The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-07-29

llldn was COuCGuGu ny I'LL UlO nClSh-
bors. His children, one after another
had felt his heavy hand, all except lit
tie Carolyn, the baby and pet of the
family, who had found the one tender
spot in the mans rough nature.
Even between the two few endear-
ments had ever passed; but the lay
ing Of the fathers work-worn hand
upon her brown curls was enough to
make the child happy for days.
AS she grew older, and especially
after her mothers death, when the
storm of his wrath would break upon
the older children, oftentimes for
slight cause, Carolyn, in tremor OF
| fear for brother or sister, would creep
| to her fathers side and slip her hand
into his. AS if there were r agic in
| her touch, it never failed of effect.
But Carolyn's decision as to her
career" not only aroused the most
| profound sensation in the neighbor-
| hood, but changed N day the happy
| relationship that had existed between
| her and her father for the nineteen
| years of her life.
| the choir of the church, and when in
Christmas carol or Easter hymn her
| voice rose clear and high, those few
| travelled ones who had been as far as
Boston or New York Loyalty declared
that she could hold her own against
any celebrity.
One summer a famous singer came
to the village and heard Carolyns
voice. She took Carolyn away with
her, placed her under the best tutors,
and was training her for success.
But Carolyns father had not seen
or written to her since the day she
had left home
She found the key in that time-hon-
| ored hiding -place-under the door
mat. She thought Hates description
Of the place had prepared her for
what she should find; but the sight of
the kitchen, once marvel of neat
ness, depressed her But she had not
forgotten how to work. Resolutely
she turned back her sleeves, and put
on the big apron she had brought With
her. Then she built fire in the
stove and began.
Soiled dishes were everywhere; and
when these were washed it was i'm
possible to put them back upon the
dirty snelf-papers in the pantry. So,
taking some old newspapers from
pile on the lounge, she sat down on the
doorstep and clipped their edges into
fanciful patterns, as she had used to
do long ago.
The chickens came timidly toward
her. and she could see in their varied
hues traces of their descent from IA
vorites of her time. A pair OF merry
eyes surveyed her from dark corner
of the wood-shed, and in delightfully."-
unexpected answer to her tentative
call, old Margery Daw, the cat, came
purring and rubbing about her knees.
After that Carolyn felt herself less an
alien.
There was one bright spot in this
benighted house-the washing was
put out" evidently, for there was
plenty of clean linen. So when the
rag carpets had been thoroughly swept
and everything busted, the table newly
set and the stove made to shine, caro-
Ign felt that an article she had recent
ly read, ON 1.-THE Charm of an Old
Fashioned New England Kitchen,
might have been written of hers or
hers? Well, she was proud of it, any
way.
The September afternoon grew chill
as the sun descended, and she put
more wood on the fire and began pre-
paratons for supper. Red and yellow
peaches bending the trees in the yard
; reminded her how fond of peach short
cake her father used to be. In few
minutes a pan of dough was baking in
the oven, and Carolyn was slicins
peaches to put between the layers.
t All else was done. A loaf OF feath
: er cake stood steaming on the table
: beside a platter of ham and potatoes
q She covered this over on the table, mo-
v daring to leave it in the oven, lest hel
b father should not fina it. And nov
r the shortcake, crown OF the feast
+ took its place beside the other things
v It was six o'clock Carolyn, having
rolled her apron in a paper, pushed
q the teapot to the back of the stove
J. and while ready for instant flight
J. watched the lane intently.
l. A figure came slowly into view owe
i the little hill back of the house. Thi
was what the girl had waited for, ant
It she followed its every movement wit
il her heart in her eyes.
d Farther end farther back from tn
l. window she drew, that he might no