The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-06-09

make that belief not only possible but
probable. In the long hours OF dream
ing with which his days were now oc-
cupied Lefty was never anything more
, than a shadow with that suggestive
ness OF spring-and the springs fair
ness about her.
One afternoon, when these dreams
had been in progress several weeks, as
he was taking his way home he missed
the sense of her companionship for the
! first time.
He entered his door with feeling of
pride not unmixed with humility and
went Immediately, as was his custom,
to the little bare study. The one easy
chair the room contained was turned
toward the window; some readjust-
ment Of house-cleaning had moved 1t
from its usual place at the table, but
to the man on the threshold 1t had the
appearance of being turned for a
watchers convenience.
"I'm home, Lefty" he said softly.
There was moments throbbing ST.
lence, then from somewhere near, 1t
seemed to him, came the words: "Wel-
come, dear"
He crossed the room with a happy
face.
The next day an unusual thing &C.
curred-the professor went shopping.
1t was not an extensive expedition, the
purchases being confined to one shop
which he had never visited until that
hour. AS the bell above the door an
nounced his entrance a sudden trepi-
dalton seized upon him, every nerve in
his body pulsated with the tangled
wire and he would have fled inconti-
nently had 1t not been for the appear
ance of the shop-woman. He did not
respond to her greeting, but chung to
the small showcase as If in need Of
material support, gazing helplessly
around. When he could collect his
dazed senses he made known his wants
by series Of pantomimic gestures.
She seemed to comprehend him for
after fumbling over the contents Of a
box she finally produced a large bone
thimble with eulogistic words The
professor found his voice.
''Smaller-much smaller" he gasped.
For a child?"
"Er-er-not exactly, but small and
pretty-what would fit your little fin
ger, ma'am."
The woman rummaged through her
stock and obligingly tried on thimble
after thimble until a satisfactory silver
one was found. The professor took it
into his capacious palm and inspected
the simple chasing with undisguised
delight.
Needles, ma'am." he said next.
Coarse or finer"
"Oh! fine fine"
She placed some little oblong pack
ages before him and waited his fur
Their orders.
NOW what you sew with ma'am.
What's that you call it? Cotton? Yes.
some cotton"
What number-seventy?
ooh! no-no-not seventy. Eighteen
or twenty"
The shopkeeper regarded him with
ill-concealed contempt. you could
only use a crowbar with such coarse
stuff" she cried sharply; If you want
fine needles you must have cotton to
match"
The professor removed his hat and
mopped his brow with some perturba-
ton.
Seventy or eighty" he murmured
half to himself. II don't like the
sound"
She got down a drawer without an
other word and took out two small
white spools.
These are what you need" she said,
with the air of one who will not toler-
ate trifling. There was no misunder-
standing her meaning. The professor
might be in doubt upon other vexed
questions, but this much was clear to
him.
"You know best, ma am" he faltered.
Then, with happy inspiration, he
added: Perhaps the numbers will
come off,"
She pushed pin under the offending
bits of paper and removed them deft-
ly. The wrinkled face of her customer
was tremulous with gratitude.
You're very good, ma'am. They're
for somebody quite young, you see, and
she'll like them best So"
"P'r'aps she'd like basket to hold
'em an a cushion?"
"Of course she would, ma'am-of
course-I'm grateful to you for men
tioning them"
He was almost feverish with impa-
thence while she took the articles from
the window and spread them tempting
ly before him; that they were faded
from long exposure to the sun was I'M
noticed by his happy eyes. He was
blind to all defects, and when she
added a needle-book with marvellous
bird upon its cover and small pair Of
scissors to the other objects he fairly
glowed with pleasure.
His happiness, however, was slight,
in comparison to the joy he knew later
when he unrolled his purchases and
placed them upon the table near the big
chair. He occupied the only other
chair in the room; he had used 1t ex-
clusively for the past few weeks. After