The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-01


And thankfully with lingering touch
of affection, she laid down the small
bit of pasteboard on the rustic table
before her.
They were sitting in the vicarage
veranda, their eyes on the still even
ing beyond. The old man-her fathers
latest curate, just arrived, pensive
gray cleric, with the dust of life's
journey upon hin-the old man reused
Of his deep wicker chair.
Eyes" he said, yes" his long gaze
still heavy on the broadly Swallowed
meadows that sank to the twinkle be-
low. Then suddenly recollecting the
requirements of courtesy, he clawed at
the photograph with one shriveled
claw. "A lovely face" he repeated,
holding the thing close to his short
sighted eyes. ANY relation2" He
dropped the card back on the table,
only an inch or two, but she resented
the swiftness Of it's descent. He did
not notice; he was not particularly in
terested; the world had been rough to
him, and the thoughts that he cared to
think were few.
"She was my mother" said the vi
cars daughter. The girl being young
and happy, the old mans pallid sad
ness pleased her. The various curates
seemed unaccountably alike. They had
always said the same thing; they had
always looked prepared to say it. They
had always been youthful to the eX
IRENE of callow smoothness; there had
never been anything about them that
was not of their curateship.
"She was my mother" said Lilias,
with impulsive demand for sympathy.
Il never speak of her to strangers.
can't ing pjna what made mo show Won
the photograph"
you could not we'll help yourself;
I was close to you before you were
aware. I fear that I intruded." The
old mans manner had changed from
listless to anXious-his usual change.
ooh, no: you see it. happens to be
mothers birthday, and 1 had brought
out this photo to put into the new
frame / gave father this morning. Do
you go in for woodcarving? Don't
you think this is rather good? Please
say so; I've taken a lot Of trouble
over it."
ut is perfectly beautiful" he said;
II can't imagine how human fingers
can do anything so clever. Why, I
can't even carve a joint"
She laughed merrily. who cuts
your meat for you then?"
I'm agraid you must think me very
helpless. What is worse, I'm afraid
am helpless. have been accustomed
to being looked after all my life-till
lately" The tone of his voice preclud-
ed further inquiry.
$50 this was your mother" he said,
once more lifting the card and gazing
at 1t intently. His manner had changed
altogether; something Of the sun be-
through the film Of his eyes.
HT will fell Won all about herr she
said swiftly. There isn't much to tell.
She died when I was four years old.
Father was quite broken hearted. He
was cavalry officer, you know, in the
Seventh Hussars. A couple of years
later he threw it all up, as he says,
and entered the church. He bought
this out-of- the-way living in Ireland.
since, he and l."
"Quite alone"
"Quite alone, with a couple of Irish
servants. You will like the people here
when you get to know them. You can't
think what a delicious place this is, the
lovely country, the lovely childrenl
Oil" she stopped suddenly. Il for
got"
He gazed at her curiously. what
is it?"
"The curates have always found 1t
so dull" she said dropping her eyelids
demurely. can't think why. What
ever the faults Of the people may be
they always seem to me entirely anus
ing"
"You find life very cheerful" he an
swered in weary tones. you have had
a good time, it appears, hitherto"
"Of course I have, with father. I'm
as happy as the day is long. You can't
imagine how good father has always
been TO me. I've learned all know
from father. Riding, and history, and
French. But" she swept her hand en-
ergetically across the table. TO the
dull all things are dull says father"
Els not that rather hard on the Gu,
hit on an answer, II have never found
life dull" he said. mot that" The words
fell like a great blackness on the land
Lillas broke the grim silence, speaking
softly. Father has had a lot of trouble,
too. you see, and people who don't know
him well think him rather forbidding.
that was only, when he was sitting by him
self and thinking, and didn't know was
anywhere near. used to imagine then his
face was like the king in my history book
ed again. But you should hear father
shout with laughterl What romps we had,
father and l."
"You are right" he burst out, vehe-
mently Nobody need be unhappy who
lives with a creature he lowest" She took
up the frame and began filing it.
And I who pitied you! Pitied you from
the bottom Of my hearth he went on.
because you had never known moth
er's love-"
Lilias laid down the frame in her lap
said slowly, kthat IS what people say,
Never known a mothers. love I often
think Of 1t and try to understand 1t. And
t see that It Is very dreadful. But, YOU
know, don't, quite realize how dreadful
Il Is. or exactly why. 1 remember moth
ing Of mgher except It sometimes sanns Ea{Ser
g sovs q 10 q fancy. I know ali about herr
she exclaimed. Father has told me all
through telling than II / had lived with
her f She was an angel an angel of pity
and kindness to the poor. and compass
sionate Father has always said how
good she was to everybody eF{aN y t As cid
Somehow we speak less Of her-hardly
ever now am grown w.
aMina has been 4 very unimportant