Birmingham state herald., 1896-12-13

old, old prayer, said by how many gen. erations of children, but with an addi- tional and pathetic sentence in this case.
 Pray God bless dear father and mother and bring mother back to us all again."
 MT Armitage kissed his little one, and put her into her bed himself. And he told Mrs Cookson never to speak to his children again in the way she had done. And he learned from his eldest son. Ralph that little Katie had said this prayer all to herself for a long time, and that afterwards he and his brothers al- ways came upstairs to hear her.
 Father" said the lad breaking down, "why can't you let mother come again?'
 Yes, this was the biggest stab he had had, and it took him some time to re- cover. It was all so real. And one bright moonlight night, after he had seen all the lights out and the house locked up, he had descended into the drawing room to fetch a book, but stood in the darkness of the room looking out into the square garden. The figure of girl, dressed in the black-and-whi costume of housemaid, appeared crossing the road from the house next door. Evident ly she was going to the post.
 well, that is. curious" he unused. "How startingly like her walk! Bah! how stupid and morbid I grow in my loneliness! I am always imagining l see Kate-always, always imagining, but never realizing. What has become Of herr" The girl was walking back very slowly and with a dragging sort of step, as if she expected someone, thought MT. Armitage. She came opposite the house, and he could then see that she held her handkerchief to her face as if to protect it from the night air. She looked up and down the roadway, but if she ex pected some one there was no one in sight. And then she did curious thingi She held her handkerchief in her mouth, and stood a moment, only a moment, with clasped hands, looking toward the upper windows of the house. Then she hurried across the road, dropped thler handkerchief and stopped to pick it up, turned one swift glance up again to the house, and ran quickly down the ser wants entrance of the house next door
 "I believe that's Kate! l believe It's Kate. It isl it is! 1t is!'
 Daylight had glinted over the house. tops before Clarence Armitage left his vigilground and stole softly back to his deserted chamber.
 Next morning he was in a feverish, restless condition, uncertain what to do, what to think what to determine. He could not go to his office, he could not remain at home, he could not go out. What would happen that night? Could he get to speak to her? This was the cry that arose in his heart and kept up- leaping there all the dreary day long.
 
 were gone to their rest, and a full hour bsfore the last post time he took up his position just within the gateway of the square garden and just opposite to the pillar of the postoffice. Would she come? That was the eternal question asked and answered during this slowly moving hour. Yes, at last the black figure and white, flowing cap came along in the direction of the pillar box. Clar ence Armitage trembled and almost shook in his excitement: But a new event claimed him. As she approached the letter box and just after posting the letters she held in her hands, a man came around the corner, his evening dress showing underneath the half-open oyercoat, his step unsteady and gay. AS he approached the girl he seemed to re- cognize her.
 "Ah, Annie,' he said, "is it you, my dear? Come for walk"
 "No, sir--certainly not
 Clarence gave fearful start for it was his wife's voice.
 "Bosh and nonsense" replied the man. You must come. You are devilish goed-looking girl, Annie"
 lie had got up to the girl. and had taken hold of her arm--rougaly, too.
 No, sir: you mustn't talk like that, and you hurt me-.
 Hurt you? Nonsenser' was the reply, thickly spoken, partly from passion, part ly from drink.
 Let me go. You must let me ge!'
 Clarence Armitage stepped forward, and as the fellow took hold of the girls bodice in rude, rough fashion, he struck him full in the face, and then turned to his wife and hastily whispered:
 Don't cry out, darlingi 1 have been watching for you so long. some ha.ae to me again-come home! Come now, while there is yet time to get in quickly
 Kate Armitage stood dazed, but allow ed her husband to carry her rather than