Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-11-29

AIS wiz " tslhC DosSGosloh VI
I2J them, followed her in silence
into the kitchen.
What IN awful night, Davie" she
observed.
Aye; it's dirty weather." he returned,
standing in front of the fire and wip-
ing the moisture from his face. lis
the wee yin sleepin'?' turning to the
cradle.
Sound. How did you find August"
she asked after pause.
Her husband shook his head. "He's
gey bad. The DOCTORS gaun to get
somebody to bile wi him the NIGHT.
wud haze bided masel' if it hadna
been for-for"- He halted, glanced at
his wife and sighed.
ut smile.
He glanced at her again, but she
avoided his eyes, and he turned to the
fire once more without speaking, for
her white face frightened him.
There's fine fire in the parlor,
Davie, and your slippers are toasting
on the fender. Away and get warmed.
III be after you i'll minute"
"Wud We no. like to gang to yer bed,
JESSE" he said as he moved slowly
to the door.
what? Bed at half past ~
IL thocht We was maybe wearit."
mot a bit Of it! Away you go and
have your smoke I'm coming to talk
to you about-about something"
He stopped at the door, Mind, ye're
mo- TO touch the books the niclt," he
said seriously.
"All right" she replied, bending to
sweep the perfectly tidy hearth.
For moment or two he regarded
her anXiously, then departed drearily
to the little fire-lit sitting room.
Il maun speak to her; maun speak
to her." he said to himself. "She's
whittier every day, an she'll no. rest
herself"
He sat down, like an exhausted man,
IN the easy chair and proceeded to un-
lace his boots, staring miserably the
while at the merry fire.
In the kitchen Jess leaned against the
dresser, endeavoring to gain control
over the excitement and emotion that
quivered and throbbed through her
being.
Il ought to be laughing" she thought,
and 1 feel more like crying. I'm a
stupid thing to be SO nervous about
telling him. l wonder what he'll say"
Now that her part, self conceived SO
tally rehearsed, was about to be play
ed she was seized with a tremulous
shyness which well nigh overpowered
her. She felt weak too. 1t was as if
She had been climbing a hard, steep
hill for great reward and had reach
ed the summit too breathless even to
gasp, 1--WE WON'T And the simple ro-
nance in her nature demanded that
she should make little story of what
might be told in few quick words.
When at last, after making sure that
her baby was slumbering safe and
comfortable, she went to join her hus-
band, she entered the parlor more like
a culprit than n conqueror.
"Sit here an rest We, Jess" begged
LAWN, AiSAilS Ilolu tic SuSS CHILL,
IAN I'll LIGHT the lamp"
"I'm going to sit here" she returned,
taking Il high chair in the shadow.
"Ye're gaun to sit whaur 1 bid We,
lass" he rejoined, and, stepping for
ward, he picked her up and deposited
her in the easy chair. There was
something so gentle in the touch of his
OF or hof
to sobbing out her secret there and
then.
But she contrived to laugh and say
THAT'S where the master comes in
Davie. But don't light the lamp just
now" she added as lie was about to
put paper spill to the fire.
What wey, Jess? Dye no. think it's
cheerler WI the lampY'
II like the fire fine, and-and I'm
CHEEKY enough already. Aren't you,
Davie?'
He looked down at her. Her cheeks
were flushed and her eyes very bright
"If ye're CHEEKY, ma dear, it's a RIGHT
an I'm CHEEKY alang wi We. But l.
wasna CHEEKY wee Willie back
"Oh, but l knew you were veXed
about poor Angus, Davie. SO was l.
You had nothing else to veX you. lad
you?"
David hesitated before he replied
II was wee bit vexcd ABBOTT ycrser,
Jess"
about me?"
AYE. Tell me, are We as wcel an
happy moo as we was year syne:"
"Of course! Indeed I'm far happier
and l couldn't be that if wasn't
.well, could I?''
we're no as rosy as ye used to be-
Jess" ho said abruptly.
Am 1 not?" she laughed. well,
after tonight, to please you, I'll begin
to get rosy again il l have 10 use
sandpaper. Wait and you'll see! Now
sit down and light your pipe and tell
me what's TO be done about Angus. Did
tomorrow"
Il did that, an he was rale pleased,
but
But what?"
Jaw, naethin'. He'll be rale pleased
to see yc the MORN"
That's not all he said, Davie. You
better tell me the rest"
Yell no be offcndit WI tie puir
buddy? He's aud. ye ken"
mo. no. I'll not be Offended"
''Weel. he said he wud be prood to
see yc, but wud We please no. bring
him ony nourishin' soup"
"oh" Jess smiled, then, becoming
grave, said, But did the doctor not
order him to get soup?'
AYE. But Angus doesna like soup,
an furbye it talks him a his time to
swallow what he gets frae yer aunt.
She's unco guild til him, he says, but
he Gamma TAX mair nor what he's get
tin, an twa-three folk wants TO gle
him soup furbyc her. But, Jess, lass,
he said If it was n the same to yer
seP he wud rather yeV roclt the wee
yin instead o. the soup when We gaed
to see him."
"Of course 1 WILL" she said softly.
But Angus isn't in danger, is le?"