The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1904-10-28
il she don't get her milk ever day, 40
broke into my tin bank"


broke into my tin bank"
She held out the bucket in one hand
and the copper cent In the other, with
easy confidence-thin little hands that
looked like birds claws. The great law
yer and fluent speaker in the easy chair
was very much irritated.
ST don't sell milk" he said, waving
away bucket and coin. stop one of the
milk wagons when you want to buy
,, milk"
"Nowyou know very we'll they don't sell
a copper cents worth o. milk" she re-
torted, plying his ignorance of affairs.
AN you've got cow that mother says
must give gallons an gallons. Do make
'aste-Sarah Jane is mighty near tearin'
the house down, she wants her milk so
bad"
Really this was too much!
81 don't see why your mother doesn't
have that cat killed." said Mr.. Lawler,
sharply. The little face grew more elfish
still as the big eyes regarded him in
tently.
Sarah Jane wouldn't thank nobody to
kill her." she said. "She likes to live. If
you'd ever had anything like Sarah Jane
about the house you wouldn't talk that
way. I'll get you cat. Ii you want. an
you try it awhile. reckon this house Is
lonesome-just you, an not even cat
to talk to. know where can get you
one-right aroun' at that house where
the steps is broke down."
Go back to the kitchen and ask the
cook for some milk" he interrupted
hastily and frowningly. Il don't want
your money-keep it."
The child walked slowly down the
steps and past the corner, keeping a
troubled eye upon him; but when she
came back presently her step was alert
and her manner resolute. She set the
bucket down on the bottom step and
mounted toward him.
II wouldn't take the milk without
payin' for it," she said, the sharp little
voice mounting higher with every deter
| mined word. Sarah Jane amt no beg
gar-an' even if faint but little, you
can put it away an keep it. Maybe it'll
| come in handy some day"
There had been sudden motion of the
| little bird7claw 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
was! He could see his wife coming down
those stairs now. as plainly as he had
ever seen her bodily presence; and the
| bDy-the boy was everywhere-a child
ish babe in the nursery-a little lad,
bursting in from schools 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 enveloping
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 1t; but
slowly past the cottage, determined that
IL 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 little 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 scream and the
wailing of woman sounded from with
| in. He was there in 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. It was
Mr. Lawler who took the little form
| away and laid it on the bed.
"Oh, 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 man think
4 = t.,