Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-02-18


One evening Eve weeks later Mrs.
Rouse went over 10 the Iiornbecks
Mrs Horubeck was darning stock
ings. and Lilly VAS helping her. with
her awkward little fingers. Charley
was in chair by the stove. with Ian
mel cloth tied round his swollen cheeks.
Charley had the mumps.
Well said Mrs. Rouss. II can't get
used 10 IL. Il does seem SO funny here
without Troityi"
FUNNY" said Charley. somewhat
fiercely; "if YOU call "a funnyi"
There. Charley said his mother.
Hes been croiche,y. like that, ever
since Troity has been gone" she ex-
planned TO Mrs. Rouse. And dou't
know bat Ne all have"
"Isn', 8, most month";" said Mrs.
Rouse.
Its four weeks Yesterday" said
Mrs. Uornbeck. For. once the decision
had been made that II was best 10 let
Troiiy 20 TO the Taylors, Mrs. Horu-
beck. with sad hrmness. had lost no
time ia putting the plan into execution.
cit seems like four months"
III Trotty was here shouldn't be
darning stockings from Mondays wash
10 Saturday night; Trotty darned all
the interchangeable would co "a, do
my best 90 keep ahead Of my work, but
without Iroity. somehow-there!
won't complain another world"
IL suppose she's contented2 You can
tell by her letters" said Mrs. Rouse.
well" said Mrs. Hornbeck. du-
biously.
she isn't conientedi" Charley burst
ont. The words wers like cork burst
ing from o bottle ~She don't like 81;
know she don't She cont want TO live
/ way OF there with the Tay lors"
NO she don't said Lily.
"She hasn't any business OF there;
she belongs here" said Charley. in a
querulous climax Of unhappiness; IL
/ hurt him TO talk. and be growled
Were so lonesome we cau't stand IL.
And ever, thing bad that's happened
has happened since Trotty went away.
mother. hasn'tit? idou't believe" said
Charley. I'D have had the mumps at
all IL Troiiy'd been here"
NO. nor 1 shouldn't have cut me with
the bread knife. Nor-nor Mr.. Nelson's
shop wouldn't have burned upi" said
Lily. with conviction.
Mrs. Hornbeck laughed. lifting the
baby from the floor. But her laugh was
tremuious.
Suddenly in the silence that followed.
Charley started up. He had heard the
click Of the gate latch.
"tt's father" said Mrs. HornbeclI;
bat Charley sprung from bis chair.
That light. swift step en- the walk was
l.. L
paused motionless. but Lily scurried
10 The door.
''Trottyi" she shrieke6; "oh. Trottyl"
u was rrotty. Mrs. Rouse could make
out that much. though she could see
nothing but the feather on Trotty's
hat Trotty herself was lost in what
seemed Whirung vortex. composed Of
Charley and Lily and their mother, with
the baby on her arm.
Eyes. it's me-" said Trotty; 1T is.
Yes. and I've come for good My trunk
here. and jim Parks is going to bring
20 up. Yes. the Taylors knew I was
coming"
''Troity. dear" said Mrs Hornbecl<
her voice shaking. what does IL
mean?"
. u was so lonesome. mother" said
Troity. simply. They were good e
me; splendid. And IL was ali just as
father said; it's a big house, and
y great porch with white pillars. And
d there's lovely things in the parlor, be
D. sides the pianO--big pictures and plush
E chairs-but IL didn't make any ditfer
ence." said Trotty. u was so lone
= some all the time. lonesome for all o
u yon.
} u didn't say anything. But it KEEP
getting worse. and | guess finally
f. showed il. because Mrs. Taylor aske'
y me II / was homesick. and ! said yes
n And the very next day" said Troity
''the letter came"
+" 1.-THE letier?" said Mrs. Hornbeck.
yes" said TTotty. 'i've got it," Sh
u found IL in her pocket and read ii out
- Dear Trotty: Come back home. be
= cause we can't stand IL any longe
without you Charley wrote IT, an
Re be and. Lily signed it. and the baby.
guess they helped the baby some, bu
% be signed H." said Tro;ty, with tende
laughter.
well. well. Inever dreamed II.
"a never knew one word about i'll" sal
their mother.
+. Trotty folded the letter. 81 shall kee
u it, she said. always. I showed IL /
y Mrs. Taylor, and she asked me II
! wgn'ed 10 come; aud | didn't kno
81 what 10 say. but IL cried some. Ar
* then she and Mr.. Taylor talked Il owe
u, / 49,, I -, -. T--c&s,. e,