The Tomahawk., 1904-07-07
nervous; that was the fault Of the

weather
After the sermon she fingered to avoid
George. Let his walk home with that
silly Sadie Griggs, if he enjoyed such
company, and he seemed to. She walked
decorously beside her sister and brother
in-law, who were discussing anew the
little shortcut through the alders.
ct is all right, Jean,' said he, for
you to be kind to Mary Ann, but don't
like her conspicuous way of supplying
you with herbs, and as for that pain
through the alders, shall have ltcloseo
with a good strong fence before the
ground freezes. We have no use Tor II
ourselves, and if Mary Ann or the other
paupers wish to visit us, let them come
around by the road
'.Now, Jack, what harm does it do!''
said his wife in her gentle way 1T is
full mile farther by the road, and poor
McDougall is too rheumatic to take any
extra steps, and her visits to us and my
little gifts to her are the only solace she
has
"You make nuisance of her, SAID
Viola, who was feeling hard and bitter
against the whole world in spite OF her
naturally sunny disposition. you can't
imagine how it mortifies me-" she went
on, ito hear her tell folks you are just
like sister to her, and see her rush up
to you, when you chance to meet IN pup
lic and greet you with all the familiarity
of an intimate friend. And that short
cut through the alders," here her voice
grew hard with misery as she thought
of George, who had once kept 1t Well
worn with his frequent calls, but now
never designed to use it, "that shortcut
is a nuisance, as Jack says, and
wouldn't keep it open for the benent OF
.tramps and paupers any longer
''Why, Viola!' said Jean in surprise,
what ails you to-day? You know IL
would break poor McDougsll's heart to
close that path, and you have always
been so kind to her, too"
But they had now reached the house,
and Viola rushed to her room without
pausing to reply.
The next day she threaded her way
through the winding alder-borderec
patch in search of wild asters, she SAID;
but if so, she forgot to gather any, anu
was sitting disconsolately on log by
the old spring, when Mary Ann, in pur-
suit of gold thread, ran upon her. but
for once she had no smile or merry small
talk for the poor old creature who, after
2 vain attempt at conversation, went on
her way disconsolately.
'That girl amt well,' mumbled the
old woman, as she sank down to rest near
the gate which opened on the highway.
"She won't take pennyroyal nor catn1p
nor nothin, but she don't look right, ana
she don't act right, and she's as cross as
a bear-poor creeter!" And the old crone
shook her head forebodingly.
''Now, who is that comin'?' she asken
herself. as she heard a heavy step ap-
preaching from the highway. She craned
her neck and strained her dim eyes IN the
direction of the sound.
George Wayne!" she chuckled, her
face lighting up with sudden insplra-
tion.
Then she did a strange thing. She
quickly jerked off one of her rubbers anu
hid in beneath her shawl, then began
to moan and complain.
why AuAClO, "1NC IAAS W.
asked George, leaning on the gate ana
gazing down upon her Quizzlcally.
"Oh," she whined, holding out her
rubberless foot for his inspection, they
was BRAN new only last month, and
now ones gone dasn't go home with
out it. and dasn't go back for it and wet
my foot.
"You are in bad fix, surely, Aunt1e,
said he, jocosely, "but why can't find
the missing rubber for you? 1t cant De
far off.
"Oh, no." said she eagerly. IF you
take the path through the alders and
turn to the left till you reach the spring,
it will be all right, I'm sure, for didn't
go a. step beyond there, and thank you
kindly, sir"
After making sure he was out of sight
she replaced her rubber and settled back
comfortably upon her knoll with SELL
satisfied SMILE Hell find her, and
never lied once,' she chuckled, shaking
with silent mirth.
She waited patiently half hour or
more, when she heard the low happy
voices of the young couple approaching,
but before they reached her, they turned
back toward the house. She could see
through the tangled alders that his arm
was about Viola's waist and she hearo
him murmur, Il shall always love this
little shortcut for your dear sake" Then
they disappeared, totally forgetting the
old woman whose little scheme had re-
stored their happiness.-Housek
KISSES OF VARIOUS KINDS.