The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-12-18

| dinner" he said, then laughed In a
shamefaced way "Tn 60 now" and
me started to the door.
But Bob returned TO life suddenly;
she slipped from the table and caught
/ his coat
NO no" she cried. "walt. you
must eat the things! Yes It won't
take me a minute. You must" as he
/ tried TO move away.
lie looked at her, then moved I'm.
easily.
You're q funny kid" he said. "All
right, I'll stay; only / must be going
soon, and don't want much" Then
he glanced down at his hands. 81 exc
pect I'd better wash them. hadn'tIp
He went out OF the door, and Bob
tiptoed after him, watching, until he
turned into the Enclosed porch, between
the kitchen and the smokehouse. Then
she went back 10 the kitchen and with
a funny little gesture she pressed both
hands over her mouth as If to suppress
her delighted giggles, while she danced
from one foot to the other In her ex'
element.
When the man returned he opened
his eyes at the repast which the child
had laid out for him.
I'm sorry It's only the kitchen cloth,
but it's perfectly clean" she assured
him. with q nervous little laugh, as she
tried to carry a chair for him. He
took It from her with a muttered
THANK you. let me do It." and Bob
sat in n chair opposite and watched
his every movement into atty. lie was
a little uneasy ut first, but he evidently
needed the food and ate hungrily.
Bobs eyes frightened as she saw him
unfold his napkin with a little shake
and lay it across his knee and move
his knife, fork and glass of milk a little
to one side and back again. Slice after
slice Of cold beef and ham disappeared,
and when ne cut the raw tomatoes in
slices in the small plate and covered
them quickly with the rich mayonnalse
: dressing Nell had made that morning,
she covered her mouth again and in
dulged in silent laughter.
When the last bite Of apple pie van
ished, the man got up and looked
about
"Thank you, little onel Good-by,"
he said.
mo, you mustn't go yet" answered
the child. Come to mother"
He moved restlessly and shook his
5 head.
Mothers don't want TO see tramps or
; peach plucks,' he said.
The child looked at him gravely.
] "You are my brother JIM she said.
The man snatched his cap from a
l chair and turned but she was too
S quick for him.
r IF you go, I'll scream, and that will
: frghten mother and she's sick. Oh,
aren't you my brother JimY
:. "What makes you think SOP? he
r asked unsteadily. Bob laughed hap
t PLY.
! "'Cause you never asked me where
i the holder was, and you fixed the fire
+ just like Nell does, and you put the
e kettle in the basin without being told
and you knew where the coal was.
V was almost sure you were Jim, FOL
n we're always expecting you, you know
n And then you didn't go to the pump tC
f wash; you went to the little room
S where Jim made the water run before
Il / was born. But / was certain sure
p when you shook your napkin and pu-
y the dressing on the tomatoes, because
S mother said jim shook it like that an(
It he loved them that way, and father
S told Nell to keep lots of things in thu
e pantry cause Jim would be hungry
when he came in; he always was
i And I watched, and you ate ever!
! little teeny bit"
The man hid his face in his arm
n against the door, but Bob pulled hin
d impatiently.
'e Come to mother" she coaxed.
ID Together they went through the lon
h hall and across the sitting room t
N the shady porch, where Nell was al
e ranging her mothers pillows.
n "Motherr' called the eager littl
y voice, 1--WE brought Jimw And 30
I'd glanced around the group, where Jill
is and Nell and mother were all togethe
er on the sofa.
Id Later on she sat happily on the la
Of her peach pluck, eating huge slic
I'd of bread and rich, dark peach butte
to and listening as Jim told Of his runnin
I'd away because he wanted to see I'll
ne world; how he had wandered an
ell worked and ramped for ten who
tie years. until the bitter homesickne'
IS had driven him back again. He ha
not meant any one to see him, for 1