The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-06

subject wearied him-horses and COWS when he was trying to think.
 The silence came down and took forci. ble possession of them until the clock had repeated It's grave inquiry concern. ing the weather some twenty-five times Sereny moved a little uneasily.
 Did your ma lose many of her flow CTS in tie freezer" she whispered. T heard her say something about los in ten or twelve" he replied, and agair gave place to the clock. Sereny's pink 1 cheek had grown crimson, as Simon might have seen if he had not been SC absorbed in gazing at the fire.
 T should think you'd freeze, way over there,'' she said. after a long pause Whereupon Simon moved his chair a foot nearer to the front of the fire.
 T should think you'd freeze yourself. ' he said, with ieeting glance in her di- rection, which he instantly withdrew with a guilty expression impossible to describe. He felt that the look pro- claimed itself to whomsoever might turn his eyes in his direction; and at once glued his snealxing glance to the glow ing coals. Sereny moved her chair the least trifie nearer the front of the fire and stirred the logs into a finer glow.
 The kitten found the condition of
 
 and stretched itself. after which 1t ran glibly up the checked apron and pur- sued its tail in a wild circle on Sereny lap Sereny laughed. Sereny had a very pleasant laugh. and it was pity to sub due 1t instantly and blushingly. as she did The kitten must have felt this. In it's heart; for at once, and without warning. it leaped across the space in- tervening and alighted with scramble on 5imon's knee. Simon started as though he had been caught at something particularly disgraceful; and the kitten performed a saraband over his knees and up his blue coat and around his neck, giving his ears a playful nip as it passed; after which 1t ran down and leaped back to the check apron. Sereny laughed till the tears came-perhaps they mad wanted to come all the time-and Simon gfinned foolishly.
 That's a pretty cat" Simon remarked, in a quaking voice. The spirit of his father was not altogether wanting. Si- mon had reopened the languishing con versation.
 Isn't it?" said Sereny warmly, also to the fire. Sereny's heart was not beat ing as regularly as a well-ordered heart should beat; and therefore was her voice shaken.
  ten made a flying leap for Simon, caught with its claws and scrambled all over him with incredible swiftness.
 Its a pity to make 1t jump so fur-it might fall. an git hurt" Simon suggest ed, hoarsely. Sereny turned grateful eyes upon him.
 You are so kind to animals. simon! she said.
 Simon turned suddenly weak, but he had strength enough to move his char foot nearer. Sereny responded to the suggestion with maidenly modesty. \Sne moved her chair at least an inch nearer simon's. After which the kitten lost ln- terest in both of them, and returned to the rug. where it sat down with its back to them, and yawned in an excessiVeiy bored manner. Simon gazed intently al the fire.
 I've always noticed how kind you was to animals" she said. in a gentle voice Your horse loves you. an I've seen the cows follow you everywhere when you went to the pasture. I've Deen thinkin'-they won't let nSe take the kit' ten with mean my aunt, where I'm go in, might not like 1t. an. besides sIe poor, an It wouldn't be right-an tNs been thinkin' maybe you'd take the Ai''