The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-02-15

into the scope OF the picture; but
wished the child hadn't grown 80 pre-
ternaturally grave. What you got in
the box?' he said. I'll show you in a
minute If you keep quiet answered.
Now, quite stilll' just as put my
finger to the button, cuckoo in the
copse began to call. The child lifted
his curly head and listened rapturous-
ly. Its my Bird he said; but just be-
fore he spoke had pressed the kodak
button. Some one shouted 'Billyp from
the cottage, and the child scrambled
down from the gate. Here's your
shilling said. He turned back,
thrust his small hand through the
white fence for his prize, and scam
pered off with it.
II had only short holiday that
year; and on my way home, going from
Thorpe to Trenton, | took wrong
turning, and found myself near Finley
again. I didn't really care, for had
made my forty-eight exposures, and
wasn't looking for anything new. 1t
was furiously hot the morning saw
the picture cottage for the second time.
l came on it from behind the hill at the
back, and saw that the place was in
reality small farm. I dare say they'd
give me glass of milk, l thought; and
by way of making short cut, l
climbed wall and dropped on the
other side. But I came down on a
wobbly stone lying in ditch, lost my
balance, turned my ankle, and lay
cursing dismally for some minutes.
Then limped up to the house. There
was no one about, and yet it wore an
inhabited air. l knocked at side
door, and leaned heavily against the
Intel. No one came. limped round
to the front. My little friend wasn't
hanging over the gate this time. l
went into the porch and knocked again.
The door was opened-a woman of
about fve-and-thirty, looking very i'll,
thought, stood there waiting to know
my errand.
Can get some one here to go for
fly? I've sprained my ankle, and
There's nobody here, she said, and
shook her head unsympathetically. l
had horrible fear that she was going
to shut the door in my face
Can you let me have glass Of
milk" l said. / wanted nothing in
the world so much as an excuse to sit
down.
Yes, suppose so, she said, indif.
ferently. Come this way
II followed her into the kitchen.
She gave me a chair and went out. l
sat nursing the injured ankle TIL she
came back with the milk.
81 passed here about ten days ago.
! said, ON my way to Trenton
g Did you% said the woman, IN
stupid way. She turned to the window
and sat down on low stool by mar
ket basket. l saw she had been Smelling
peas when knocked.
g 4 noticed your garden particularly.
l haven't seen finer one this year.
:" No, it amt bad, she said, dropping
the fat pass into pail at her side.
They battered down like hailstones.
How far shall have to walk be-
fore can get trap 1 SAID.
!" Nothing this side O. Tarver's, l
should think
How far is tnat!
:" Bout half a mile l almost
groaned aloud. 1 couldn't walk it.
Somebody must be found who would GO
and treat with Tarver for me.
Isl sow little boy swinging on the
gate when l passed some days ago
1.-The woman turned her head so
sharply in my direction that l stopped
short. 1t was only an instant's inter-
ruption. The face was averted again,
and the peas began to hail against the
tin.
"'Isn't he here now?' asked.
1.-THE woman shook her head. 1t was
very warm. The perspiration stood In
beads on her forehead. She lifted her
arm. and passed the sleeve of her print
gown over her face. l set the empty
glass on the table at my elbow, and
took out my purse. noticed the wom-
ans quick hands were idle again, and
her head bent down. She's very i'll,
thought. She can't go to Tarver's,
but
"rll be glad to pay anybody half
crown who'll get me fly / said, aloud.
DO you know Of"
"She had lifted her head and looked
at me.
"'wss it you gave him the shillin'%
"'Gave who?'
"'Billy, my boy. You said you saw
him swingin' on the gate. Was it you
gave him new shillin'Y
"'Oh, believe did, l said.
ssThe sunburnt face worked, and
dropped on her folded arms.
"tWhat happenedP' said, after
pause.
"She sat up and stared vacantly
through the window.