River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-10-20
gavin, for TT She said the SHARP little

=
can put it away an keep it. Maybe it'll
come in handy some day."
There had been sudden molten of the
little bird-claw hand toward the book
that was lying open and unread on his
knee, and she was gone. When he
looked down presently, there on the open
page lay copper cent.
He arose and wandered about the
beautiful lawn, and among the flowers,
and through the house, from room to
room. What strange thing memory
wasi He could see his wife coming down
those stairs now, as plainly as he had
ever seen her bodily presence; and the
boy-the boy was everywhere-a child
ish babe in the nursery-a little lad,
bursting in from school-a tall youth,
his handsome face pale, going out OF
that door with only 'Good-by, father!"
And then the long years.
willis he said, awkwardly, little
later, to the astonished cook, eve have
a great deal of milk, believe-more
than we really need. Would you mind
taking enough for two-or more, per-
haps-a little more-there's the cat
down to that cottage at the corner
every day, Willis, please?"
AS the days passed Mr. Lawler sat in
the great portico every evening, feeling
the loneliness of the house enveIoping
him like cloud. He sat facing the little
cottage now. He felt sure that the child
would suddenly start up beside him some
evening when he least expected it; but
she did not. Then he arose and walked
slowly past the cottage, determined that
if he should see her he would ask her to
come up and sit on the steps; but she
was not to be seen. Sometimes he fin
gered common little coin in his vest
pocket, as though it had been some kind
of magic talisman; and the magic of it
was this, that the merest touch of it
brought back the 1ittle lad who had gone
out of his life.
At last, one morning, he went out at
the gate, and looked down the street to
the corner at which he always caught the
car; and then turned to go past the row
of cottages, which was much the longer
way; and as he passed a scream and the
wailing of a woman sounded from with
in. He was there III a moment-through
the gate, bursting in at the door. The
weeping mother was down on her knees.
gathering up the insensible child from
the floor where she had fallen. 1t was
Mr. Lawler who took the little form
away and laid it on the bed.
ooh, we've come after the remit" cried
the mother wringing her hands. "Oh,
don't we be coming after the rent, when
I'm that distracted, with Katie ailin'
all this week, an now took like this"
''Be quiet, woman! Does a man think
of nothing but rent?" he said sternly,
searching with a trembling finger for
the pulse in the thin wrist. 'Have you
had a doctor?"
can how could I have a doctor?"
sobbed the woman, 'an' me with no
money to dare to send for inn"
ct will telephone for a DOCTOR" he
said; but as he was going out she called
after him desperately:
ooh, then, get cheap one-for We
know how it is with the poor!"
He was gone but very few minutes;
but in that time he had called doctor,
rung for a messenger boy and sent tele-
gram. The message was a very simple
one. 1t was addressed to David Lawler,
in western city, and read:
''Will you come home to see your faith
err? John LAWYER"
The doctor Mr.. Lawler called was not
a cheap one. He came in his automobile,
and was in truth little surprised at the
house which required his august pres
ence: but Mr.. Lawler went in with him,
and in moment he was leaning over
the frail little form on the bed.
"She is partially conscious" said the
doctor long time afterward. 81 think
she is distressed by the mewing of that
cat. Can't something be done with it,"
The mothers tears flowed afresh, so
that she hardly noticed the knock at the
door, which Mr.. Lawler answered.
"Sure, an l don't know what TO do
with the cat!" she cried piteously.
"Kaite's always fed it her own SELF aft
er ways of her own, an it won't eat for
me, an that's the truth Of tan she
was list gettin' ready to feed it this
mornin' when she was took"
Mr.. Lawler stood in the door with a
yellow telegraph slip in his hand; and
both of those who looked up at him saw
that years had fallen from his face. :,
Coming on first train.-Davie." he
cried, exultingly, not knowing that he
spoke aloud. "Davie! His mother al
ways called him that 1t is a pleasant
name!-what's the matter?-the cat?-
Are you hungry, Sarah Jane?-here-
give me the milk, and spoon. think
I know just how it's done. Now stand
up and eat, Sarah Jane, and don't you
spill drop!"
He was down on the fioor-he was
gravely offering a spoonful Of milk to
Sarah Jane. Ah-this was something
like! Sarah Jane sat up, grasped the
sides of the spoon with both paws and
drank, with much joyous rafting of a
red tongue.
And then. all at once there was shrill
cackle of laughter from the bed, and
there were the big eyes wide open, star
ing at the figure on the floor.
cit looks so funny" she gasped, weak
", between laughs-"to see-him-sit-
tin there-spoilin' Sarah janet"
BERLIN NOW THIRD CITY.
From Mere Village of Century Ago
German Capital Has Nearly
nnn nnO paoo1o