Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-11-22
Ha.x.n-haired chilo If three AIRS old.

haxen-haired chilo of three Gears old.
On, me so glad You have come back,
heuoen! said the child, half laughing,
70 pegin with, and then wholly crying
as n wind-up.
She'll catch her death of coldr' cried
MI. Jennings. Tots how could you come
down like this? why amt you asleep?"
on sald-you said" sobbed the child,
mat ne was coming home tonight"
wen, mere | am, young one; don't cry
about 1T, murmured the big man, as his
arms folded the child to his breast, and
his handsome brown beard hid her face
from view, and tickled her terribly, for
she struggled into a sitting position away
from it, and rubbed her face and eyes
theoretically.
Elizabeth" said Lucy, severely "this
is very wrong. Didn't you promise to so
to sleep?'
Il touldn't," answered Elizabeth
Come with me" began her aunt
again, when Tots let forth so tremen-
dous yell that even Lucy, a woman not
easily put down. succumbed at once.
Let her be-" said Reuben Culwick
grutf1y; then there was a second pause,
after which he whispered in the child's
car few words that arrested her at
tentlon, and Tots sat up again.
Where is it?" asked Tots.
In my portmanteau at the railway
station-coming home tomorrow, if Tots
will go to bed now"
and as big as data" said Tots, open
ing her arms to their fullest extent.
Bigger"
Me go to bed" said Tots with alac.
rity-"but," she added, 100 must carry
me up tairs."
'Of course I WILL Goodnight, Uncle
Jennings; goodnight aunt-we're off,
both of u.s." cried Reuben Culwick, and
he was out of the room and striding up
stairs with the child before there was
time for Tots to change her mind in anv
way.
Brother and sister did not attempt to
follow him; the brother sat and listened
until the tramplng feet in the room above
announced that Reuben had deposited
his charge in her crib and retired to his
own apartments; the thin woman with
the worn face turned toward the fire,
fast dying out, and passed hand across
her eyes, as if by stealth.
"How fond he is of children" said
John Jennings; Il think big men always
are, Lucy. There was Topping
Don't bother me about Topping"
said Lucy.
''Ahem!-no," he said, with his feeble
little cough prefacing his remarks again;
mot if you wish it, certainly. Still, it's
odd"
'What is odd?'
"That Reuben's coming back should
have put you out in this way"
81 prayed he might never come again."
''Why, we couldn't afford"
''The man deserved better fortune than
he can find here" she cried, 'and so I
didn't want him back. Besides, we don't
agree"
I'm sorry Reuben has seen you in this
tantrum, because l have often fancied
that by and by you and he would get to
like each other. He is a man who wants
something to love-look at him ana that
child for instance--and you're not a
great deal too old, and he's not proud,
and YOU'RE"
He stopped rs Lucy Jennings swung
herself round, perfect yirago in her last
and worst attack of passion. He had
never seen Lucy show off in this way be-
fore.
'John, you're fool" she screamed;
'you are the worst of fools to think like
that, to talk like it. l marry him! he
think of me! l tell you l hate you for
saying this tonight"
John Jennings gasped for breath.
my dear, I'm sorry if / have nurt
your feelings If you don't mind, I'll go
to bed"
She dd-not answer, and John ZEN
nings, after passing his hand over his
forehead in a bewildered manner, went
to bed accordingly.
When she was sure that he was gone,
the woman sank of heap on the shabby
hearth rug, and buried her face in her
arms, which she leaned upon the chair.
1t was bitter grief, in which strange
words escaped her.
"Why has he come back? Why couldn't
he stop away for good?'
Go be continued.f