The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-16

peared about the corners of her mouth.
But she did not speak.
The light became more unearthly
II declare said Mrs. GOudle. sud
denly. with a false shrsllness of voice
that made Janet vince; II declare, it's
IKE the day q Judgment. this" The
smile never left her lip.
Again was appalling silence. The
clock seemed 10 be ticking more ana
more loudly As Janet listened Go it's
slow metallic beat her heart sank lower
i'm her breast. Where could her father
be? He was so seldom out OF the hitch
en- at the cleaning. She turned her
head to SEE what O'Clock IL 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:
"Well," she said at last-always with
that Ironic edge on her voice well! we
bad 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 Crea-
ture I'm the clutch OF fate. She was go
ing 10 met her father \ bare lobby
with white washed walls ran from thu
front door between the kitchen and the
i'm through an oblong slit Of glass aboy
the door. falling straight upon a row ~
pegs. ON one Of these was the farmer :
everyday hat. a square hard felt, green
gilt at the sides with age The level
rays revealed a thick coating OF dust
on IT,
The mother opened the room door.
which fell 10 the right. and then stop
ped. speaking over her shoulder;
We've made changes here" she said
shrilly. as If showing alterations 20 a
stranger. She pointed 10 a bed. the cur
tained head Of which was close 10 the
door on the left. Janet had begun TO
tremble.
She followed her mother into tn
room. At first she could see nothing be-
cause Of the Invading glory.
Their 3 your fether. said Mrs.
Goudie.
Janet turned her eyes from the light.
aud there lay her father I'm his shroud
beneath the fun glow of sunset.
The clock ticke1 loudly in the kitchen.
A fringe OF sandy whIskers stuck out
from the tight jaw -bandage.T There were
vivid hairs I'm IT, redly cleaning.
Janet knees were water below her.
She sank by the bed.
"Fether! - she painted. with open
mouth and unstrung lips. IF ther, -
and then with shrill scream OF an
er, my fether."
"A-hey." said her mother that's
what " brocht your .fether till'" on an
April morning three and twenty years
ago this woman had felt a thousand
pulses leap and throb within her when
a feeble little cry told that from ha-
body a living soul had come into the
world--oh. mystic wonder'-a new
born soul. ana from her body, and the
child OF the man she loved! But that
child had broken the heart of the man
she loved-and she was merciless.
Suddenly a balant low from. the great
empty byre echOsd through the silence,
hoilowly. And again there was silence.
The sombre radiance de pened i'm the
room. The brass knobs at the head OF
the bed CLEANED mournfully.
Esp ak 10 me. fether," whispered Ja-
net: speak 10 me. fether; speak 10
me-"
But he lay with closed eyes i'm IN
lonely light. and 10 seemed 10 Janet
that his shut lips smiled-smiled with
the quiet irony of the dead who know
the secrets OF all things. end viii tel
us nothing. Kennedy King in the
Speaker.