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

the strange gentleman gave him the
shillin'. | might q done it, too, but he
stopped cryin' all Of q sudden, an said:
why, Of course, nanny, know why
he did tit was because my cuckoo
sang for him, an l KEEP quiet SO he
could hear" / knew that was Just
Billy's nonsense, but didn't beat him
oh, I'm glad / didn't beat him
II waited till she found her voice
again." Thomson said, after pause as
an excuse for the sudden failure of his
own.
1.-THE woman explained" he went on,
shat Billy had climbed up the labur-
nun tree that same afternoon. He
lost his hold, she said, AN the doctor
says he must "a fell on his head; he
died that night.
81 muttered something stupid about
sympathy. She went on Smelling the
peas. Looking vaguely around, I
caught sight of child's photograph in
a frame on the opposite wall.
ISIS that a picture of your boy? I
asked.
) "'No, no. said the woman, that's
my sisters child, and he amt dead,
neither! We never had a picture of
Billy. That seems to make it worse,
somehow. tell my husband believe
1 could bear 1t better if had picture
of him.
"'Why, 1 took picture Of him" In
my excitement 1 started up and
wrenched my unhappy ankle. sank
back faint with pain.
"'You took picture of my Billy!
She was standing beside me when I
opened my eyes.
eyes er-of the house. He was at
the gate, you know
"'Thank God!' the woman said, shak-
ing her clenched hands pitifully.
Thank Godl Thank God"
"'But it may not come out right 1
said, cursing myself for having raised
hopes that my kodak might not justify.
You see, it isn't developed. l can't tell
how
"'Oh, you must make it come out
right, sir! Where is it?' The hard,
sunburnt face was quivering.
ats here, in this'-I motioned
towards the kodak at my side. She
kneeled down before it with clasped
hands, like a penitent before shrine.
"'You'll show it to me, sir-just for
a minuter
~ can't just now-it isn't devel-
oped.
"'But just let me see if it's my Billy.
Oh, please, sir! If you knew, if you
knew
"I'll let you have it as soon as it's
ready 1 said. 1T would be spoiled if
took it out now
"Td be very careful said the wom-
an. She got up eagerly and instinct
lively wiped her rough hands on her
apron.
"'No, it's the light, you see, that
would spoil it. 1t must be kept in the
dark, tried to explain, but she evil
IDENTIFY wasn't listening. She kept
looking down at the kodak with super
stitious awe.
"Some one passed the window. She
looked up. They've got back! she cried,
breathlessly, and ran to the door in
the scullery. She was talking excited
ly about Billy's picture when she came
back with two men. 1t was her hus-
band and her young brother, home
from market. We had soon arranged
that after dinner, when the horse was
rested, should be driven to Trenton
by my host, Mr. Peter Shall, and that
meanwhile 1 should go upstairs and lie
down, and let Mrs. Shall put cold water
bandages on my foot The pain had
become excruciating.
"a very comfortable room it was
that they put me in, and when Mrs.
Shall said my foot was badly infamed,
and that I had better stay where l was
for few days, wasn't at all unwill-
ing.
"'Will you show me the picture to-
night? she said, the moment the plan
was decided on.
"a light broke in upon me. 'Unfor-
tunately, haven't any developer with
me. l should have to send for some
"sYou can buy anything at Frenton,'
she said. Shall will go for you
"'Oh, should have to send to Lon
don.'
"'Shal will go for you,' she re-
peated.
"'As to that, the Eastman company
would send it. But l have everything
at home, and when get back
oh, if you please, sir, don't wait.
Shall will take telegraph If you'll
write it. I-I-you'l think me very
strange, sir, but she leaned over the
foot of the bed and lowered her voice
the truth is, l think I'll go clean out
of my mind if go on like this. It's all
about Billy, sir. You won't speak
about it to Shall, but seem to be for
getting how Billy looks. can't go to