The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-10-31

L ~
go with this lady, or stay with me an
AN oil your things?' She clung to
the last inducement as to straw of
hope.
The child looked at her with his
grave, questioning eyes, and, not loos-
ening his hold on his mother, put out
hand to her.
IL loves you an my family very
much, Aunty Liza; but you see, this
is my mamma-my truly mamma;
couldn't help goin with her"
Mrs. Canary showered kisses upon
him, and Miss Eliza turned away with
n slclening sense Of defeat and misery
Mt her heart.
"I'll go pack up his things" she said.
The waves were rolling inward, and
the wind was blowing high and from
the sea. The air was full of its wall,
as she stood and watched them as they
went.
She went about like one upon whom
some heavy blow had fallen. The
people missed her from the church.
They missed her active figure in the
village, and on the sands. She per-
formed her duties mechanically. 1t
seemed to her she had grown so old.
How empty the bed seemed! How
doubly empty the room! The "pond'
was undisturbed. A jellyfish sprawled
on the floor beside 1t. Miss Canary did
not remove It, To herself she dealt her
words sternly.
ITS retribution. l wouldn't forgive
Joel; / vowed l never would an now
the Lords Furnishing me-"
At the end of the third month, the
moon, looking down, one night might
have smiled to see Miss Canary step
ping cautiously out of her front door.
She was not wont to venture out at
night, and felt n certain sense of awe
and looked around half fearfuily. She
locked the door and put the key in the
little worn satchel she carried. Every
window blind was drawn at front and
back. Without doubt, Miss Canary
was going away, but there was only
the sea and the wind to know it.
1t was quite early the next morning
that she found herself in Boston and
at the door of the house to which, after
much inquiry, she had been directed.
a neat maid admitted her, and with
shaking limbs and trembling lips she
sat stiflly on the high carved chair in
the hall. She was conscious that she
was squeezing jellyfish or two, which
she had put in her pocket, but she felt
incapable of moving.
There was the soft rustic of
woman's skirts, and then graceful
figure in pretty morning gown came
leisurely towards her.
"The servant told me-" she began
then stopping short, 'why-why If 1t
isn't Miss Canary-Sister Liza, l mean
why how do you do?"
She held out both hands, but Miss
Canary rose up solemnly.
wait er minute" she said. 81 want
to tell you something. didn't forgive
Joel fur marry'n you; sad wouldn't,
an j didn't, an so the Lord pun
ished me by lettin' me have Joel's child,
an then. when l mos depended on 1t,
taking him away. Joel's dead, an l
can't tell him, but mebby his sperit Ill
know of it, If you forgive me. an iem-
me live here-jus' as-as er housek1ep.
er-or somethln', My salt riz bread is
good, an JUS lemme-lemme see the
child" She broke down sobbing, her
withered hands covering her face.
"Joel, JOEL" called his mother softly.
There was n patter of little feet,
sound upon the stairs, glad cry, and
a curly head rested upon Miss Canary's
breast her tears fell upon 1t.
at wasn't altogetherasy you thought"
Mrs Canary said, as she poured hot,
fragrant coffee for Miss Eliza, while Joel
smoothed and patted his flabby and
flattened fish. ~ didn't desert Joel"
her eyes filled with tears-'we couldn't
make ends meet, and II had talent
and could sing; he was willing l should
go, and when he died, we both wanted
you to have the child until could take
him. | didn't mention that when l
wrote, because-well. because we were
not friends then, and felt you would
not understand. And now l have
place assured me in large church here,
and | do not have to be away from
home. Joel, tell Aunty Liza she's
never to go away any more-except in
the summer, when Wen all go to her
home and spend it there on the beach,
with all the jellies and the nettles-and
Awhat elseT"
can my family" said Joel.-GOod
Housekeeping.
HI