Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-12

again. And oh, I'll have to write and tell mamma-my little lady mother!"
 Cant you smooth it over somehow with-with the enemy?''
 "I shouldn't dare try again I'll go to my room and think
 And while Kathie sat contriteIy thinking, Miss Hutton was thinking too, her heart stirred as 1t had not been in years.
 "And I can't imagine what people like you were born fort"
 Something in that last hot speech of Kathie's had caused her to take from her worn trunk the old-fashioned album that held a small picture marked &"SEsie at i've"
 She looked at it long, the little sun. ny, smiling face, the round. bright eyes, the dimpled chin. Nobody won- dered what she was born for in those days, she fancied, when 'sSusie'' was five-or even 10 or 15. She remem- bered the dear, grizzly old gentleman who called her Morning glory and how the home name Sunshine" had chung to her for years and years. When had she lost it? When had she changed from the "Sunshine'', of younger days to the selfish. snappish. disagreeable woman" of now?
 Susie at five" seemed to look Miss Susan Hutton through and through until every corner of her hardened heart was a-quiver with remorse and shame.
 "I would never have expected to be like this" she said, with sudden choke, shutting her eyes tightly upon the slow tears that were filling them. T used to imagine myself growing into Q sweet patient old lady, given to dainty gowns and caps and the plan ming of surprises for the youngsters. A soured, dyspeptic schoolmarm would have been my last idea of myself. I can see it now, though it has all been so gradual-how in my efforts to care for my own health I have lost all con- sideration for the world outside and simply grown more and more self absorbed, nervous and ugly tenn. pered.'' @
 Outside, the March gale rattled the shutters and creaked the gate, but still Miss Hutton sat thinking, thinking.
 That night at dinner she passed Kathie the rolls and smiled as she said:
 There's a corner one., Miss Kathie, brown and crusty. I know your pref erence, you see, and Katherine was so amazed that she almost dropped the bread plate.
 She has always taken the corner rolls herself" said Anita, inacomment- ing upon the matter next day.
 Anita Baxter, don't say word!" said Katherine, solemnly. ttIt makes me want to talk in whispers After all the dreadful things said to her! And do you know she's at home taking care of Johnnie Barnes this minute, while his mother goes to church And she was coo1ng over him as if she'd taken care of babies all her life He must be forgiving little chap or he'd howl in her face, remembering all the unfiattering remarks she's made about him.
 The week long Miss Hutton. gentle. quiet, was an object of mystified won der to her fellow boarders; and when on Saturday night, she invited them all to her room, incredulity could stretch mo farther. 5 .~- I.
 I'm scared of my life,'' said Anita though there ought to be safety in numbers,
 Don't be funny said Katherine For my part, whenever think of her feel like going down on all fours'' "
 But for all that she looked with pleased eyes about Miss Hutton,s cow rooms that bore such a holiday air. It was cool spring night, and the dancing . fire in the little grate threw a rosy Iight upon the fresh white curtains. the little open piano and the bowls of early cro- cuses and jonquils that were scattered about. Through the doorway one caught gl1mpses of dainty, tea table appetiz- fngly suggestive to hungry schoolgirls.
 When everybody had arrived, even to bustl1ng MT. Shepard and the dimnled Barnes baby, Miss Hutton, her face gone suddenly white, walked to the fireplace, and turned to them with something in her manner that hushed all other voices in the room. (. l A Miss Pasini is coming to sing for us presently, she said, land hope you will enjoy it, but before she comes there is something I must say if you will kindly hear me. A week ago somethine happened which set me thinking | which made me realize what miser- | able sort of person-what a failure have been. want t0 apologize all round. really want to be different. I | want friends" And there the voice, first so nervously l hurried, thenso faltering, broke off with choke, and 1t was impulsive Kathie who took a quick step to the older wom- an and placed her warm arm around her. We understand you, Miss Hut ton, indeed we do. You're a real hero inc, and we are glad to be your friends. ''
 And then everybody talked very hard and fast, the baby crowed and laughed Miss Pasini came and sang like a lark, I and Anita slipped over and whispered into Miss Hutton's ear: You may say anything you like about my ridiculous nose. I'll love you anyway!"-Farm and |