The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-06-30

waited his dripping
nozzle anG'cast a comprehensive glance
at the tree tops. Miss Abigail waited
resieneGly.
Fortunately there was ample time
and it was a pleasant spot in which to
linger. Before. the road wounGout be-
tween wide fields ~palpitatins 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
from the hillside into the messy
trough.
The woman drew a long. satisfied
breath. inhaling the wild grape bloom,
and her face softened with a happy
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. 1t was W. months since this let
terhad fallen like a 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
inclosed brought her Thaddeus' last
message, dated long ago:
>"If my little Primrose should ever stand
in need of friends, will you take her into
your heart, Euntie, where you have ever
kept-Tad." -
This was why she was driving down
to Stockton on this warn June oon
for, obeGient to her direction. the child
had started in the charge of a%cquaint-
ances of Miss Abigaif's own. who were
returning after a winter on the con-
tinent. The train was due in an hour.
Lightning turned his head inquiring-
". With a sigh Miss Abigail Topped
the reins and Grove 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 a child. Seeing herh he hur-
riad his charge along the platform.
I'm relieved TO find you here. Miss
Harding" he said, as he raised his hat.
~for I must go on at once. Here is the
baggage check. Good-by. little one"
The child held out her hand gravely.
@Good-bv."s she said. and her eyes looked
w~istfullv after him as he sprang upon
the moving train.
Miss Abigail was distinctly Gisap-
pointed. She had felt IRE of seeing a
little gypsy with dark skin and curling
brown hair like Tad's. Instead. here
was a quaint object in sage green with
Pale. Gemure face and a floss of yellow
hair under the white sailor. Just then
Primrose looked up with n 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. ITO -t-
"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 her
she must love, fen repulsed. g ~
That night, when the milk was
strained and the chickens housed.
Abigail slipped out upon the
south porch. 1t gave her a secret
sense Of elation when abe came upon