The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-29
YOUTH S. PAGE



/ She isn't contented," Charley burst out;
/ the words We're like cork bursting from
/ bottle. she don't like lt; know she
| don't she doesn't want TO live way off
| there with the Taylors"
! mo, she don't" said Lily.
piano" said Charley. Il guess
piano isn't enough to go away off to Pay
| son for ! was going to get her a piano
myself, anyhow, soon as l was Old enough
\ to earn the money"
And good deal better one" Lily de-
| clared, excitedly.
She hasn't any business off there; she
belongs here" said Charley. IN querlous
| climax of unhappiness; it hurt him to talk
ana he growied. Were so lonesome we
| can't stand it, And everything bad that's
happened has happened since Trotty went
. away mother, hasn't It? l don't believe"
! said Charley, "1d have had the humps
/ at all If Trotty'd been here"
! mo, nor l shouldn't have cut me with
the bread-knife. Mormon Mr. Nelson's
| shop wouldn't have burned upw said Lily.
with conviction.
Mrs. Hornbeck laughed, lifting the baby
| from the floor. But her laugh was trem-
| ulous. Lily heard its shaky note, and.
Already half fearful, she began to cry, and
TO tangle the darnng cotton. And Mrs.
Rouse sat in dismay
We'll" she said, II don't know what
ever you'll do l declare l don'tw
Suddenly, in the silence that followed,
| Charley started up. He had heard the
| click of the gate latch.
ITS father" said Mrs Hornbeck: but
| Charley sprung from his chair. That
! light, swift step on the walk was not his
| fathers. Mrs. Hornbeck paused, motion
less; But Lily seurried TO the door.
"Frotty!' she shrieked, "Oh Trottyr'
lt was Trotty; Mrs. Rouse could make
/ out that much, though she could see moth
| ing but the feather on Trotty's hat; Trotly
! herself was lost in what seemed a whirl-
ing vortex, composed of Charley and IiIy
and their mother, with the baby on her
/ arm.
! Yes it's me-" said Trotty; at is. Yes
! I've come for good; my trunks here, and
! jim Parks is going to bring IL up Yes.
| the Taylors knew l WAS coming" She
answered the rafting storm of questions
I as fast as she could, impede as she was
by the Hornbeck's hugs and kisses; and
then she got a breathing space, and greet
! ed Mrs Rouse, and took the baby or
snatched him-and sat down with him and
held him tight. Charley and Lily stood
one on each side of her, and their arms
! were over her shoulders.
"Trotty, dear" said Mrs. Hornbeck, her
/ voice shaking, what does 1t mean?"
II was so lonesome. motherY said Trot-
! ty simply. Her eyes shone, but her lips
trembled. They were good to me; splen-
1 did. And it was all just as father said;
| it's a big house and great porch with
white pillars And there's lovely things
| in the parlor, besides the piano-big pic
| lures and plush chairs-but ii didn't make
! any difference" said Trotty, II was so
lonesome all the time, lonesome for all of
you.
Il didn't say anything hated to.
/ But 1t kept getting worse, and / guess
finally I showed it, because Mrs Taylor
asked me If I was homesick, and l said
/ yes. And the very next day" said Trotty,
"the letter came"
THE letter." said Mrs Hornbeck
Yes" said Trotty. 1--WE got it." She
found it in her pocket, and read it out:
Dear Trotty: Come back home, be-
cause We can't stand IL any longer with
out you Charley wrote it, and he and
Lily signed it, and the baby. l guess they
helped the baby some, but he signed It,"
said Trotty with tender laughter.
well, welll 1 never dreamed Of it, 1
never knew one word about it" said
their mother.
Lily jumped up and down. Eyes, we
wrote it," said She land Trottys GOMEZ
| Mother" said Charley, 1--WE just had TO
write it, that's all. And we've been look
ing for Trotty ever since. was pretty
cross tonight, and that's what made me.
l was getting afraid they wouldn't let
| Trotty come
Trotty folded the letter. 81 shall keep
| It," she said, always / showed II 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-well, here 4
am said Trotty, joyously. "They were
real kind, mother. They said they wanted
| me to do what was best for my happiness.
| and | knew what that was When 1
| thought Of you and father, and Charley
| and Lily and the baby, / knew" said
! Trotty.
| Her glad face shone So did the faces
! Of the Hornbecks. II 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 little soft fist
As for Mrs. Rouse her feelings were
! her apron And there might have been a
| general flowing of happy tears, IL Trotty
! had not interrupted 1t.
IT'S 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.
The door opened just then. Mr.. Horn
beck stood there, dumb and motionless
! with astonishment. He made one great
I step, and lifted Trotty from her feet in
his strong arms.
"Wen." he almost shouted-"well. ats
the major!
HAD TO ACCOUNT FOR HIMSELF.