St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-02-14

my neart. couldn't bear to be part
ed from him now. But don't you
mind?" looking at him with inward
resentment at his Indifference
won't you be very lonely withou'
him?"
''It will be best for the child to bt
with you for time at least, I think
} as you are willing to have him. Al
you say, he is not strong enough tt
stand any shock, and he would miss
you. I suppose your engagements
will necessitate your returning te
town soon?''
eyes, I ought to have gone BEFORE
flushing at his evident anxiety to gel
rid Of her. 'We will go as soon as
the doctor says he can travel Then
as he was leaving the room, "I-l
should like to thank you very much
for trusting me-for letting me have
him.
"There is no need. I have been
thinking it over and it seems best
for the boy" he answered, as he
closed the door.
"Of course there would be no
thought of me in it, she said to her
self, bitterly. Il wonder why he
hates me so much now? Once upon
a time," the rose color in her cheeks
| growing deeper, Il am sure he cared
for me more than little in his curl
GUS restrained way"
1t was still early when she went
| upstairs to bed, but she was tired of
her own company. AS she lit. the
candles the boy opened his eyes-he
slept in little bed in her room now
and called to her.
I'm not bit sleepy. Come and
| talk to me, MOTHER" he said. She
sat down in the low chair and laid
her head on his pillow as he liked to
have her.
give got something to tell you,
sweetheart she said, tucking one of
his hands under her cheek. "What
do you think has happened? You are
to come with me to mothers home.
How will you like that?'
A wise and more prudent mother
would have hesitated to excite the
child at that hour, but Denise was
creature of impulse.
go away with you and see all the
beautiful things you have told me
about? Do you really mean it,
mother? How love1y!" springing up
in bed with shining eyes. "And is
father coming, too?'
Father does not want to come,
darling" The childish face grew
grave.
SIT will be dull for father all alone
here" he said, seriously. ''You ask
him to come, mother; he'll come for
YOU"
''Not for me, for me perhaps least
of ALL" she murmured, forgetting
that she was talking to a child; but
little Michael was wiser than his
years.
go, now, MOTHER" he said, coax
ingly. ''Try. Wait, I'll tell you a Sc
cret; it can't be wrong to tell you.
Father keeps picture of you locked
up; saw him looking at it one night,
and-and," in an awed whisper, che
kissed it before he put it away. Peo-
pie must love a person very much to
kiss their picture, mustn't they,
mother?" Kisses had been rare lux
uries in his life.
''Kissed my picture? Are you sure,
little Michael?" The child nodded,
watching her intently. Denise
thought of how she was going to
make the desolate home more DESC
late, and the tears rushed to her
eyes.
'1']l try my sonny-Pll try for your
sake,' she cried, and she went from
the room. Her heart was beating
fast with fear and excitement as she
hurried down the stairs before her
courage failed her. What if he
should be angry: what if he should
repulse her? She shivered at the
thought.
She softly opened the library door,
where he was in the habit of sitting |
at night. A lamp was burning dimly
en- the table in the center of the |
room, and its light fell on the bowed |
head Of man; some books and pa
pers had been overturned as he threw
out his arms, and mutely emphasized
that aspect of despair. Denise for
got her fears.
Michael" she cried in sobbing
voice, her arm around his neck, her
cheek to his-'Michael; I've been
bad wife, but want to be better
one. Will you take me back?''
He looked up and she saw that his
eyes were wet.
us that you?" he said, heavily.
''What is it?-what has ~happened?"
Nothing" softly, Except that I
have found out that want you. We
both want you, little Michael and I.
You won't send us away-or you will
come, too?"
"Want me-youw he said, in a
husky whisper. ''Is it really true,
Denise?" He held her in his arms as
one holds something very precious
that one is half afraid to touch.
I had almost given up praying and
hoping. BLACK and White.
Thanking Uncle Ned.
'My niece Mary was always we'll
girl" remarked the old
gentleman, ''but she would say the