The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-10-09

bought a kettle too-on to boil How
busy he was, how happy. how important!
He sat down before the red Goals to
make the toast, holding it at exactly the
right distance, so that it would brown
without burning.
He almost fancied himself back in the
ia home: he could see the dresser COW
Tered with blue plates and dishes, the
] white-washed walls gay with pictures.
/ the wide old-fashioned fireplace, on enc
| side of which sat Mary, rocking a cradle.
A sob choked in his throat; if the baby
had only lived wealth would have hseL
OF some use. the money that he did not
| care about for himself would have been
a joy and delight to spend on his SON.
His eyes travelled to the window; he did
| not see the elaborate lace curtains or the
dreary London street beyond, but over
row of pink geraniums in scarlet pots,
| he saw through diamond-shaped panes
! cottage garden bright with flowers; the
singing of birds rose above the roar OF
| the traffic
! A strong smell of burning brought him
back to the present The toast was on
lit nc tCON duOtuST Slice duu OCNOICo
all his thoughts to it. When it was
| cooked to perfection, he buttered 1t and
put it down in the fender to keep hot.
Now the kettle was singing loudly; he
heated the pot, put in generous supply
! of tea and was just about to pour the
/ water over it. when the door opened.
With guilty start he looked, expect
! ing to see Perkins. However, it was the
! doctor who stood there, and, before he
had time to speak, John Martin, in
! burst of confidence which surprised him
self, explained matters to him. And the
, doctor, who, under all professional dig
nifty was the most tender-hearted OF
men, understood. He saw the pathetic
size, he comprehended the longing to dc
something for the loved one, the inabil.
! ity imposed by wealth, the perhaps
| ludicrous but thong htful way which love
! had found out. And there was TO trace
; of amusement in voice or face as he ex-
/ planned that he had called again, as
promised. to see the patient
''She is very much better" he cen
| tinued. ''and l am sure she would enjoy
| the tea you have made for her far mere
! than anything else she could have.
will tell the lurse you are going to have
j tea upstairs with Mrs Martin this after
noon"
| The doctor was certainly friend
worth having; how much he explained
to the nurse is rot known, but she was
rot visible when John proudly carried
| the tray upstairs, and it may have also
been owing to the doctors maneuvering
that Perkins cid not appear. And when
John Martin was safely settled by his
wife's bedside with little table before
him and tea, his tea. upon it, the doctor
said good-by and went. AS he closed the
door behind him he heard Mrs Martin
say, in tones of enjoyment: why, John
dear. what lovely tea! Where did you
get it? 1t has some taste in it. rot like
that pale-colored stuff Mrs. Humphrey
always orders
And he heard the old mans proud re-
ply: Il bought it myself. Mary. one shil-
ling and sixpence pound. A Powerful
Blend. syrupy and full favored was on
the label 1t is good, and the toast, too,
isn't it. old woman?"
The doctor smiled. but his eyes were
very tender-looking "a Powerful
Blend" he said to himself as he shut the
| front door behind him; surely love,
added to anything, makes that. >
| Parsons Magazine