Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-09-26

bare window and fen fun upon the
dresser. The dishes shone weirdiy
against it. There on its old hook
Ianet's mug was still hanging. her
name on it. With sudden stab of
memory she thought of the night her
father had brought it home to her from
the winter fair at Carbie. coming in
from the wonderful darkness, with
snowhalSes on his coat, to his little girl
by the gruat fire; how bIithe has -,een
his dark eye. how CHEEKY and red the
middle of his cheek. She could still
feel his finger rough ard cold beneath
her chin and the beneliction of his
eyes looking down at her But now
ah, Christ!
Mrs. Goudie had put away in the
window sill her great Bible and her
heavy white trimmed spectacles atop
of it. Janet was stiIl standing.
sit doun," said her mother care
lessly.
JaAet sat down on the edge of a
chair close to the door Rab, the cat
she had reared, was sitting near her in
blank band of sunshine lying
athwart the flags, his legs propped in
front of him like two furry little pill
lars, his gray golden Sits OF eyes fixed
on the window Janet, feeling the con-
Straint of the silence, put out her hand
and, not daring to speak aloud. said
"Rabr in n choking whisper. Rab
turned and looked at her carrlessly
through his half shut eyes. Then he
rose ana walked, with lazy stretchings
of the hind legs, away over to the
hearth. There he sat down and stared
UP at Il blue wisp cf name blinking in
the crate. The monotonous tick of the
clock was the only sound in the wide
kitchen
Mrs. Goudie stood With her hand on
| the back of chair At first her eyes
gazed before her with the wide lool; OF
Il proud anger. ana her mouth was
hard. The glow fell upon her withered
face and revealed its dark aud stern
nobility. Presently her eyes narrowed
ana went away, and she seemed to be
musing. Then strange smile that
was not pleasant to look at appeared
about the corners of her mouth. But
she did not speak.
The light became more unearthly.
Il declare" said Mrs Goudie sud
denly, with false shrillness of voice
that made Janet vince; Il declare, it's
like the day o. Judgment, this." The
smile never left her lips.
Again was appalling silence. The
clock seemed to be ticking more and
more loudly. As Janet listened to its
slow metallic beat her heart sank low
er in her breast Where could her fa-
ther be? He was SO seldom out of the
kitchen at the cleaning. She turned
her head to see what o'clock it was.
The old yellow dial was shining with
eerie vividness.
All this time her mother had given
no sign either Of pity or resentment.
But
We'll" she said at last, always with
that ironic edge on her voice; well, we
had better gang butt the hoose, dye no
think?"
Janet rose passively without speak
ing. Now that her ordeal had come
she was too feeble to be sharply afraid.
She felt herself borne onward like
creature in the clutch of fate. She
was going to nee! her father. A bare
lobby with whitewashed walls ran
1AOhl tILG lLOlt huSI DGbNOtAl luG MUCH
en- and the parlor. A shaft of yellow
light struck in through an oblong slit
of glass above the door, falling straight
upon a row of pegs. ON one of these
was the farmers everyday hat, a
square hard felt, green gilt at the sides
with age. The level rays revealed n
thick coating of dust on 1T.
The mother opened the room door,
which fell to the right, and then stop
ped, speaking over her shoulder.
We've made changes here" she said
shrilly. as If showing alterations to
stranger. She pointed to bed, the
curtained head of which was close to
the door on the left. Janet had begun
to tremble.
She followed her mother into the
room. at first she could see nothing
because of the invading glory.
"There's your fetherT' said Mrs.
Goudie.
Janet turned her eyes from the light,
and there lay her father in his shroud
beneath the full glow of sunset.
The clock licked loudly in the
kitchen
A fringe of sandy whiskers stuck
out from the tight jaw bandage. There
were vivid hairs IN 1t, redly cleaning.
Janet's knees were water below her.
She sank by the bed.
"Fetherr' she painted, with open
mouth and uns.rung lips. 'FetherI'
/