The National tribune., 1903-03-12

don't like leaving the two little 'uns."
struggled manfully to keep them back; and
then he added: "And don't like leaving
Miss May l couldn't ha' gone if she
hadn't been better
'.And when do you start?
Tomorrow, mum; it's very sudden-like,
but they say chances always is. l came
to say goodbye. May l go up to the
young ladies!" took him up to the
nursery myself. He looked at the children
with tie face of one who had suddenly
grown older and knew much, and was
going to know more. He explained all
about his journey to them, and why he
was going. just as if they had been old
enough to understand, and then he gravely
and sorrOwfully shook hands with them
all three and with nurse.
Il don't want you to co. May said. Il
want you to stay here. When will you
come back?"
Il don't know when, but I'll come, Miss
May; never fear but I'll come back. Your
garden is all in ORDER" he added. Maybe
the gardener will look after it bit now"
They followed him, the three children and
nurse, to the head of the stairs. and stood
looking through and over the banisters.
Goodbye, goodbye" called May and
the others, watching him descend.
Goodbye" he said.
Goodbye" and suddenly Mays little
shoe. which was unbuttoned fell through
the r:iling on to the stairs beneath, touch
ing him as it fell.
ITS good luck" nurse called out ITS
real good luck, Thomas; she's dropped her
shoe after you" He picked it up and
looked at it, a little old shoe, with hole
nearly through at the toe.
please, mum, may l keep it," he
he looked up at her with a satisfied face
IN take it. Miss May, I'm going to
keep it. It'lI go all the way with me in
the ship" He stopped in the hall, and
turned round. "Please, num-" he said
and pulled his hair once more, 81 want to
say thank you for all your Kindness
YOu's aIlays been a good friend to u.s."
he added approvingly.
"And you have been good boy.
Thomas, l answered gratefully, land
know that you'll be one STILL"
I'll try, for mothers sake, and yours,
and Miss Mays" he said, and strobe
sturdily towards the street door.
You must shake hands with me, too,
Thomas" l said, and gave him a sover-
eign. He took the gold in silence, turning
it over in surprise, as if to be sure that
| it was real. He looked such baby while
he did SO that l wondered if the Captain
| VI emp tdheu Iducy 10 HIS pale
| face and sad eyes, or what hard work he
thought those small hands could do. Poor
| little Thomas, going alone to the other
| side of the world, leaving all he cared for
here. my heart went out to him. Did not
his mother bear him with the same pains
that l had borne my children? Had she
not once look at him with the strange
wonder that l had looked at my first little
one! And now her heart would ache
| hon ind H.,
| thought of the little lad at sea, trying to
| get strong in order to take care of her
| by-and-by. / thought of how he had sat
and sobbed the night he heard that May
was better, of how l had seen his father
lying dead with the surprised smile on his
face, as though he had seen the heavenly
city-what would he say now, wondered,
IL he could see his son starting alone out
into the world?
Good bye, dear little lad" 1 said.
May you grow strong, and be a brave
and good man,, ard l stopped and kissed
him. Thomas said not a word; but 1
knew that he was crying, as he strobe
towards the door.
Mrs. Lobb got on pretty well after her
boy went. But sorrow overlook her
again; the poor skinny little baby died.
Lire could never have been joy to it.
Surely it was blessing in disguise when
death took it.
Eighteen years had gone by. The Lobbs
had passed altogether out of my life.
Thomas had never come back. I heard
that he had found his uncle in Melbourne,
and had gone with him to Graham's
Town, in South Africa. From there the
uncle had sent for Mrs. Lobb and Oracle,
and that was the last l knew Of them,
or ever expected to know.
! had given up the house in which we
had lived SO long in England, and settled
at Lutry, near Lausanne, where living and
education was cheaper than in England,
There the years slipped away peacefully
enoGyh till the three girls were grown up
It'll May was a woman Of three-and-
twenty. She was pretty girl, just as she
had been pretty child, and at three-and-
twenty looked 1S-a tall, slim girl, with
golden hair and blue eyes, and merry.
happy laugh Il did one good to hear.
used to wonder sometimes il she would