The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-06-28

nozzle and cast n acOmprchcnsiNc giahce
al the tree tops. Miss Abigail waited
rcsignrdly.
Fortunately there was ample time
and IL was a pleasant spot In which TO
llnger. Before, the roadwound ou' be
tween wide fields palpltaiing IN the
noondny heat, but here the shadows
dapplrd the white horses back and
CHECK cred the dust with leafy shapes,
the water trickled musicslly down
from the hillside into the mossy
/! suEh.
The woman drew q long, satisfied
breath. inhBling the wild grape bloom
and her face softened with happy
memory. Tad was mortal fondiof the
smell Of the grape" she said, aloud. u
wonder II Tad's little girl will be like
him"
She drew a letter from her pocket,
spreading It with some difficulty on her
lap. II was two months since this let
ter had 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 brief statement
written by an English lawyer, Of the
death of her nephcw's wife; but wnat
robbed her of strength and set her
pulse 10 bounding wildly was the re-
quest that she prepare TO receive the
little girl into her home, rs 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
iuclosed brought her Thaddeus' last
message. dated long ago;
III my little Primrose should ever stand
in need OF friends. will you take her into
your heart, auntie. where you have ever
hcpt-Tad."
This was why she was driving down
30 stockton on this warm June noon,
for. abedient to her direction, the child
had started In the charge Of acquaint-
ances Of Miss Ahigail's own, who were
returning after n winter on the con
tiucnt. The train was due In an hour.
Lightning turned his head inquirinF-
Is. with = sigh Miss Abigail Aoppcd
the rcins and drove out into the noon
day heat.
The station master lounged out to
help her tie her steed. "'Xpectin' the
little gal. he ye. Abby7' he asked, with
the freedom Of long acquaintance.
She nodded. Her hands were elakped
tightly upon her reticulc when the
train rolled in, but her face was calm.
A gentleman stepped of. then turned
/ a ~
ried his charge along the platform.
"I'm relieved 20 find you here, Mihs
Harding" he said. aB he raised bis hat,
''for ! must go on at once. Here Is the
baggage check. Good-by, little one"
The child held out her hand gravcly.
"Good-by, she said. and her eyes looked
wistfuliy after him as he SprRnT upon
the moving train.
Miss Abigail was distinctly disap-
| pointed. She had felt sure Of seeing n
little gypsy with dark skin and curling
brown hair like Tad's. instead, here
was q quaint object Ia sage green with
pale, demure face and floss of yellow
hair under the white sailor. just then
Primrose looked up with a shy smile
and Miss Abigalrs heart softcned, for
here were Tad'A brown eyes. with Tsd's
own look. while Tad's dimple dentsd
| the small chin.
"Aore'n one trunk7" she asked In
her drisst tones. and Primrose, who
had been ready TO kiss this aunt
whom her dear mother had told her
she must love, felt repuis-d.
that night. when shs milk was
strained and the chickens housed.
Miss Abigail Slipped out upon the
south porch. II gave her secret
sense Of ristian when she came upon
Primrose percheE on fhc upper step.
watching the rising rnosn. primrose's
hesrt ached for a mothcrjng. And the
Eew England woman. achcoieh to re-
preston. was ashamed Of the sirupr
desire which urged her TO take the
tired child on her knee and coax the
smile hack Into her brown eyes.
sIseen TO school. ] s'poec." she ssiA.
with an effort NJ sociAbilisy. How did
one talk to ilftis sirif
NO. na'nsn.- Primrose politely
twisted srosrd fe face her.
''Gnaeioss gocdas~i 4 girl ss ysax
agel-