Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1904-01-28

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ReubeD~ said the child, half laughing.
20 begin with, and then wholly crying
as a wind-up.
"she'll catch her death Of coldls cried
Mr.. Jennings. Tots bow could. you come
down like this7 why ain't you asIecpY'
"You said-you said. /" sobbed the child.
"shat be was coHssas home tonight
"Well, here | am, young one: don't CRY
about H." murmured the big man. as his
arms folded the child 10 his breast. and
his handseele brown beard bid her face
from view, and tickled her terribly. for
she struggled into 4 sitting position away
from Il, and rubbed her face and eyes
energetcalIy.
Elizabeth said Lucy, severely, this
Is very wrong. Didn't you promise to 10
to sleepT
II toudn't." answered Elizabeth.
Come with me-" began her aunt
again, when Tots let forth 30 tremen.
dous a yell that even Lucy, woman not
easily put down, succumbed at ouce.
'Iet her be-" said Reuben Culwick
gruiiiy; then there was second pause.
after which he whispered In the child's
ear few words that arrested her at
tention. and Tots sat up again.
where IL itT' asked Tots.
In my portmanteau at the railway
stntion--coming home tomorrow, IL Tots
viii go TO bed now"
'And as big as datT" said Tots, Open
Ing her arms TO their fullest extent.
Bigger"
me 10 TO bed" said Tots with aIac-
rity--"but." she added, 800 must carry
me up tairs."
"of course l win. Goodnight, Uncle
Jennings; goodnight, aunt--we're of,
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.
Brother and sister did not attempt to
follow him; the brother sat and listened
until the tramaling 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 il 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 IL you wish it, certainly. Still, it's
odd"
"What Is oddT'
"1hat Reuben's coming back should
have put you out in this way"
Il 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
didn't want him back. Besides, we don't
agree"
I'm sorry Reuben has seen you in this
tantrum. because have often fancied
that by and by you and he would get to
like each other. He is 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. a 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 1t. / marry him! he
think Of mel | tell you hate you for
saying this tonight"
John Jennings gasped for breath.
MY dear. I'm sorry if l have hurt.
your feelings. If you don't mind, I'll so
to bed"
She did not answer, and John Jen-
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 goodT
ITO be continuedl