St. Tammany farmer., 1903-05-02

crying, and what with the supper to
get and the baby, l couldn't do any
thing; but she has taught him some
new game and it has helped me work
to hear him laughing since. I was
little afraid, though, that you would
mind the noise"
'Not that kind. It does me good
''The baby's growing and laughing,
and 1 declare, the cakes are done to
a turn; there's truth in the saying
that they bake better in a cheerful
oven. Now. / just think l ought to
hand her in plate of them for her
tea. I'm afraid we have been too
busy to be neighborly; it must be
lonely coming home every night
for a poor body like her, and work
ing hard all day."
The little boy came and rested his
plump arms on her thin knees. I've
had splendid time, and I'll always
have someone to play with, now.
! L wish he hesitated, as ii he
felt he should not ask more, che
could come and see me sometimes
in my house"
"Why, he will,' she said. His eyes
danced. "When the lamps are light
ed, you get between the lamp and
the wall-never very near the lamp
you know-and you'll find him. Your
papa will help you"
"Oh!" The fat, warm hands
clasped hers in rapture inexpressi
BILE.
She kissed him and lifted him over
the low fence, took the plate of ap
petizing brown cakes from his mother
and went in to her lonely room.
Suddenly, she started; she did moi
seem to be eating her dreary mea
alone, as she had done SO long - sc
long! Was there not figure sitting
opposite, lifting a sociable cup or q
friendly slice when she did, munchins
away in reminiscent silence? A
sense of companionship grew upor
her. She glanced sidewise, not toe
sharply, at the figure now and then
She ate again gay lunches with {
boon comrade of school days, wheI
dreams were bright and the future
a coming fortune; again, she seemed
to enjoy sisters quiet presence. Ev
cry bite and sup was pleasure, where
it had been mere necessity for years
| Still half dreaming, she threw {
napkin over the tea-things, pushed
the table back and dropped into he1
low-seated, high backed rocker, sway
ing to and fro some moments before
she happened to glance up again. Sh'
had moved nearer to the lamp, fur
ther from the wall. Was that mere
ly the shadow of the chair-back, o.
a tall figure bending over her ow,
shadow, shrinking shyly back? He!
old rough-weather hat was hanging
carelessly from side knob of tn.
chair, but the tall figure on the wal
held manly chapeau in gallant ant
deterrent fashion.
Her heart stopped its mechanical
monotonous beating and kept time t.
old music. The breath of Aower
faded summers and summers agt
stole into the room. Her head sanl
upon her arms-not even the lionel,
room might see her face then.
Swaying back and forth. the rock
ing-chair travelled as such things will
quite a way across the room. TIL
hat swung off unnoticed. The head
rest slipped down, as they always do
half-unconsciously she caught it ant
resting it upon her arms, she hid he
face again. -
At last she looked up. "Ah!" sh
breathed. The figure was gone, gon
irrevocably, gone like the summer
and their flowers and the music o
the long ago.
The clock struck an hour past he
bedtime. Slowly she moved about
Strengthening the room, locking tn
door, disrobing, kneeling momen
in the wordless prayer of those VIII
have nothing to expect, nothing t.
ask except that which will surel.
come anyway long rest, sometime
Then, she began to climb slowly il
bed, her last luxury of the day be
ing that flicker of the still-lingerinl
fire instead of the usual chill, eco
nomic dark. And then it was that
on the side of the bed, against tn
wall, as she climbed in, she saw
tall, gently-wavering figure hoverine
as it were, over the bed. Quickly sh
shut her eyes, that she might no
lose it, and lay down happily. sof
hands seemed to smooth the pillow
tuck in the comfort and sweep tn
hair back, as ever so long ago i
} those best of times, when mothe
loved us.
Not in years had the bed SCENE
so soft to the old limbs. Not one
did she think of the old bugbear Q
work on the morrow. just ere sh
drifted into pleasant dreams, sh
thought soft kiss fell upon he
closing lids.