The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-01-01

There's another way I've thought
OF this minute, baby. I'll tell vol
just you. Listen. Won't that be a
beautiful way, don't you think?"
Down in the meadow the census
man was asking questions.
"And your mothers age?" he ask
ed briskly. tI saw her up at the
house, but I guess she didn't want
me to know it,. Women don't"
Thaddeus Leonard drew himself
up stiffly. It hurt him unaccounta-
bly, to have Emily taken for his
mother. Did she look as old as
that? Why, Emily had been fresh
and fair and rosy-it wasn't such
great while ago.
"Aly mother died ten years ago.
My wife is thirty-seven," Thaddeus
! said formally.
/, "Well, I swan! Thirty-seven, did
you say? took her for the old
lady, sure. She warn't real glad to
see me. | guess that Influenced me.
Born what day, did you say?"
81 didn't say. She was born the
9th of June"S
I Thaddeus suddenly stopped. His
fresh, round face took on an extra
flush. He had rcmemt cred. It was
Emily's birthday. He answered the
other questions shortly, his mind on
something else-on fresh, bloom
ing little woman whose sweet, laugh
ing eyes he had given a birthday
kiss fifteen years ago. And the
next year, and the next-for how
many years was it he had kissed
Emily on her birthday and slipped
little gift into her hand! Not for
q good many years now. Thaddeus
Leonard would not let himself count
them. He turned back to his work,
but all the morning Emily's girl
face, fair. and happy, was before
him. And that man had taken En-.
ily for his mother. Emily's face was
lined and worn and thin now. Thir-
ty-seven was not old. It wasn't
right. 1t ought to be round and
happy now. If he should kiss it
if he should slip little gift-Thad-
deus Leonard flung down his scythc
and hurried down the hot road to-
ward the village, a mile away.
At little past 12 the little blue
sunbonnets bobbed home from
school. Emily met them at the
gate and hugged them both.
"Mother's sorry she was cross this
morning." she whispered, "and on
her birthday too! Did you know it
was mothers birthday today? Well,
it is, and there's going to be cele-
bration!"
The little girls gazed up at moth
er with shy wonder. She was dress
ed in her best dress, and her hair
was curly round her face. Mother
looked pretty and happy.
Emily laughed aloud at the Won
dering little faces. She touched the
ribbon at her throat and smoothed
out her fresh white apron.
''This is part of the celebra-
tionp she cried gayly. She caught
sight of Thaddeus coming up the
road and with a sudden impulse
waved her hand at him. A laugh
and sob choked in her throat to-
gether. It was SO good to be cele-
brating!
The dining room door was locked,
to the children's surprise. But
ThaSdeus. crept secretly in at the
window. Then his turn came to be
surprised. He stood before the dain-
ty table in absolute amazement. It
was spread with a white cloth, and
the best blue and white dishes were
on it. There were flowers, too-a
big cluster in the center and tiny
bunch at each plate. It was laid
with exquisite care, and there was
something mysterious and napkin
draped beside the vase Of flowers.
Thaddeus lifted the covering gen.
tly.
"Well, Of all thingsp he breath
ed, and the sound in the mans
throat was like sob. It was q
birthday cake beside the flowers. It
was frosted thickly, and the letters
CnaC strayed across 1t crOSswlse
made the word ssWelcome." It was
mothers invitation to her little
birthday feast.
Thaddeus Leopard replaced the
napkin gently. He slipped a little
tissue package from his pocket to
Emily's place and then groped his
way to the window as if he could
not see clearly.
Dinner was at 1880 promptly,
and the pretty table was surrounded
with row of wondering, delighted
faces. There was an instant's hush,
and then clatter Of sweet, shrill
little voices. Emily lifted the small
tissue bundle with low cry of JOY,
but before she had time to open it
Thaddeus was beside her-and he