Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-03-03
,ou tzy Il awhiiA rnehoa tAis hsu,s q

you ny Il awhiie iwehca tAls Asuss e |
ionesome-tust you. an not even q est
to talk to. know where can get you
#ons-right aroun' at that house where
the steps is broke down."
go back to the kitchen and ask the
cook for some milk" he interrupted
hastily and frowningly. Il don't want
your money-kesp IT.
The child walked slowly down the |
steps and past the corner, keeping Q
troubled eye upon him; but when she |
came back presently her step was alert |
and her manner resolute. She set the |
bucket down on the bottom step and |
mounted toward him.
Il wouldn't take the milk without |
payin for II" she said, the sharp little |
voice mounting higher with every deter
mined word. Sarah Jane amt NO beg |
gar-an' even If 'tain't but little, you
can put it 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 copper cent.
He arose and wandered about tho
beautiful lawn, and among the flowers,
and through the house. from room to
room. What strange thing memory
was! He could see his wife coming down
| those stairs now, az plainly as he had
| ever seen her bodily presence; and the
boy-the boy was everywhere-e child
ish babe in the nursery-a little lad.
bursting in from SCHOOL, tall youth,
his handsome face pale, going out OF
that door with only "Good-by, father!"
And then the long years.
Willis" he said, awkwardly, little
later. to the astonished cook. I'VE 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 more-there's the cat
down to that cottage at the corner
every day, Willis. please?"
AS the days passed Mr.. LawIer 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 it; but
she did not. Then he arose and walked
slowly past the cottage, determined that
II 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 it
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 a moment-through
the gate, bursting in at the door, The
weeping mother was down on her knees
gathering up the insensib1e child from
the floor where she had fallen. 1t was
Mr.. Lawler who took the little form
away and laid it on the bed.
| Ou, We We COmG d1t6I LuS CTlGU
the mother wringing her hands. ooh
, don't ye be coming after the rent, when
I'm that distracted. with Katie ailin
, all this week, an now took like this
, BE quiet, womani Does man think
) OF nothing but rent?" he said sternly
: searching with a trembling finger foI
the pulse in the thin wrist Have YOU
had doctor?"
"An' how could have doetor!'
: sobbed the woman, "an' me with NJ
money to dare to send for 'im!"
) "I will telephone for a doctor" ht
said; but as he was going out she callet
. after him desperately:
, "Oh, then, get cheap one-for "
. know how 1t is with the poor!"
He was gone but very few minutes
: but in that time he had called doctor
Q rung for messenger boy and sent tele
r gram. The message was very simpl
z ! one. It was addressed to David Lawler
: in western city, and read:
y will you come home to see your faith
< er? John Lawler."
y The doctor Mr. Lawler called was no
cheap one He came in his automobile
r and was in truth little surprised at tn
b house which required his august pres
ence; but Mr.. Lawler went in with hin
q and in a moment he was leaning owe
k the frail little form on the bed.
II "She is partially conscious" said tn
+ doctor a long time afterward. II thin
she is distressed by the mewing Of tha
a cat Can't something be done with it?
b The mothers tears flowed afresh, s
q that she hardly noticed the knock at tn
e door, which Mr.. Lawler answered.
1t Sure, an don't know what to
o. with the cat!" she cried piteously
ID "Kaite's always fed it her own self, aft
I er ways of her own, an it won't eat fo
me, an that's the truth Of it-an' sh
i'd was jist gettin' ready to feed it thi
h mornin' when she was took"
1t Mr. Lawler stood in the door with