The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-24

up a small white rag aud thread-tied
Job lowered his head again and went
on wedding; he had not heard very dis
| tinctIy. Nanno's charitable Judgment
overlooked this unresponsive deneanor.
Haven't you got any tongueT she
| screamed 'T coined over to call, tell
you"
Job raised himself to a sitting posture,
and wiped the moisture from his brow.
did your pa send your he inquired.
'tNo, he's gone away"
IT don't believe your mas like you to
run off," said the unhappy JOB, strug-
Cling to his feet. "You better go home
now, she'll be looking for you"
I'D druther stay here" remarked his
visitor. seating herself firmly on stone
by the gate. And then I'm lost, you
see''-with an elaborate expression of be-
wilder1nent.
'She's forward little thing" muttered
Job, disgustcd, to himself. Come, now,
child, you'll have to go back to your
folks"
Nanno stuck her pin industriously in
and out of the work for a moment,
during which her host watched her help
lessly. Then she held out her doll.
You take Frances up to my mothers
house" she commanded, .and tell her
you brought another little girl to stay
with her till l get back"
Job burst into laugh against his will
You're a tough little young one" he
chuckled; "anybodyd think you'd be
afraid of me. Now get up. I mean 1t.
You can't stay here
Nanno was not one whit disconnected,
but considered it prodent to yield She
reached Jobs side with a gleeful hop, and
seized one OF his relaxed fingers. He was
consumed with modification, but 1t was
the quiet forenoon hour in Bickford,
when housewives were busy In their back
Kitchens; scarcely any one saw the grim
man with the little skipping child beside
him as they passed under the shade Of
the elms along the village street. Job
was wildly hoping for a chance to dis
engage the Velvety fingers from their
clinging hold on his. 1t was welcome
visitor when Mrs. Smith appeared in
green-framed perspective, wheeling her
baby with nervous speed in pursuit of the
runaway.
There" he exclaimed in great relief.
Now go on. She's come after you" He
steered rather than pushed his companion
forward, and attempted to withdraw from
her. But Nanno demurred instantly.
mo, she exclaimed, gripping the earth
firmly with her bare toes, and bracing
herself back 10 face him defantly, albeit
displaying woeful droop about the
corners of her mouth. You come and
tell mother Nanna's good girl and got
lost. 1t was Frances that runned away"
"Oh, get along" he begged in agonized
tones, as the minister's wife drew nearer.
Let go, there's a good girl
"Gut ! don't want to sit in my fathers
big chair-r a whole hour-r,' walled Nan
no. you tell mother-r." And her grip
tightened.
"Tarnation," whispered Job under his
~
trated his confused brain was Mrs.
Smiths brisk tone.
why, Mr. Corey! You're very good to
bring back this naughty girl. Where did
you find her?"
He could only answer civilly ,"She
come down to my house, and nothin'
would do but I must go home with her.
! guess she's kind O scared now for fear
she'll get punished"-as Eannos head
was hanging extremely low and her face
invisible
"Oh, Nanno! How could you give any
body so much trouble?'' exclaimed her
mother reproachfully. "Shes getting so
wild to Job-'that 1 don't know what
I shall ever do with her. 1t was too bad
to bring you away from your work But
Mr.. Smith says she seems to have taken
a great fancy to you, and she isn't al
ways so good with new people, I assure
YOU
Job was so startled at the old instinct
which revived at this moment and made
him lift his Tapping straw hat that the
blood rushed into his face and speech
failed him. Mrs. Smith had the quiet
tact to look away. ~ must go back now
to that small truant,'' she said, but
won't punish her. Come and see US
some day, Mr.. Corey"
He walked away, literally shaken in
odU
monotonous wedding for the rest of the
day did not calm his perturbation. Nor
was it destined to be forgotten. Nanno
continued her shameless pursuit of his
affections When he came home from
work at night she was swinging on the
iron chains which connected the church
yard posts, or balancing herself with
fat legs astride the parsonage gate, and
usually opened conversation by inquiring:
would you like me to go as far as the
big, big tree?'a-this trysting spot being
huge elm near by. Job resigned him
self at last 10 his fate He would not
have admitted in the depths of his heart
that he secretly watched for her, yet by
degrees a Wistful gentleness developed
in him, akin to that of the early days
when Harriet had been a far-off divinity.
1t came at last to his purchasing red tin
water pot as friendships offering, with
which she expressed satisfaction. But
she terrified him by announcing:
'I'll kiss you now
"Oh, that amt no account" he pro-
tested, but she scrambled to fence
post and called out:
"Now I'm big enough-come and get
it," Job gave cautious glance up and
down the street, and suddenly yielded;
then retired in confusion, while Nanno
thoughtfully covered his fight by
sprinkling the baby. After this an init
macy at the parsonage gradually grew
Mrs. Smith was wise enough to keep In
the background. What the Smiths
found in Job Corey, Bickford folk won