The Elbert County tribune., 1903-12-24

soon. and don't want much.' Then
he glanced down at his hands. Il ex-
nect I'D better wash them. hadn't II"
He went out of the door, and Bob
tiptoed after him. watching. until he
turned into the inclosed porch. between
the kitchen and the smokehouse. Then
she went back to the kitchen and with
funny little gesture she pressed both
hands over her mouth as IL to suppress
her delighted gisgles, willie she danced
from one foot to the other in her ex-
element
When the man returned he opened
his eyes Mt the repast which the child
had laid out for him.
'rm sorry it's only the kitchen cloth.
but it's perfectly clean" she assured
him. with nervous little laugh, as she
tried to carry chair for him. He
took II from her with n muttered
Thank you. let me do it," and Bob
sat in n chair opposite and watched
HIS every movement intently. He was
n little uneasy Mt first, but he evidently
needed the food and ate hungrlly.
Bob's eyes frightened as she saw him
unfold his napkin with a little shake
his knife. fork and glass of milk little
10 one side and back again. Slice after
slice of cold beef and ham disappeared.
and when he cut the raw tomatoes in
slices In the small plate and covered
them quickly with the rich mayonnaise
dressing Nell had made that morning.
she covered her mouth again and in
dulged In silent laughter.
When the last bite OF apple pie van
ished. the man got up and looked
about
THANK you. little one! Good-by."
he said.
NO. you mustn't go yet" answered
the child. Come to mother
He moved restlessly and shook his
head.
Mothers don't want 10 see tramps or
peach plucks," he said
The child looked at him gravely.
"You are my brother jim" she said
The man snatched his cap from
chair and turned, but she was too
quick for him.
''If you go. I'll scream. and that will
frighten mother. and she's sick. Oh,
aren't you my brother Jim?"
What makes you think so?" he
asked unsteadily. Bob laughed hap
PLY.
" Cause You never asked me where
the holder was, and you fixed the fire
just like Nell does. and you put the
Kettle in the basin without being told
and you knew where the coal was. /
was almost sure you We're Jim. for
We're always expecting you. you know.
And then you didn't 20 TO the pump to
wash; you went to the little room
where Jim made the water run before
/ was born. But | was certain sure
when you shook your napkin and put
the dressing on the tomatoes. because
mother said Jim shook 1t like that. and
lie loved them that way, and father
told Nell to keep lots of things in the
pantry, cause Jim would be hungry
when he came in; he always was.
And | watched. and you ate every
little tecny Bit
The man hid his face in his arms
against the door, but Bob pulled him
impatiently.
Come TO mother" she coaxed.
Together they went through the long
hall, and across the sitting room TO
the shady porch, where Nell was ar
ranging her mothers pillows.
''Mother.' called the eager little
voice. I've brought Jim" And Bob
glanced around the group, where Jim
and Nell and mother were all together
on the sofa.
Later on she. sat happily on the lap
of her peach pluck. eating a huge slice
of bread and rich. dark peach butter,
and listening as Jim told of his running
away because he wanted to see the
world: how he had wandered and
worked and tramped for ten whole
years. until the bitter Inconsistencies
had driven him back again. He had
not meant any one TO see him. for he
was ashamed. but thought some one
else had bought the farm when he
saw the child there. He had not
known IT was his own little sister
whom he had seen and whose quick
ness had kept him from wandering
away again.
Il thought 1t was Jim," she chuckled
radiantly, but l just knew for sure
when gave him all the things to eat,
and he ate them all."-New York
Tribune.