River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-06-28


waited his dripping
nozzle and cast comprehensive glance
at the tree tops. Miss Abigail waited
resignedly.
Fortunately there was ample time
and il was a pleasant spot IN when 10
linger Before. the rOadlwound out pc
tween wide fields palpitating in the
MONDAY heat. but here the shadows
DAMNED the white horses back and
checkercd the dust with leafy shapes,
the water trickled unsteady down
from the hillside into the messy
trough.
NJ o,,,,, ,l,.s,y = lone satisfied
,.,,,, l,Ioo,n
breath. nIhduHS 'H' "i'' t"F'
and her face sottcnfd WIN " haPl9
memory. az Was mortar ion' Oh Tue .l.
smell OF the grape Hr>''o' a,"u"'
wopcer II Lad iflie gun WIZ y 'iNs
him.
She crew te''ef rom '''.I i'o'H'''
spreading ~ WIN +Hi''' '.i' ."'N '.' -
lap II was WE ih"n'h sih'' WE :. s
terhad fallen Iikr,. "or"' '"lo htr PH'e'
life. Since Lac ''ath 30 h"hu'h ,iNt
years ago sac nae i'-' mat I''' '''' !
change coHIE not al!'t5 he n'S - :
communication "3> ".isi S'''15it n'
written by an Ea2''Sh 'a"},r OF NJ
death OF fer hept't" > "i''' 'u' VIA I
robbed H,f 81 sirte"Ih ano S'i heI
pulse 70 bounding "hs y was US r.
quest that Size prepare 70 receive iae
little girl into her home. as the mothef
had been an orphan without near KIN
WhlLe on the RAJ her sac she $1,000 inc
closest 10 ! ad chiid. \ sup 81 paper
lhclosed brought htf lhauueuS last
message uateo long ago:
III my little Primrose should ever stand
N neyd 81 iIlehaS, VIII you take neI i inao
ksrt-Tad
This was why She was driving down
10 Stockton on this warm June noon.
for. obet;ent to her direction. the child
had started in the charge OF acquaint
ances Of Miss Abigail's own. who were
returning after winter on the con
tincnt. The train was due in an hour.
Lightning turned his head inquiring
". With a 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. "'Xpectin' the
little cal be vc. 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.
4 gentleman stepped off. then turned
ried his charge along the platform.
I'm relieved TO find YOU here. Miss
Harding" he said. as he raised his hat.
for / must 90 on at once. Here is the
baggage check Good-by. little one
The child held out her hand graveiy.
'Good-hy, 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 Il quaint object in sage green with
pale, demure face and a floss of yellow
hair under the white sailor. Just then
Primrose looked M with shy smile
and Miss AhiSaiis heart softcned, for
here we're Iad'> brown eyes, with Tad 5
own look. while lads dimple dented
the small chm.
"More'n one trunk" she asked III
her dricst tones. and Primrose. who
had been ready to kiss this aunt
whom her dear mother had told her
she must love, felt repulsed.
ffvh Il
strained and th chickens housed.
Miss Abigail slipped out upon the
south porch. 1t gave her a secret
sense Of eIation when she came upon
Primrose perched on the upper step.
watching the rising moon. Primrose
heart ached for mothering. And the
New England woman. schoolcd to re-
precision. was ashamed Of the strong
desire which urged her to take the
tired child on her knee and coax the
smile back into her brown eyes.
Been to school. | s'pose." She said
with an effort al sociability. How aid
one talk to a little "Trip
No. ma'am. Primrose politely
twisted around TO face her
Gracious goodness, 4 girl Of vour
age."
Primrose flushed with embarraSs-
meut Il wasn't strong" she said.
apoiogetically, so mamma taught me
- nome can READ pretty Weli-and
can recIje some poetry
Poetry.
Primrose looked douhtfully at this
". 9 Zoo = H. q
new Fei,'.lNe 9ne l'it toat she was