The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-06-29

at the tree tops. Miss Abigail waited
resignedly.
Fortunately there was ample time
and it was a pleasant spot in which to
linger. Before, the road wound out be-
tween wide fields palpitating in the
MONDAY heat, but here the shadows
. dappled the white horses back and
checkered the dust with leafy shapes
the water trickled unsteady down
fro , the hillside into the messy
trough.
The woman drew long. satisfied
breath, inhaling the wild grape bloom,
and her face softened with happy
memory Tad was mortal fond OF the
smell of the grape" she said, aloud. Il
wonder if Tad's little. girl will be like
him.,
She drew a letter from her pocket,
spreading it with some difficulty on her
lap. It was two months since this let
terhad fallen like bomb into her quiet
life. Since Tad's death in London five
years ago she had felt that further
change could not affect her. This last
communication was a brief statement
written by an English lawyer, of the
death of her nephew's wife; but what
robbed. her of strength and Set her
pulse to bounding wildly was the re-
quest that she prepare to receive the
little girl into her home. as the mother
had been an orphan without near kin,
while on the fathers side she stood the
closest to Tad's child. A slip.of paper
inclosed brought her Thaddeus' last
message, dated long ago:
eff my little Primrose should ever stand
In need of friends, will you take her into
your heart. auntie, where you have ever
kept-Tad."
This was why she was driving down
to Stockton on this warm June noon,
for, obedient to her direction, the child
had started in the charge of acquaint-
ances of Miss Abigail's own, who were
returning after a, winter on the con-
tinent. The train was due in an hour.
Lightning turned his head inquiring-
ly. With. sigh Miss Abigail Topped
the reins and drove out into the noon
day heat.
The station master lounged out to
help her tie her steed. "'Npectin' the
little gal, be We. Abby?" he asked, with
the freedom of long acquaintance.
!. She nodded. Her hands were clasped
tightly upon her reticule when the
train rolled in, but her face was calm.
A gentleman stepped off, then turned
to lift down child. Seeing her he hur-
ried his charge along the platform.
I'm relieved to find you here, Miss
Harding" he said, as he raised his hat,
r - SC hn
baggage check. Good-by, little one"
The child held out her hand gravely.
"Good-by," she said, and her eyes looked
wistfully after him as he sprang upon
the moving train.
Miss Abigail was distinctly disap-
pointed She had felt sure of seeing a
little gypsy with dark skin and curling
brown hair like Tad's. Instead, here
was quaint object in sage green with
pale, demure face and floss of yellow
hair under the white sailor. Just then
Primrose looked up with shy smile
and Miss Abigail's heart softened. for
here were Tad's brown eyes. with Tad's
own look, while Tad's dimple denied
the small chin.
"More'n one trunk?" she asked in
her driest tones. and Primrose, who
had been ready to kiss this aunt
whom her dear mother had told hel
she must love, felt repulsed.
That night, when the milk was
strained and the chickens housed
Miss Abigail slipped out upon thu
south porch. 1t gave her secret
sense of elation when she came upon
Primrose perched on the upper step
watching the rising moon. Primrose
heart ached for mothering. And thu
New England woman. schoo.ed to re
; preston, was ashamed of the stron.
desire which urged her to take tn
tired child on her knee and coax tn
smile back into her brown eyes.
"B cen to school, s'pose," she said
with an effort at sociability. How di
one 3aik to little girl?
mo, ma'am." Primrose politel
twisted around to face her.
&c racious goodness! a girl of you
age!'
Primrose flushed with embarras:
ment 81 wasn't strong" she sale
apologetically. 80 mamma taught m
at home. can read pretty weil-an
I can recite some poetry"
POETRY"
Primrose looked doubtfully at TIL
new relative. She felt that she wa
not making favorable report. :
can speak little French" she col