The Van Buren press., 1904-11-12
TheTrasedyofTh Three
Cocks Junction x V
By MARIAN MAR HALL

sac ARA" said young Mrs. Saher TO
y her old serving woman, as she
stepped into her spOrless Kitchen
give this suit Of clothes to the first
wJrthy-l0oking tramp who comes
alo.g. as Mr. Saher will not require
them any more"
Don't you think, num- said the
cautious old servant, 1T will be en-
couragiAg the likes of EN-, as worthy
men dout 90 about begging
oh, Sara said her young mis-
tress, many an honest man begs for
bread these hard times. Cant you tell
an honest man when you see one?
Better some one should have the
clothes than the moths eat them up.
Well, seeia as you are that
anxious. III DO my best to pick out a
worthy beggar, though | don't like
encouraging the likes" said Sara,
shaking her wise old head,
Sara was the terror of all the trades
people If one OF them yentured into
aer k..chen with dirty shoes She
promptly settled with him. and the Of
feusa was not repeated. Ii the coal
man dropped his Goals or the ash man
bis ashes, going to and fro, Sara made
them stop and clean their dirt up to
the accompaniment Of her shrilIest
tones, aad they were careful not to
have it occur again; but hard as she
seemed, her heart was soft enough
where her young mistress was con
serled, though her master stood some
what in awe of her, and said he did
not dare venture into his own kitchen,
unless he had on velvet slippers.
A few evenings after the above
conversation Mr.. Saher was obliged to
make business trip to Dublin.
Mrs Saher was sitting dejectedly at
luncheon the third day after her hus-
bands 5 departure, when her sister-in-
law. Mrs Richard Saher, was an.
aOunced
Dick has booked some seats for the
theater for tomorrow night, Helen,
there Is an American play on, and we
thought you would like to see it."
"Oh. | should love to go. Alice;
how thoughtful Of you and Dick"
The next afternoon found Mrs
Saher tOasting her feet before a huge
crate fire. 1t was raw, bleak day
in November An east wind whistled
down the chimney, and a deep, yellow
fog hung over the town, working itself
through the house; q more gloomy day
,Ould hardly be imagined. She seemed
restless and uneasy She could not read
nor could she settle down to her needle
work She tried waltz on the piano.
out was not in the mood for playing
What is the matter with me?" she ex-
claimed. Just then there came a loud
double knock at the knocker, and Sara
entered with telegram, which her
young mistress eagerly opened.
Home for breakfast Harold" she
read Now, Sara, mind you, give us "a
good breakfast"
AS if never give them anything good
10 eat, muttered Sara, returning to her
Kitchen
Life Is made up Of little things, and
hose four short words had a magic ef-
feet on Mrs Saher's feelings. and caused
her 10 tlutter about with merry smile
Seven, half past seven, eight o'clock
chtmed the pretty French clock on the
mantel What can make them so late?"
she wondered, as she sat neryously tap
ping her handsomcly-dressed foot
agains, the fender; on the stroke Of nine
Sara ushered them in,
at last" said she, smilingly greet
ING them Il began to think something
dreadful had happened"
1--WE thought you wouldn't care to 60"
said her sister-in-law
"Oh, | dont mind the weather" re-
piled Helen; then noticing they were
not in evening dress, she exclaimed,
with a catch in her voice; why aren't
VOW going"
Il suppose you haven't heard from
Harold to-day Heon'" asked her
brother-ln-law, ignoring her question
and looking helplesSly at his wife,
"Yes, have, she replied, smiling
what? When?" they both exclaimed
together
Harold will be here for breakfast, |
had a wire about Eve o'clock"
"Let me see It, said Dick. eagerly.
"Diek, Alicc'" exclaimed Helen, look.
Ing from one to the other anxiously,
what has happened? Why do you both
act SO strangely? Has anything hap.
pened 10 Ilarold?"
And then It was the woman who
HER "INFLooENCE,