Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-05-18
By J. n. CONNOLLY.

little child, until now this break had
come In the habits of lifetime, and 1t
was with a startled, half-painful feeling
that, looking upon this great, strong,
sclf-reliant, purposeful-looking man, she
missed her little child. 1t was only as
she closed her eyes and listened to his
voice that the sweet long-chcrished fan
| cy came back to her. And even the voice,
she imagined, had firm, ringing tone
| that 1t did not use to have. She sighed.
1t would take little time for her to
grow accustomed to this new John.
After supper, mother and son sat upon
the doorstep, looking out on the garden.
watching the swift martins in their grace
full flights about the old house, to which
they had but recently returned for the
summer. Until now she had kept him
talking about himself and what he had
been doing when away from her. Finally
she said:
Something very strange has happened
here. John. Yesterday morning, the
Reverend Mr.. Mcleod sent over note,
asking for the spoons and watch you
found up on the Backbone"
How did he know l ever found any
thing thcre?"
THAT Is more than I can tell you.
All know is that he asked for them;
and. more than that, he knew the in
tials on the spoons-'R. w. Band the
number of the watch"
II suppose he has In some way found
out the owner. You sent them to him, of
courseT'
Eyes. sent them ALL"
"That was right"
"And he sent again to say would I
please, when you came home, send you
| over. too"
"Mc! Is there anything more he
wants?'
II don't know. But I shouldn't be sur
prised IL there were. The clergy are al
ways great hands for asking, you know"
"Wcll, I'll meet him at church to-mor.
row. and see about 1t then"
Maybe"
"Why do you say maybe motherT'
"l'm thinking it's little you'll see or
hear tomorrow but Hetty Mulveil."
II do want to see her. that's n fact,
mother. I've been away such long
time"
Don't know It, my boy? Haven't
you been away from me for the first time
In your life? oh, yes. l know It has
, been long time"
"Well, won't go away from home
any more, for anybody or anything. I'll
just marry Hctty. and settle down to be.
come regular old moss-back farmer"
"Why do you speak that way, John, Of
what your father was-a farmer?"
lie looked ut her and hesitated. Should
he tell her how he sympathizcd with his
| Uncle David's admiration for the manly
work OF iron.makingY The fascination
! II had for him? No. 1t would only make
her uneasy, perhaps, with a fear that
some day he might go away again to the
mill. So he only laughed, and replied
| lightly:
"Why. mother, don't the rocks and
| trees and everything that stays long In
| one place get a coat of moss? Can't yo,
imagine there IL a sort OF invisible but
| real moss creeping over us, too, when we
keep quiet In one spot good whiley"
"What n notion! When are you going
to marry HcttyY'
"The very first chance can make after
| church tomorrow"
The old woman mcditatcd In silence for
a little while: then, stroking his hair
with an affectionate, caressing touch and
| suppressing sigh, said gently:
II shall have to be the best mother
can for both Of you. Mrs. Mulveil isn't
reported as taking any more kindly to the
arrangement than she did when Hetty
ran away with YOU"
| "Say, tell me, mother; don't you think
| l should have married her then?"
| II do not presume to say. my boy. But
I think, IL your father had run of with
me. there would have been wedding be-
fore either of us got back"
John silently grltted his teeth. She
went on:
"Mr. Roger McFarlane Is said to be
making very serious advances to the
widow Mulvcil. ! suppose some folks
will say such goings-on are shameful be-
tween two like them, who are at least old
enough to know better, but for my part
do not see that 1t Is anybody else's bust
ness than their own. And l would be
very glad of II IL the effect should be, as
1t very well might, to soften her and give
her something else to think about than
crossing Hctty."
''The old Scotchman would make her a
really good husband, | have no doubt,
and whatever influence he might have
would certainly be used In my behalf"
II don't question IT. and l don't doubt
Mrs. Mulveil would be quite a decent
body herself IL she could only be induced
to forget that Hetty's father was a Null
veil. l should think she'd want to. A
| Mulveil, indeed! Not that l have any
thing against the Mulvcils myself. I'm
sure Hetty could not be any prettier, or
better girl, whatever she might he. But
oh, dear! l do wish sometimes, John,
that she were II Cameron"
$50 do !, dear mother" replied John,
| laughngly, "and l mean that she shall
be, just as soon as possible"
| cI p'rEn w