The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-27
THE MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
OF NEW YORK.

high with scenes and shOrtbread. He
wondered what foes" were. for he
hadn't any; he thought they must be
the servants who handed round the
plates.
Goodness and mercy all my life shall
surely follow me. The sad, patient
tune Grannie had taught him sounded
almost triumphant, as the childs
strong treble voice rang out. When he
had finished his father leaned his head
against the little rounded shoulder.
and there was silence save for the
mans quick breathing.
Good night. dad" said Angus at
last. turning himself 10 see his father 5
face.
Thomas Warden rose hastily; he laid
the boy in his little white bed, kissed
him and blessed him. and went down
and SAT- in the study again. But man
cannot dine in his fishing boots. so he
went upstairs. had a bath. and while he
dressed Angus discoursed cheerfuIly u
him through the half-Opened DOOR,
The silence was Unbearable: il was
so lonely Thomas Warden could not
sleep. He got UP and walked about the
room. Only L o'clock? The night had
hardly begun.
Inc llOfh Slltllt bAA-AAct4ANlN sb-At N4A-
wind blew sharply through the open
easement. May nights are cold in the
North county.
He went into the dress.ng-roCm AMI
looked at Angus If she had only low
ed the boy-if she had only loved the
boy" He could have forgiven her all
the rest a just and tolerant man. he
knew his own limitations. He granted
to the full his wife's intellectual super
iority: but she might have loved the
bOy?'
1T was true; ne could live no other.
But the boy-why did she not love the
bOy?'
He drew up the blind. and the mellow
moonlight fell on the sleeping child.
Surely he was a goodly child. SO come
Iy. and kindly. and honest. As he look
ed at the boy his heart went out To
him He did not stOOp and kiss him as
a woman would have done; he rever-
enced too much this fair sleep which
wrapped him round He went back to
his own room and got a pillow. Then.
laying his long length on the floor be-
side the little bed. and with the child's
psalm still sounding in his ears, he.
too. slept.
The room was flooded with moonlight
when Angus awoke. There was sound
Of regular and heavy breathing. An
gus felt puzzled-puzzled. but not in the
least afraid. S-ch breathing must come
from a man or a dog; from men and
dogs the child had experienced nothing
but kindness. He sat up, and. listening.
looked about to see where the sound
came from. He shook his hair back
from his forehead. and rubbed his eyes.
Yes, he was not mistaken; it was his
father who lay there, on the floor be-
side his bed
Angus rose softly and touched his
fathers bare feet: they were very cold.
Poor dad" he said TO himself, and
him so tired,'
Then suddenly he remembered his
uother's words You must take care
of father" 1t was bad 10 sleep without
covering. Grannie had told him that.
He pulled his little quilt OFF his bed and
laid it lightly on his father. To his de-
light the sleeping figure never stirred.
but the quilt was short, and Thomas
stretching would it cover both his
shoulders and his feet-pooT cold feet
Then Angus was seized by an inspira-
tion. which even his mother could -aet
have called quite commonplace. He lay
down at his fathers feet. and, unbut-
toning the jacket of the new sleeping
suit. ne cuddled up. 50 that the cold
! feet rested on his own warm breast.
Then he, too, fell asleep.
The kindly moon shOne in upon them.
and it was very still
When Thomas Warden awoke the
moonlight had changed to pearly dawn.
He was no longer cold. and when be
realized why was no longer lonely.
A mans tears are complex things
| London Outlook.