The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1903-07-10


still.
Think of the sheep, dear" said the
mother, using a recipe she had found
successful with Joan in a former child
ish illness. Count them as they come
up to the gate and jump over it. See,
there they gO-one, two, three"
Presently the great eyes opened with
piteously worried look.
Mother" they stick They won't
jump over the gate at allv'
All the woman's pride had gone.
She racked her brain for some clew
of her husbands whereabouts. At
last she thought she had one faint and
elusive, but she would try-she would
telegraph She crept from the room
while Joan lay in an uneasy doze, and
wrote her telegram, and sent it off
with a wild prayer in her heart.
The night-so long that Joan thought
after each doze that it was a fresh
weary night begun again-passed; the
sun rose in a glory that flooded the
room and shone pink on the weary lit
tie face lying on the crumpled pillow
and then, when the pink glory had fad
ed and left only one bar of gold peep
ing through the blinds, and resting
lovingly on the yellow curls, he came
Straight to the little bedroom he
came
You see, queen of the garden, 8"
babbled the restless little voice, ''it
hurts rather bad. He loved you the
bestest of all; but he won't come-and
l mustn't cry, you see. But it hurts'
He bent over her, her tiny hand in
his.
Joan"
Joan's beaming smile greeted him.
'He has come queen of the garden
Man Daddy has Gomez she said;
with an Infinite content. and fell asleep.
When she awakened the pain had
"most gone"
Il knOwed you would take 1t away,
Man Daddy, ut''-wlstfully-"I didn t
find you, did I?'
He glanced across the bed at the
woman's down-bent head.
yes, Joan, you did. If you hadn't
looked for me l should not have come"
She half smiled.
But"
"Never mind now, little one 1t is
all through you l am here"
Honest Ingin, Man Daddy?"
"Honest Ingin, joan"
She beamed, satisfied.
'If 1 hadn't looked for you, you
wouldn't have coined. Aren't you ever
so glad, mother?"
Low and earnest came the woman's
answer:
Yes, dear"
MAY I go and tell the flowers now
Man Daddy?"
'Not yet, JOAN"
But you haven tied up my stun
mick into a dolly"
Not this time. Lie still and be good
little one"
Yes, Man Daddy. Kiss me-"
He bent over her and kissed her.
you, too, mother" Then suddenl,
she dimbled gleefully. 81 want
tumble kiss" she said.
There was little constrained pause
"You haven't forgotted, Man Dad
dy?" in shrill tones of woe.
mo"
"Then be quickw holding out he
hands. Come long, mother"
I'VE must humor her" murmurec
the mother with downcast eyes. Il
is a foolish game, but"
The man kept his arm around he
when the game" was over.
I'VE must pretend well, she is s.
sharp" he muttered, weakly.
Joan lay and chuckled drowsily
When the long lashes rested on tn
baby's cheeks, the woman made
slight movement away from him; bu
his arm frightened.
Suppose she wakened?' he said.
. There was no sound then in the room
save the ticking of his watch. Pres
emily he spoke:
Mora, l cannot go away again"
"Stay"-she breathed-"I do not be
lieve that tale"
God bless you, dear!w
Silence again. Then
Il should have denied it, Nora"
"No-no; l was wicked to. doul
you"
, Il deny it now, before"
But she stopped him with a kiss.
MAN Daddy, kiss me, too. May
go and tell the flowers in the morn
in? l am ker-wite well now"
go to sleep again, little one"
- She shut her eyes Obediently, the
opened them with a gleeful smile.
), "All the Sleeps are jumping owe
-, the gate now. motherw she cried-"e,