Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-02-03

told him as he passed on his way To
work. They shook their heads, and,
catching his lengtacning look. their
own faces fell still further in uncon-
sciols imitation. When Nell was in
good health. they had been apt to
laugh at his undisguised devotion to
her: to show him. as undisguisedly,
that. in the opinion of her family, it
was mere presumption on his part to
set his cap, ever so timidly, at their
pretty, spoilt Nell.
But now. shaken by fear, cut adrift
from their habitual unquestioninS
trust in vaguely realized Provi-
oence, they found an unexpected re-
lief in handing on their apprehen-
SONS to one who was safe to feel all
they We're feeling, with some possible
additions of his own-companions in
adversely being the absolute need
of the natures. So through the early
morning air their voices followed
him in dirge the sick girl must have
heard in her room above: Just
about bad, she is" and then in the
evening again, Bad, mortal bad
with all her symptoms, and all the
dreary things they pointed to, en-
larged upon by father and mother in
turn. amply prompted and backed UP
by the numerous offspring which the
Providence OF their trust had sent
them in unbroken succession from
Nell.
If there was anything he could do?
His expressive eyes implored their
consideration of him with regard to
any humbed sphere of usefulness as
he fingered on the worn doorstep.
They certainly considered but for
the moment nothing came to them,
to their obvious regret. For although
as a possible son-in-law, as even a
lover to Nell he had not attracted
them--had not greatly, it seemed,
attracted Nell-yet in times of sick
ress, as her mother said, there was
no telling who might come in handy,
and they decided to leave the ques-
ton an open one. In the meantime,
, at her own suggestion, Ivy. a five
vear-old plant, rode home with him
aloft on his wide shoulder. Ivy loved
| Joe for merits she alone had discov,
cred in him, connected with rides
and pennies for sweets and boisterous
romping. and was much set up at the
prospect of supper and bed in Joe's
cottage.
It'll be one less to make noise,
lie suggested timidly. The next night
| il was three less. the two youngest
! boys inviting themselves, fired by
| lvy's account of her supper and the
! glorious freedom of Joe's cottage.
| Might as we'll all come as likes,
was his next suggestion. and Nell's
cramped little home was cleared OF
all the younger boys and noisy mem
5ers of the family at least for the
hours he could claim as his own.
But Joe's ambition included a daily
present for Nell herself and that took
some thinking out. The children or
0ered their own Suppers, arranged
| Just how he was to amuse them, anC
gave him sound advice and instruc
ton concerning their morning and
evening toilets. But who could tel
| how best to convey his strong hearts
tender pity for loved and stricken
lass by means of he few things at
| his command? Since the nearest
town was a train journey distant
and all his evenings We're occupied
he was restricted to the produce OF
| his gardener. at best, of the village
shop. AS fresher, he generally made
it garden produce; thus, beans anG
marrows formed his love tokens
while they lasted. with still more
homely first fruits to follow. For
Nell.' he would say with basket
of potatoes Tell her they are fresh
Dug" No one told him that in ty.
phoid fever. vegetables, however
fresh, are forbidden dainties, and not
for fear of hurting his feelings, but
because there were others who could
eat them and were glad to. Some
thing useful-that what she'd be sure
| Is