The Van Buren press., 1904-10-22

| come in handy some day
There had been a sudden motion OF tho
| little bird-claw hand toward the book
/ that was lying open and unread on MS
! knee. and she was gone. When ne
! looked down presently. there on the open
page lay copper cent.
He arose and wandered about tns
| beautiful lawn. and among the ioWers,
| and through the house, from room 10
room What a strange thing memory
was! He could see his wife coming down
those stairs now. as plainly as he hai
ever seen her bodily presence; and tho
! boy-the boy was eyeryw where-a child
ish babe in the nursery-a little lad.
bursting in from school-a tall youth.
his handsome face pale, going out or
that door with only "Good-by, father
And then the long years.
Willis" he said. awkwardly, a little
later. to the astonished cook, we 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., Larler sat 10
the great portico every evening, feeling
the loneliness of the house envelopins
him like cloud He sat facing the little
cottage now. He felt sure that the child
would suddenly start up beside him soma
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
! eered common little coin in his vest
pocket as though it had been some kind
Of magic taliSman; and the magic of IL
/ was this, that the merest touch OF II
brought back the1ittle lad who hy,d gone
out OF his life. f,
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 woman sounded from with
| in. He was there in a mOment-through
! the gate, bursting in at the door. Tho
weeping mother was down on her knees,
gathering up the insenslble child from
the floor where she had fallen It was
| Mr. Lawler who took the little form
away and aid II on the bed,
"Oh, yeye come after the rent" CrieG
the mother wringing her hands. "Os.
don't ye be coming after the rent, when
I'm that distracted with Katie aiIin'
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?'
AN how could | have doctor"
sobbed the woman, an me with no
money to dare to send for inn"
Il will telephone for a doctor" hs
said; but as he was going out she cales
after him desperately
"Oh. then. get a cheap one-for 20
know how it is with the poor"
He was gone but very few minutes
but In that time he had called a GoCto:.
rung for a messenger boy and sent telG-
| gram. The message wa. very simplA
one. It was addressed to David Lawle,,
in a western city, and read;
"Wnl you come home to see your rathO
/
or? John Lawler"
The doctor Mr. Lawler called was noe
a cheap one He came ia his automobile,
| and was in truth a little surprised at tbs
| house which required his august pres.
ence; but Mr., Lawler went in with him,
and in moment he was leaning oysr
/ the frail little form on the bed,
"she Is partially conscious said tho
doctor a long time afterward, Il think
she is distressed by the mewing Of tha.
cat. Cant something be done with it''
The mothers tears flowed afresh, -
that she hardly noticed the knock at tss
door which Mr.. Lawlcr answered
Sure, an don't know what to do
with the cat,' she cried piteously.
"Kalte's always fed It her own self, aft
or ways Of her own, an 1t won't eat for
me, an that's the truth Of tan shs
was jist getlin ready to feed It th',
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 traln.-Dayie." he
cried, exultingly, not knowing that hs
spoke aloud "DayIe! His mother a..
ways called him that II Is pleasant
name' what's the matter?-the cat?--
Are you hungry Sarah Jane?-herc--
give me the milk, and spoon think
know just how it's done Now stand
up and eat, Sarah Jane and don't you
spill drop"
lie was down on the iloOr-he wa,
fraycly Offering spoonful Of milk 10
| Sarah Jane Ah-thls was something
| Ike, Sarah Jane sat mp, grasped the
sides Of the spoon with both paws and
drank, with much joyous rattlIng Of
| red tongue,
And then, oil at once there wasa ShrIN
cackle Of laughter from the bed anl
there were the big cyes wide open, star.
ing At the figure on the floor
"lt looks so funny" she gasped, weak.
| ~, between laughs--"to soc--him-8...
tin there=spoilIn Sarah Janc'"
BERLIN NOW THIRD CITY.
From Mere village OF q Century AS,