was out of 1t.
But thought if the picture turns out
right, after ALL Well, began to
feel more hopeful.
1.-THE light was put behind the bed,
and opened the kodak, and took out
the roll of film.
where is it?' said the woman in a
whisper, peering forward in the dark.
81 think it's the third on this reel,
l said. Give me the scissors
''She fumbled about on the table.
'Heren she said. The word was hoarse,
and spoken with difficulty. The sound
of her voice made me nervous. What
an idiot had been not to send her out!
81 unrolled the film and cut through
the punctured lines. Where is the
picture?' said the voice across the table.
| was conscious that she was peering
into the empty kodak case.
"'I hope it's here said, miserably,
my presentiment coming back
!Where?'
''On this piece Of paper 1 me-
chanically laid down the third eX-
posture and returned the reel to the
case.
1.-The woman came nearer.
"'Please, sir, turn it overt she said
"'What?' I asked.
The paper
"'This, do you mean? picked up
the scrap of film.
'.It isn't there! 1t isn't there!"
The woman staggered back into the
darkness
'Wait. I said. we can't be certain
for few minutes. Don't go out. The
door mustn't be opened But l was
almost glad that she was prepared now
for the worst. l was as certain as if
had seen it that Billy's picture would
be failure.
Mrs. Shall was crying hoarsely in
the corner. What fool I'd been to say
anything about that snapshot l
poured the developer into dish, and
submerged the film. 1 washed the
liquid back and forth.
''Please bring the light nearer I
said. presently. Mrs. Shall got up and
set the lamp on the edge of the table
/ held up the film.
THAT ones turned dark said the
woman, hopelessly. | knocked down
the scissors with my elbow. She came
round, fumbled on the floor, and picked
them up. I had returned the film to
the bath, with a sense of infinite
thankfulness and relief Billy's pic
ture was coming up all right! As
washed the stuff back and forth could
see his whitethorn whip coming out
black and distinct, and above it!
Mrs Shall had laid down the scis-
sors, and was looking over my shout
der.
'.'That ones something like this
house. she said, drearily.
"'Look here!' 1 cried out, holding
the dish nearer the lamp. What do
YOU see there in front%
"She leaned over the table and stared
into the dish.
"'Yes, see fence, an shrubbery,
an gate, an wide collar, an face,
an'-oh, Lord! it's my Billy swingin'
on the gate!"
Thompson broke off at this point In
his story, and began to walk up and
down the room.
'They send me hamper full OF
flowers every year, on the anniversary
of the day saw Billy swinging on the
gate. haven't seen them since one