The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-03-16

"L've been here" she cried, with sob,
"'most ever since l can remember
ever since Lily was baby, and the
first thing you did you made me red
plaid dress with a pocket in it-and-I
i don't want to go and live with any
Taylors!"
One evening five weeks later Mrs.
Rouse went over to the Hornbecks'.
Mrs. Hornbeck was darning stock
ings, and Lily was helping her, with
her awkward little fingers. Charley
was in a chair by the stove, with fan
mel cloth tied round his swollen cheeks
Charley had the mumps.
WELL" said Mrs. Rouse, 81 can't get
used to it. 1t does seem so funny here
without Trotty!"
Funny" said Charley, somewhat
fierceIy; ''if you call it funny!"
There, Charley" said his mother.
"He's been crotchety, like that, ever
since Trotty has been gone" she ex-
planned to Mrs. Rouse. And l don't
know but we all have"
''Isn't it most a month";" said Mrs.
Rouse.
Its four weeks yesterday" said
Mrs. Hornbeck. For, once the decision
had been made that it was best to let
Trotty go to the Taylors, Mrs. Horn
| beck, with sad firmness, had lost no
time in putting the plan into execution,
''It seems like four months"
eff Trotty was here l shouldn't be
darning stockings from Monday S wash
to Saturday night; Trotty darned all
the stockings-she would do it. l do
my best to keep ahead of my work, but
without Trotty, somehow-there! /
won't complain another world"
81 suppose she's contented? You can
tell by her letters" said Mrs. Rouse.
"Well-" said Mrs. Hornbeck, du-
biously.
"She isn't contented!" Charley burst
out. The words were like a cork burst
ing from bottle. "She don't like it; l
know she don't. She don't want to live
way off there with the Taylors."
"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
Were so lonesome we can't stand it.
And rything bad that's happened
has happened since Trotty went away,
mother, hasn'tit? Idon't believe" said
Charley, I'D have had the mumps at
all if Trotty'd been. here"
''No, nor shouIdn 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.
cts 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!"
1t was Trotty; 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 a whirling vortex, composed of
Charley and Lily and their mother, with
the baby on her arm.
Eyes, it's me-" said Trotty; at is.
Yes, and I've come for good. My trunks
here, and Jim Parks is going to bring
it. up. Yes, the Taylors knew 1 was
coming"
''Trotty, 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; it's a big house, and a
great porch with white pillars. And
there's lovely things in the parlor, be-
sides the piano-big pictures and plush
chairs-but it didn't make any differ
ence," said Trotty. 81 was so lone
some all the time, lonesome for all of
you.
81 didn't say anything. But it kept
getting worse, and 1 guess finally
showed it, because Mrs. Taylor asked
me if was homesicll, and 1 said yes.
And the very next day." said Trotty,
''the letter came"
"The letter." said Mrs. Hornbeck.
yes" said Trotty. I've gotit." She
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 ard, Lily signed it, and the baby.
guess they helped the baby some, but
he signed it," said Trotty, with tender
laughter.
swell, we'll! Inever dreamed Of it. l
never knew one word about it," said
their mother.
Trotty folded the letter. 81 shall keep
it," she said, always. L showed it to
Mrs. Taylor, and she asked me if l
wanted to come; and [ didn't know
what to say, but II cried some. And
then she and Mr.. Taylor talked it over,
and-weIl, here | am" said Trotty, joy
ously.
II was a moment when words would
have been vain and feeble. Nobody said
! !, hut l, I, i