River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-03-02
..Wsr-" sa1a Mrs. Hornbeek. du-

well" sara Mrs. Hcrnbeck, du-
biously.
she isn't conssnted." Charley burst
out The words we're like a cork burst
ing from ottie "She don't like il;
know She don't. $40 cor ant - liv..
way off there with the 1ayiors
NO. she don't" said Lily
she hasn't any business off there;
She belongs here" said Charley, in a
querulous climax of unhappiness; it
hurt him to talk, and he growled.
We're so lonesome we can't stand it.
And everything bad that's happened
has happened since Trotty went away,
mother, hasn'tit2 Idon't believe" said
Charley, I'D have had the mumps at
all If Trotty'd been here"
$40, nor | shouldn't have cut me with
the bread knife. Nor-nor Mr.. Nelson's
shop wouldn't have burned up" said
Lily, with conviction.
Mrs Hornbeck laughed, lifting the
baby from the floor, But her laugh was
tremulous.
Suddenly, in the silence that followed,
Charley started up. He had heard the
click Of the gate latch.
It's father" said Mrs. Hornbeck;
but Charley sprung from his chair.
| That light, swift step On the walk was
not his fathers. Mrs Hornbeck
paused, motionless, but Lily scurried
/ TO the door.
"Trotty!" She shrieked; ooh, Trotty."
| TWAS Trotty; Mrs. Rouse could make
! E.
nothing but the feather on Trotty's
hat Irotty herself was lost in what
seemed a whirling vortex, composed Of
| Charley and Lily and their mother, with
the baby on her arm.
"Yes, its me-" said Trotty; cit is.
| Yes. and I've come for good. My trunks
/ here, and Jim Parks is going TO bring
it up. Yes, the Taylors knew l was
coming"
"rrotty, dear" said Mrs. Hornbeck.
| her voice shaking, what does it
mean?
Il was so lonesome, mother" said
Trotty. simply They were good TO
me; splendid And it was all just as
father said; its big house, and a
great porch with white pillars. And
there's lovely things in the parIor, be-
sides the piano-big pictures and plush
! chairs-but il didn't make any differ
ence," said Trotty. Il was so lone
some all the time, lonesome for all of
you.
Il didn't say anything But it kept
getting worse, and l guess finally l
| showed it, because Mrs. Taylor asked
me if l was homesick, and I said yes.
And the very next day" said Tlutty,
the letter came"
The letter." said Mrs. Hornbeck.
Yes" said Trotty. I've gotit.' Sae
found it in her pocket and read it out,
Dear Trotty: Come back home, be-
cause we can't stand it any longer
without you Charley wrote it, and
he and Lily signed it, and the baby.
guess they helped the baby some, bus
he signed it," said Trotty, with tender
laughter.
We'll, we'll! Inever dreamed Of it.
never knew one word about it, said
their mother.
Trotty folded the letter. I shall keep
it," She said. always. l showed il to
Mrs Taylor. and She asked me il |
wanted to come; and ! didn't know
what to say, but II cried some. And
then she and Mr.. Taylor talked it over,
and-weu. here am" said Trotty joy
ously.
1t was moment when words would
have been vain and feeble. Nobody said
anything but the baby, and he crowed
loudly and pounded Trotty with his lit
tie soft fist.
As for Mrs. Rouse, her feelings were
too much for her. She cried softly into
her apron. And there might have been
a general flowing Of happy tears if
Trotty had not interrupted it.
Its Saturday night, DO YOU know
it," she cried Where's the molasses?''
And Charley put another stick Of wood
in the stove, and Lily rushed into the
pantry.-Boston Globe.