Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-06-20

ing his wood, noticed his father hur- I
| rying in and out, emptying ashes and
sitting coal. ..Pa ought to keep his
hat on" he said to himself, 'sseeing
how cold the wind is" But Jacob Cat
| lin did not look at all as if he would
| receive advice graciously, and 'Lishe
refrained from giving any.
| When the fire was successfully kim
| died, the panes of mica were thor
oughly smoked and the oilcloth and
carpet, where father had split ashes
and then tried to clean them up, looked
as if they had been smeared with
some gray WASH. This result of his
labors CALLED the old man, who had a
| just appreciation, kept as secret IS
the grave, Of Amanda's comfortable
cleanliness. His jaw fell as he sur
| veyed his handiwork.
He went to the barn and hitched his
horse to the light wagon. The cold was
not so keen when he set forth, but
there was a chill in the ai- which pene-
trated his tired old bones. Stopping
at the next neighbor's, he held a parley
|
lin home and clean up and fix things
as they ought to Le. For this service
father paid her in advance. He also
offered to drive her over, but she re-
| piled that with the wind blowing the
| way it did she'd rather walk.
Father therefore went on toward
town and stopped at a florists. He
! pOttered about in the SufOcating,
steamy atmosphere fro : one green
house to another, because, although he
knew many of the plants he wanted
| by sight, he did not know their names.
He would have only the best speci-
mems and he bought some new ones
| which took his fancy.
/ 'You can't take these home any such
day as this,' said the proprietor, who
had followed him around in amaze
ment and some irritation at his delib
GRAFTON and his criticisms
"Why not? why not?" asked Jacob
Catlin, testify. He was finally con-
vinced with difficulty that it was too
cold.
"We can send them in our covered
rig tomorrow, If it warns up some,"
said the florist, and Mr.. Catlin was
obliged to content himself with going
away emptyhanded as he had come.
Before he reached home be realized
that he felt very i'll; and as he was
painfully putting up the horse, he said
to himself, much as he might have re-
torted upon Amanda, Il reckon what
coal I've saved will cost me middling
dear before get through" Then he
added, with return of his wonted
spirit, "But it's worth something to
find out what a tomfool an old critter
can be that's bound to have his own
way"'
He was covering over the kitchen
hearth when his son came in to sup
per.
'Lishe, as he went back and forth,
observed the old man silently for some
time. Then he said, "You amt going
to have sick spell, are you, pa?"
Il don't know but am,' said the old
man, fQrlornly. There was a kind OF
unconscious appeal in his face, al
ready flushed and swollen with fever.
'Lishe acted promptly. Within an
|
he and the doctor were making poul-
tees.
Some time the next day Jacob Cat
Inns dulled senses apprised him that
Amanda's face was bending over him,
and that there was nothing in it's ex-
preston to be dreaded, only a great
and comforting compassion.
| hn hi f< o
stupor broken by intervals of delirium,
when he had it in mind always to tell
Amanda something if he could sum-
mon strength enough. At last, one day
when her quick, kind hands were busy
about linn, ne managed to clutch one
of them and hold it feebly. Amanda
bent down close. In a sudden flash
Of intelligence she understood, and
could answer that tormenting thought
Of his.
, '"Those flowers you got me are splen-
did, father" she said. Il never had
any SO pretty before. They're grow
: ing to beat allv'
Father listened greedily; finally he
, mustered all his strength. Il shan't
meddle with your stove again. he
whispered, hoarsely.
9 She laughed little, lest he should
O imagine he saw tears in her eyes. ssOh
+ pshaw! Yes, you will; you can see now
just how it acts.''
!, But the old man shook his head firm.
+ ly, and having thus expressly re-
= nounced the dictatorship of the check
!, draft and set all right between him
self and Amanda, he fell asleep, hold
ing her hand in his tremulous grasp.-
! Youths Companion.
+ --