The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-04-02

"He can please himself q heap better"
but to Roscoe" Nina said stubbornly.
At once Mr.. Topmark sat bolt upright,
saying between gulps of ice cream:
81 kin tell him it's mighty waste
of eyesight fer him ter look that way"
"Why, brother, what can you mean?"
Mrs. Winfield asked, her face apprehen-
sive, but avidly curious With half shut
eyes he replied:
"Nothin, only he CANT have Rob Nc
Gregor, an she shan't have him."
"You mean not if we can help it, {"
Alice said coolly. 81 agree to that,
Uncle Ben; but are we certain they will
marry us?''
"You must tend ter Jack. She'll
have the chance of me-yes, a hundred
times over" Mr.. Topmark said logged
~. "That reminds me, Sis Sarah, eff
you CANT find nothin better ter do than
tryin ter set my children ag'inst her 1
wish you'd leave 'em alone. won't
have nothin in her dispraise from no.
body, least of all my own fam 'ly."
81 have told mommer all along she
was the sweetest, incest girl in the coun-
ty," Miss Winfield began as her mother
sobbed out:
81 know Il have - said things -
brother - not so - very much - but -
but I'll never never let slip another
word eff only you'll promus-you-
won't never let-nothin turn you clean
inst-poor mel"
"Come, come, Sis Sarah. amt mad.
only little mite provoked" Mr. Top
mark said. his face clearing. "Stop cry
I thought if he had been preaching
straight at your wife he could not have
come nearer her case. That was at morn
ing service. That night it was young
Brother Rose, the wonderful, poor fell
low who died next year of yellow fever.
He had gone as a nurse, you know. I
sat with my heart in my ears. 1t did
seem to me God had specially set his
servants to comfort my poor dear When
they called mourners, it was heartbreak-
ing to see her. Her head was hanging,
her face all white, but she got up and
went with the rest, and Just had to go
and kneel by her and put my arms
around her. l wanted to comfort her.
but not word came. knew afterward
it was Gods grace kept me dumb. Old
Sister Jackson prayed first. Oh. what a
prayer it was! And when we got up
from our knees my poor dear's face was
like the shining ones, but still she never
said word. But I shouted-shouted
out loud-something never did before
or since. And then she caught my hands
and said, just like little child, oh,
Betsy, Betsy, God has taken away my
sins!'"
81 rememberp' Mr.. McGregor said
huskily. 81 hope it is not irreverent;
but, Sister Payne, can but feel that
when we meet in heaven it will be just
like that night. have not long to wait
now. My only care, my dearest hope, is
that when meet her it will be in full
knowledge that our baby is coming after
me"
"Rob's dear, good child. You need
not fret. She is her mother over again."
Mrs. Payne said, alphabetically pat
ting his thin hand. 81 did not think
she would be. She had all the McGreg-
or favor when she was little. But now
why, I'd know her for Helen's daugh-
ter among thousand. The main differ
ence is she is prettier. There was no.
body in all the crowd today to think Of
setting beside her. have got daughters
of my own, and they are not ugly girls,
but they can't compare with your girl
no more than the rest.
Jack made Mrs. Payne his best bow.
The young folks had fallen silent, lis
tening to their elders. "You are the
wisest woman know" he said "But,
Mrs. Payne, please tell me where Rob
has hidden herself. No, don't think
ever of saying Miss Rob. You see, I've
raised her partly. She belongs to me, is
my little-sister, hating perceptibly
over the word, "and have big scold-
ing for her. She had no business setting
up as a young lady full fledged, with
beaus and all that, entirely without
my leave.'
"Oh, hadn't she?' Rob called from
the door back of him. "Well, Jack, the
scolding must wait. / am too happy
just now to quarrel, even with you. But
when / am all by myself again, as blue
and miserable as a frost bitten rosebud
it's only that way I'm ever like a
rosebud-why, then we will begin, and
l shall give you back scorn and railing
with interest,""
"But what shall we do tonight?"
Jack queried, with show of intense
anxiety. Rob laughed lightly as she
said:
Tonight? Oh, tonight you are to
have supper with us, and an extra lump
OF sugar in your coffee, and two hot
waffles, in place Of one, to reward you
for the noble way in which you did
your duty toward unprotected woman
hood today"
Don't make sport of somebody who
wants to be our friend and can be q
mighty helpful one," Jack said so low
that only Rob heard It, She shook her
head willfully and ran to lead her ia
Their in to the table, where she kept up
a flood Of laughing chatter throughout
the meal Jack got no chance to say a