Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-13

mounted toward him.
 T wouldn't take the milk without payin' for it." she said, the sharp little voice mounting higher with every deter mined word. Sarah Jane ain't no beg gar-an' even if 'tain't but little, you can put 1t away an keep It. Maybe it'll come in handy some day.
 There had been sudden motion of the little bird-claw 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 a copper cent
 He arose and wandered about the beautiful lawn, and among the flowers, and through the house, from room to room. What 8 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 tho boy-the boy was everywhere-a child ish babe in the nursery-a little lad, bursting in from school-a tall youth, his handsome face pale, going out of that door with only a @Good-by, father!" And then the long years.
 Willis" he said, awkwardiy, little later, to the astonished cook, we 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 morethere's the cat down to that cottage at the corner every day, Willis. please?"
 As the days passed MT. 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 she did not. Then he arose and walked slowly past the cottage, determined that If 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 1t 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 a 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 MT. Lawler who took the little form away and laid 1t on the bed.
 "Oh, ye've come after the rent!" cried the mother wringtng. her hands. "Oh, don't ye be coming after the rent, when I'm that distracted, with Katie ailin' all this week, ar. now took like this--''
 .'Be quiet, woman! Does man think of nothing but rent?" he said sternly, searching with trembling finger for the pulse in the thin wrist. 'Have you had doctor?"
 An how could I have a doctor?" sobbed the woman, san' me with no money to dare to send for 'im!"
 s'T will telephone for a doctor" he said; but as he was going out she called after him desperately:
 "Oh, then, get cheap one-for ye know how 1t is with the poor."
 He was gone but very few minutes: but in that time he had called doctor. rung for messenger boy and sent tele- gram The message was a very simple one. It was addressed to David Lawler, in western city, and read:
 twill you come home to see your fath. CT? John Lawler."
 The doctor Mr. Lawler called was not a cheap one. He came in his automobile, and was in truth little surprised at the house which required his august pres ence: but MT Lawler went in with him. and in a moment he was leaning over the frail little form on the bed.
 "she is partially conscious said the doctor a long time afterward. T think she is distressed by the moving of that cat Cant something be done with it?
 The mothers tears flowed afresh, so that she hardly noticed the knock at the door, which MT. Law1er answered.
 Sure, an I don't know what to do with the cato she cried piteously. "Kaite's always fed it her own self aft CT ways of her own, an 1t won't eat for me, an that's the truth of it--an she was jist gettin' ready to feed it this mornin' when she was took"
 MT. Lawler stood in the door with n yellow telegraph slip in his hand; and both of those who looked up at him saw that years had fallen from his face.
 Coming on first train. Davie." :" he cried, exultingly, not knowing that he spoke aloud "Davie! His mother all ways called him that. It is pleasant name!-what's the matter 1.-the cat?- Are you hungry, Sarah Jane ?-here- give me the milk, and spoon. think know just how it's done. Now stand up and eat, Sarah Jane, and don't you spill drop!"
 He was down or the foor--he was gravely offering spoonful of milk to Sarah Jane. Ah-this was something like! Sarah Jane sat up, grasped the sides of the spoon with both paws and drank, with much joyous rattling of a red tongue.
 And then, all at once there was shrill cackle of laugtter from the bed, and