The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-02-10

pole under it.
Now if you have any trouble
some young brothers and sisters
you'd like to get rid Of temporarily,
why just send 'em along. I'll take
charge of them and deliver them
safely over to yCd at noon"
ooh, if you only would" said.
Mary. They are SO fretful this
morning, and in my way all the
time"
It was with gh of relief that,
few minutes later she saw Jack
aud the two boys ana one girl pass
Jog down the road. She got her
work along bravely, and just as dim
nec was all ready and her father had
come in, JacE, true to his promise,
left the three children at the door
and wen homo without stopping to
speak.
The ca.llren gave glowing &C
counts O: their walk. and Jacks
goiog to make US kite aud fly it
tn nexs win iy day, they eadel.
Nearly every Gay after that Jack
took the children off into the woods
and ields, giving Mary a vacation
from their nose. When he went to
get them, or when he brought them
back, hs always found some little
thing to do to hep her.
Then one Sunday he dressed with
unusual care, looking remarkably
fresh and clean, too, and went to
church and Sunday-scbo Dol. After
ward he walked home with Mary,
holding her su1.shaie over her care
fully all the way.
Mr. Ha!lett staid at home with
the children Sundays, aud it was
rather tiresom for him. So when
he saw Jack coming he frightened
up and urged him to stay to dinner.
Jack consented, much to MIR. Hall
ett's satisfaction and the children S
boisterous delight. Mary's father
dearly loved to talk and Jack ap-
peared to enjoy listening equally
well.
After dinner Mr.. Hallett went in
to the sitting room and fell asleep II
his chair, while Jack insisted or
wiping the dishes for Mary. The
children swarmed about him and go'
ia his way, till he declared that they
were as bad as cats, and he woulc
have to sprinkle them and see i
they would not clear out then
When the dishes were done anc
Mary had taken off her apron, Jacl
began to notice signs of uneaslnesi
in her manner.
about time for Bert" he said t.
himself; then aloud: Il should thin
you'd go crazy with these nois
youngsters around all the time. In
going to take them away and yoI
can rest, instead of working as yol
usually do"
Down the road they went, an
were hardly out Of sight in on
direction before Bert Hill appeared
from the other. He, too, was dress
ed with particular care, but thougl
there was no denying that he wa
handsomer than Jack, there was
certain set to his jaw and kind o
fierceness in his dark eyes whic
were not progressing These soft
ened when he greeted Mary, and b
became very agreeable.
But Mary for some reason felt VI
easy aud hoped he would not as
where the childrel were. She ais
dreaded their return. What woult
Bert say when he saw Jack!
But when the children came
was quite late and Jack did not az
pear. Mary got them bread an
butter, for which they clamored vot
iferous'y, and then at Bert's reques
walked up and down the road wit
him for half an hour while he smok
ed strong cigar.
After he had gone she sighe
YEARLY. She felt dissatisfied wit
herself; and the children, as she pu
them to bed, irriated her by thei
constant repetition of Jacks nam'
/ Later she sat in her own room an