Evening journal., 1900-01-24

1 DNtbN L MOI l AiOM- AAN Ao1N
to his feet and. carrying it to the man
telpiece leaned 1t W against the clock.
lie settled himself TO his papers. but
thoughts of Mrs Luther Wilkins kept
intruding on what he was reading
about patent nest boxes and under
draining and the news Of the village.
But Mrs. Luther wilkins was often
in his thoughts. She even haunted his
dreams at times. He wondered what
she was like, and he thought Of the
kind Of woman he would wish her to
be, and enjoyed himself very much in
imagining how it would seem TO have
her meet him at the door when he
came in from the fields, and how nice II
Would be not TO have TO get his own
meals.
He worked doggedly, trying hard not
to think Of the disquieting subject. II
was no use, and toward the end Of July
it was observed that Luther was get
ting very neighborly. He spent his
evenings at different neighbors' houses
he accepted invitations to tea, he went
to church regularly and to all Sunday
school picnics. And still he could moi
find a suitable owner for the letter.
1t was one cold, raw day in carly No
venber. Luther sat at window NAL,
ing clumsy attempts at mending pair
Of very ragged socks. Happening e
glance across the road he saw a WON
All out in the Hammonds' yard Sh,
was busy raking up the fallen autumn
leaves
"Leiitia Hammond" Luther com
mented, "Bili Hammonds sister. W.
don't see much OF lately. She don
even 90 to church, there's so many o.
BINS children to look after, and Bill
wife is so took up with her clubs anC
things. It's hard on Leutia, but shl
never finds a word of fault"
The sock he was mending fell to thu
floor and the wooden egg inside i
struck with such loud bang that tn
cat started i'm bis sleep. Luther did no
notice. He was standing at the win
dow staring out.
"That is the best which lieth near
est" he said solemnly. what a foo
I've been"
He found his hat and left the house
almost running across the road II
took the iron rake away from Leuti
gently. That's too hard work for
little thing like you" he said.
I.etitia's blue eyes were full Of woT
der, but she yielded up the rake veal
ly.
you'd better 90 into the house. too,
said luther. '1t's cold out here"
No one had been thoughtful of he
before for a long time and Letiti
couldn't understand it. When LuthC
returned the rake she asked him to l.
her do something for him.
He carried her his best pair of sock
She was horrihed at their condition
and mended them in a very artist
manner.
Luther looked at them in wonder an
reverence. "Tll never wear EN-" /
said, when he was at home again.
wouldn't have let her do It only l kne
it would make her feel better, and
gave me chance to see her, too"
He found that it was an easy matti
to invent excuses for seeing her. an
finally. some time I'm the winter,
asked her in fear and trembling If 81
would lie Mrs. Luther wilkins.
SO It happened that IN a little lei
than a year the letter was given TO !
rightful owner
"Why, it's nothing but an advertis
ment of some new preparation Of &c
eals," she said when she had opened
Lets keep It," said Luther, softl
"If it hadn't been for that
yes. we'll keep It" said Letiti
blushmg ."-Condensed from Cincinnf
Commercial Tribune.