The evening times., 1898-09-03

low moan crept In through the keyhole
with such pitiful distinctness that the
old lady unbarred her fortress and found.
indeed woman with sealed eyes and
streaming hair crumpled in heap on the
steps. To drag her in was childS play
10 an enesetic savior like Aunt Pam. and
when at last the dramatically arrived
was able to give an account of the sur
prising circumstance that had upset her
from a stage coach into such kindly
arms, the diplomatic old soul, remember
ing Polly at ShantyviIle had already de-
termined 10 do her share towards upset
ting her again into Jacks. There was
school waiting somewhere in the NOUN
tains for its teacher from the East and
Miss Thomas made up her mind 1t should
wait.
One evening the two sat together In the
twilight, Aunt Pam in the glow Of the
fire and the girl al the window with her
eyes down the rough. stony road. Three
weeks, 1t might have been three years
since that lucky night. Miss Pam, watch
ing her visitor. who in turn watched the
darkening road wondered how she should
manage without her. how Jack should
manage without her If she should take
notion to grow restless and hail another
stage coach for that school uD in the
hills.
he SDOG SOUL Iteu llOl nave DOttitic'i
for the girl was gay, self-satisfied little
creature liking most things that came
away-among them Jack and mis- dim
pie. And, of course, Aunt Pam. Young.
and pink. and velvety. that was Miss
Pauline Davis, with braids and braids
| of copper-giIt hair. and a fresh. fearless
young voice that loved 10 hear itself sing
She was singing as she watched-singtnS
i'll low. confidential fashion that ought
l.,1I,
usual. except for-what was 1t that
shocked her out of her comfortable rev
erie and set her thoughts racing back
to that other Jack who loved her, and
was lost?
| "ill sail the ocean blue,
And come back, my girl, to you"
Don't honey cried out the little old
| spinster. with a catch in her voice that
was almost a sob. ut sounds pretty.
| but they never do come back. and il only
| breaks bOdy's heart to expect them.''
| Meaning sailors? Bless you, Miss
| Pam"-the girl turned to her with hu-
| morous interest in her bright young eyes
you mountain folks get your horrors
| from the papers. Sailors are all right.
You just ought to live along the coast and
| see the jackies swarIning there as plenti-
| full as the shells and sea sand. You see,
| / know, because my father followed the
| ocean in his single days and 10 the day of
his death never lived out of sight of the
| water. Many's the hour We have strolied
| along the beach with the waves booming
| at our feet and all the world smelling ot
| ditties from him and ne would reel off his
yarns to me and both Of US as happy as
| sand pipers-poor old dad.
| "Oh, tell you what. Miss Pam, sailors
are free and jolly lot: with a sweet
heart in every port and sometimes wives
accOrding-but that was the subject that
dad and | always run aground on. when
ne would up and 5rag about mis- love
| scrapes by the dozens and of promises
| withholding a saiIor-were naturally
made TO be broken. II was all right as
far as the frivolous ones went that flirt-
ed to match, but sure "a he would get TO
telling how one time he had sent word
home that he was drowned TO get rid Of
the girl he had grown up with and who
had promised 10 be MS wife just 50 sure
it would raise a squaN between Us. Il
seemed pitiful. don't you know. 10 think
of her waiting SO true, and dad disloyaI
like that
Aunt Pam. remembering the hero who
would not have acted 80 for kingdoms.
sighed softly in response.
You see Miss Pam" the girl went OF
in a gush OF domestic reminiscence. Dad
wasn't SO much to blame. after all. for
my mother was a regular sumner in tbs
Jheatrical way, and she picked him out
from dozens. And 10 show you how good
he was "a heart. he said 10 me at the
very last. when ] sat by his bed-he never
! got out of IL. poor dear-'My lass say
he. here's your old dad shipped for his
last cruise and a-wishing with all his
| heart that
that he was bound for home and Parmelia
on the Sea Shetland. Miss Pam said
the girl, going over 10 the listening figure
! in the freight. Dad told me something
else He said l was 70 take warning b,
him anf never 10 deceive them tina
trusted me, and here | am shamminu
right along. I've been feeling mean about
II from the start. because Srl-weII In
Polly from Shantyyiile and Jack saiJ
you would be sure to like me once Won
got 10 know me. and on. please won
you say something. if il is only to scoIt
me. dear Miss Pam
For all this time the elder woman haC
not spoken a word. She had moved he,
chair bit so that the light would MOI
shine on her face, that was all, and wher
Jacks step came trampirg up the patr
and the girl darted out 10 meet him. she
sat there looking more as if she had beer
dug up or quarr.ed out or rained down
than ever.
When they came in together and stood
before her waiting for their scolding thi.
Is what she sad-said it with such (
broken up, old womanish feebIeness in he
voice that it went 10 Jacks heart like 1
blow:
Because / can't help loving you. N!
lad. no matter what You do. and because
again. my dear'-with a wavering toucl
on Polly's strong young arm-you wer
sorry for that other girl whose love Wa
untrue. 1 forgive you both-for-Jack'
sake"
But she didn't mean the Jack with
dimple in his chin.
MAMIE LANCASTER.