Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-19

turbed by a rupture caused by the in- tolerable monotony of their lives set ting down on their nerves. Then, after more days, more discontent, more desolation, there was another rupture, until the existing state ofi affairs could be endured no longer.
 It was then Julie Mason wrote for the little niece who had been the flower girl at her wedding, to come out and spend the winter with them.
 The prospect of having child in the house, albeit a borrowed one, put new interest in both their bro- ken lives. They grew less indifferent to their manners and appearance, and even tried to establish a. better understanding with each other-for the child's sake. The trap was over. hauled and repainted, pony was bought, and kitten was saved from the drowning for a pet for 'Lisbeth.
 But when 'Lisbeth arrived. with the added weight of ten years upon her curly head, she was not the little tot they had left behind them ten years ago, and that they, in their blindness, had still expected to see. Elisab beth was now a woman, and keenly alive to the fact.
 Julie Mason took 'Lisbeth to her arms, as she would have taken any human soul for the sake of compan- fonship, but there was still an ache in her heart for the child she had expected to see. And Elisabeth, in her turn, took her aunt, her aunt's husband, and everything on the ranch, straight to her heart. And every live creature about the place felt the spell of her presence; the dear little pigs, the cunning little chickens, the sweet little calves, all brought gurgles of delight to her lips. The mettlesome horses Mason himself had difficulty in mounting were cajoled by sugar and kisses into carrying her safely. The great St
 Bernards were unclaimed and al lowed to romp with her through the halls. The out-of-tune piano was banged and thumped from morning till night, and buoyant, bubbling springtime reigned supreme all win ter long.
 The trap, as smart and new as ever, was again heard clattering over the roads, for Jack somehow seemed all ways able to find time to show Lis beth the great rolling valley, now growing fresh and young again un- der the touch of the winter rains. If Jack had to go down to the village, 'Lisbeth had to go too because she was the only one who could hold Prancing. Billy steady. If he had to ride horseback over the fields, still 'Lisbeth must go along, because Blackbird went so much better if some one rode Dick. And it was sur- prising, to Mrs. Mason at least, how many excursions of the sort seemed suddenly necessary.
 As Julie Mason watched them day after day starting off together, Jacks shoulders growing straighter, his step brisker, his manner gentler, the
 ache in her heart took different form and grew deeper. And when she met them on their return, Lis
 beth sparkling and dimpling and
 Jack gallant and gentle, she sighed for her old desolation deux
 That Julie seemed to grow Trailer and thinner since Elisabeth's arrival, instead of better as they had hoped,
 Jack did not seem to notice. In fact, l nobody seemed to notice Julie much any more. 'Lisbeth was sweet and thoughtful enough when they were alone together, but 'Lisbeth was not shrewd enough to keep her aunt from