Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-03-23

gratitude to jeans heart. 1t was to
see if these things were as bad as re-
port said that he had come.
He took Thrift up on his knee and he
talked occasionally to Jean.
''Can dae Onything for ye?" he said,
suddenly. "For the boy, We ken"
A little flush came in Jeans cheeks.
She faltered her thanks.
In rush of love for Thrift she be-
gan family to realize that she had not
appreciated this man as he deserved.
In the same moment she realized she
had thrown her chance away.
No idea that she might work on her
old lovers pity crossed her mind. She
began timidly asking him if he could
manage to send Thrift to the home he
had mentioned.
'Why moo, when ye were so set
against it?" asked John, with a sever
ity that was not reassuring.
Its circumstances" said Jean brief
ly.
She felt she would die rather than
let John Forbes know there was moth
ing in the house to eat and no money.
She would have risked everything but
the fear of Thrift falling i'll.
''Weel," said John slowly, 'I'll see
aboot it. But hoo wulI We pay me,
Jean?"
The little dressmaker drew herself
up.
''There'll be no fear O. that, John
Forbes"
"But ye hivna tell't me in fat wye,
JEAN"
''In honest money, by honest work.
The pink flush had deepened into
deep crimson on her cheek.
''But dinna want your money, and
as for wark, suppose We come and
wark for me-
INA, na," said Jean involuntariIy.
She has had her chance of being mis-
tress at the farm. She could not stoop
to work for another, as she supposed
he meant
''Weel, come wioot doing ony wark''
Jean looked at him in utter bewilder-
ment.
'The difference atween us lay in
Thrift If he gaes ava there's naeth-
ing need hinder your coming to the
farm"
Il dinna expec' ye'd think I meant
YOU" said the little woman. She was
thoroughly hurt. "I'lI thank We a the
days O my life if ye'll dae for Thrift,
but am no seeking to be beholden to
you for myself"
Yell be gey lonely wi'oOt Thrift
'Ay." Jean nearly smiled because
she was so near to tears at the thought.
III be lonely at the farm
''Ye can mairry," said Jean. She
suddenly felt she had cut herself off
from every possibility by her sugges-
ton. She had done it for Thrift all
along; she would have married him for
Thrift's sake, she gave him up for
Thrift's sake. Now Thrift by her own
act was to go away from her. And
John Forbes was nothing to her. The
unexpected touch of kindness had
brought rush of sympathy to her
heart. She did not know it, but it had
broken down the barrier that her love
for Thrift had built up round her
woman's heart.
cay" answered John Forbes slowly
"But We maun ask me this time,
jean
"Oh, couldna," faltered Jean. She
felt confused and trembling. She look
ed down.
And l Wilma, nae a third time"
''I'm no fit to be a Teddy noo,'' she
murmured.
Then she looked up. John saw in
her eyes look he had not seen for
more than the ten years.
''Jeanr'
''Johnr'
That was all the love-making that
passed between them, but they under
stood each other then.
When John went out, Jean seized
Thrift and kissed him as she had done
once before.
But she knew that for the first time
since he had come into her life he had
only the second place. She thought
she hid the fact in her inmost heart,
but John Forbes guessed it He had
the tact to hide his knowledge from
his wife For the tact that love brings
is often the highest wisdom.-All the
Year Round.