Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-02-02
Iaxen-haired child of three years ssd.

Reubenw said the child, half Laughing,
to begin with, and then wholly crying
as a wind-up.
"She'n catch her death of coldr' cried
Mr.. Jennings. ''Tots, how could you come
down like this? why amt you asleep"
"You said-you said," sobbed the child,
/ 'sthat he was coming home tonight.
] "Well, here I am, young one; don't cry
/ about it, murmured the big man, as his
| arms folded the child to his breast, and
| his handsome brown beard hid her face
| from view, and tickled her terribly, for
she struggled into sitting position away
! from it, and rubbed her face and eyes
| energetica1ly.
Elizabeth said Lucy, severely, ..this
| is very wrong. Didn't you promise to go
to Sleep"
81 touldn't." answered Elizabeth.
"Come with me- began her aunt
| again, when Tots let forth so tremen-
| dous a yell that even Lucy, woman not
easily put down, succumbed at once.
"Let her be-" said Reuben Culwick
gruf1y; then there was a second pause,
after which he whispered in the child's
| ear a few words that arrested her at
| tention, and Tots sat up again.
'Where ia it ?' asked Tots.
'In my portmanteau at the railway
station-coming home tomorrow, if Tots
will go to bed now"
"And as big as dat?" said Tots, open
ing her arms to their fullest extent.
Bigger"
"Me go to bed," said Tots with alac-
rity-"but," she added, 900 must carry
! me up tairs."
''Of course I will. Goodnight, Uncle
Jennings; goodnight, aunt-we're off,
both of u.s." cried Reuben Culwick, and
he was out of the room and striding up
stairs with the child before there was
time for Tots to change her mind in any
way. s..
Brother and sister did not attempt to
follow him; the brother sat and listened
until the trampling feet in the room above
announced that Reuben had deposited
his charge in her crib. and retired to his
own apartments; the thin woman with
the worn face turned toward the fire,
fast dying out, and passed hand across
her eyes, as if by stealth.
"How fond he is of children!'' said
John Jennings; Il think big men always
are, Lucy. There was Topping"
Don't bother me about Topping"
said Lucy.
"Ahem!-no," he said, with his feeble
little cough prefacing his remarks again;
mot if you wish it, certainly. Still, it's
odd"
What is oddT'
''1hat Reuben's coming back should
have put you out in this way"
81 prayed he might never come again."
"Why, we couldn't afford -"
''The man deserved better fortune than
he can find here" she cried, "and so 1
didn't want him back. Besides, we don't
agree"
"I'm sorry Reuben has seen you in this
tantrum, because I have often fancied
that by and by you and he would get to
like each other. He is a man who wants
something to love-look at him and that
child, for instance-and you're not a
great deal too old, and he's not proud,
and you're@'
He stopped as Lucy Jennings swung
herself round, perfect virago in her last
and worst attack of passion. He had
never seen Lucy show off in this way be-
fore.
John, you're a fool" she screamed;
"you are the worst of fools to think like
that, to talk like it. l marry him! he
| think of me! 1 tell you 1 hate you for
saying this tonight"
John Jennings gasped for breath.
my dear, I'm sorry if I have nurt
your feelings. If you don't mind, I'll go
to bed"
She did not answer, and John .Ien-
nings, after passing his hand over his
forehead in bewildered manner, went
to bed accordingly.
When she was sure that he was gone,
the woman sank of heap on the shabby
hearth-rug, and buried her face in her
arms. which she leaned upon the chair.
1t was bitter grief, in which strange
words escaped her.
"Why has he come back? Why couldn't
he stop away for good?'
60 be continuedD