The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-29
IN GAFFER,s LIBRARY.


 the coast clear. Kit seized her little hand, and they sped down the long pas sage to the red baize door which swung heavily, but did not latch, shutting off the nursery quarters from the house,
 Kit was a person of dramatic in- stlnots, and as they ran down the pas sage she quotes in a deep and awful voice: "The tiger is fearful beast; he comes when you expect him least" Addison gazed fearfully over his shoul- der and ran at the top of his speed.
 At last by a mighty effort they pushed open the heavy red door, and the staircase and the house lay before them for exploration. It was @ very wide staircase, black and shiny and slippery, and as they went down their little feet made pattering noise which seemed to echo and multiply in the si- lent house. Kit turned and said "IIush!" in reproving voice to Addi- son, who was, like Agag, walking deli cately, on the banister side. II can't hush any more than I'm doing!" he re- piled in an injured tone. 'I must put my feet down firm or I'd skate!"
 Come on'' said it. Lets go and see if Jakes is in the dining and he'll tell us what's for luncheon!"
 They crossed the stone-fagging hall, and Kit opened the dining-room door and marched boldly in. There was no one there; the big room was wrapped in silence, and Addison felt very small and timid as he stood on the threshold. Not so Kit she walked boldly up to the table, which was laid. There was a 70 11 tLn fop and many flowers; but it's appearance was evidently most displeasing to Kit, for she exclaimed angrily:
 Look here, Addison! Just look here! Jakes has only laid luncheon for one!" Even the mild and gentle Addison was reused to something like indigna- tion at this tremendous intelligence. To have breakfast and tea in the nur- sery is an understood thing; but lunch eon-who ever heard of well-con- ducted child having luncheon anywhere but in the dining-room, once he or she could hold spoon and fork? It was abominable; it had to be seen into at once.
 Kit gave an indignant sniff, saying: q know it isn't Jakes; it's Mama. She'd go and say we could have lunch con with her till Miss Mercer came; but I'll go and speak to grandpa at once; it's shame; I won't stand it. Come on.''
 The obedient Addison trotted after Kit across the hall with some alacrity. He hadn't seen much of grandpa; but what he had seen he liked How still the old house was! No sound to be heard but the drip, drip of the rain on the ivy outside the windows, and the szzle and fizz of the big logs in the great stone firepflace.
 The children looked upon "Nanas" and their like as necessary evils. They divided mankind into two classes, which they called respectively "the dears'' and ''the deafs" To the "dears'' belonged father and mother, all fath- CTS friends and most of mothers; Gaf- fer's servants; orderlies-particular orderlies-and grooms. To the "deafs" belonged nurses, governesses, cross gardeners, and great many young women who wore smart frocks and were affectionate in public. These lat ter were called "deafs" not because of any defect in their aural arrangements. but simply because the children con- sidered them incapable of discussing anything interesting. Stupid people!" Kit was wont to observe, "who ask you how old you are and who fetch stale cake out of tin boxes, and ones got to eat 1t for politeness' sake Oh, hate deafs!''
 When Kit reached the study door she knocked, but there was no answer. Mother says he never hears if he's writing,'' she whispered; Tets go i'm come on!' So she turned the handle of the door and went in. Grandfather was writing. His great knee-hole table was piled with open books, and he had on his gold-rimmed spectacles. He never looked up as Kit shut the door softly behind her For one thing, doors never creaked in grandfather's house.
 The children stood inside the door and waited, but he never looked up. Come on,'' said Kit, as, holding Addi- son by the hand, they walked leisurely across the room till she stood close by their grandfather; then she said in a loud and cheerful voice:
 "Good morning, Gaffer; we've come to see you!"
 We've come to see you!" echoed the ever-obedient Addison. Grandfather
  the name "Gaffer' was so delightfully."- inappropriate that he encouraged the children to use it when they spoke to him.
 "Oh, you've come, have your" he said, taking off his spectacles and turn ing himself in his heavy revolving chair toward the children. And how are you, my dears? Did you sleep long af- ter your long journey?"
 It did not take long to install child on each knee. Addison gazed at him in adoring silence, but it hastened to un- bosom herself of her wrongs. "I've come to complaint" she began with dig nity They've only laid luncheon for you in the dining-room. Now, I know you'd like our company. Mother said we were to keep you company--will you give orders about it?'
 Gaffer seemed duly impressed, as he said: 'I will give orders at once. Of course, you are to have luncheon with me while you are here. It's pity it's so wet for your first day, but it's nice to think that those dear people are go- ing further and further away from the fogs and damp. It will do mother so much good to be in warm climate, and you must try not to feel dull without