Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-01-14

i
"Trotty," he said, appearing ut the
cottage door almost before the sound
OF her mothers footsteps had died
away, please come up into the shop
with me-"
The child was used to waiting on
customers who came for shoe strings or
some of the little stock of fancy goods
which her mother kept in connection
with her regular work and thought
that this was some farmer who knew
her, but whom she had forgotten.
Small as she was, she took up the key
unhesitatingly, and, without speaking
to her brothers, who were making a
wild noise in the woodshed at their
play, she preceded him over to the
shop.
There was snow on the ground, and
the air was chilly, but little fire was
left in the shoemaker's tiny stove.
The man stopped down and, taking a
fresh stick Of wood from the box,
opened the stove and put It in. The
child looked surprised at his fami-
liarity. When he shut to the stove
door with click, she waited for him
to speak,
Then he said brokenly, "Trotty-my
little Trotty-don't you know me?"
and held out his arms to her.
"Are-are you my para?"she cried,
delightedly, and she flew to him, nest
ling happily against his shoulder.
Eyes," he sobbed, while she re-
peated over and over, "Papa-my
papa" and stroked his shaggy beard.
'Im glad you've come" she said,
presently.
"But your mamma, Trotty9 What
will she Think"
The child remembered what her
mother had said and shook her head
doubtfully. Then she frightened.
"Ifyou should put your arms around
her and kiss her like this, I think, I
think" but then she shook her head
again, as she thought of what her
mother had said.
His face grew sadder than ever.
81 want to come home and live with
you all again, Trotty," he said, piteous-
ly. "How shall We manage it? What
can / do?"
He went on to tell her OF the
Christmas presents which he had
brought for them all--''and tomorrow
is Christians, but dare not come and
give them to you," he added.
ooh, yes, you do. You dare do any
thing" she broke forth after gazing
at him fxedly for a moment. Trotty
was very human, and the thought of
the Christmas presents may have aided
her ingenuity.
The words seemed to pierce his soul.
He put her down and began to walk
the floor. His head was raised, and his
step was firm.
Eyes, Trotty-I do dare" he said,
presently. Don't tell anybody-not
even your brothers-that l have been
here, but / will be back by and by"
Then he hurried away, and as he
walked he kept saying to himself
ayes, that is the only way. She des-
pises me because ! am coward; will
be coward no longer will show
her that am brave man, / will own
my fault, aud believe she will not
resist me.
The supper was almost over that
night when there was knock at the
door. Trotty had been listening for
it, and she sprang up in an instant
"Good evening"" said John Web
ster, Strengthening his tall figure and
stepping boldly over the threshold.
GOOD evening, Harriet. I've come
back. You must take me. / was sick,
and think that must have been the
reason why | deserted you so basely.
1t was wrong, but / am sorry from my
soul-and You must forgive me, Har-
riet. l cannot live any longer with
out you and the children. You must
take me back. "
In the woman's face the Christmas
JOY had been playing, hut now she
grew pale and stern. She had pic
tured her husband always as the
cringing, weak man who had left her
three yeats before. This newcomer.
in spite of his bearded face, recalled
to her the lover of her Youthful of
health and hope. She would not even
own to herself how she was shaken.
SEQ away she said, waving her
hand toward the dor. "You chose
another path from ours, and now you
can walk in it. We do not need you.
We don't want you. Col"
The youngest child began to cry.
Little Trotty cameup beside her father
and held tight to his coat tails, gazing
at her mother with white face and
wide, beseeching eyes.
"No, Harriet" he said, calmly, and
retreating not step, ''the time for
that is past You must not shut me