Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-12-15

business Journey and Julia had taken
the same train to her home and chill
dren. Her mother was under orders to
follow in a few days, when the big
house should be closed for the summer
Julia had arranged for some cousins to
remain also until her departure.
81 feel" thought Mrs. Baxter, with n
nervous little giggle, "as i used to
when | was little girl and my moth
er went away and left me alone in the
house. 1t seems as If l ought to play
with the clock or do something forbid
den"
Suddenly she arose and went to her
writing desk. Opening n secret draw
er, she drew forth two photographs
David Baxter, boyish and dcbonair,
aged twenty-one, and David Baxter,
shrewd and jovial at the threshold Of
middle age, as when she had last seen
him. There was also slip Of paper
bearing his present address, for Mrs.
Baxter had surreptitlously mailed him
newspapers with marked articles from
time to time, though she had never
dared to write or hope to hear from
him.
A tender look came into her eyes,
and she swiftly reviewed her past. ut
was my fault" she thought Il neg
lected him for the children and their
friends. Their wishes came first"
She carefully restored the pictures
again and renewed her revere.
I'VE were perfectly happy that first
year only-before David got SO very
rich, and we lived in that dear little
cottage on the forty acres. / wish-I
willr
A sudden bold resolution came to her.
End fearful lest her weak nature
should make her change her mind she
dashed off two letters, one Of which
was to the people who lived in their
old home, which she had never sold,
but had allowed some needy friends to
occupy rent free.
Her dreams that night were happy
pictures of woods, meadows and coun-
try lanes. In the morning she looked
almost girlish At the breakfast table
she made welcome proposal to her
cousins, who were left in charge OF
her. She asked them If they would
not like to stay in the house for awhile
and entertain their friends as they will
ed, while sue made a visit to some
friends In the country.
81 am so tired out" she explained.
VI need the rest and quiet, and there II
no need of the children knowing any
thing about it. I'll send my letters
back here to be remailed to them"
The cousins, who had ever disapprov-
ed of the Julia and Walter espionage
over their mother, heartily concurred
in the little conspiracy. The following
day brought response TO her letter
to the farm. They would be only too
happy to receive her, not as a summer
boarder, but as q guest. The next
train bore her to her old home. where
she planned to stay a few weeks and
live again the olden days in her men,
ory and associations,
She gave little cry Of pleasure as
they drove up to The Nutshell, as Da.
vid had named 1t. Here time seemed
W nave stoOu Bull. Inc WIG SoNclSu
porch, the flower beds, the old apple
orchard and the little rustic seat in the
arbor We're the same. She went over
the Whole place. Every spot was re-
pletc with beautiful memories. The
pext morning she arose with a little
tremoP Of excitement running through
her veins.
Never, not even for polly's wedding,
had she taken such care with her toi'
let. She was glad the day gave prom
Use of being one of extreme heat. 1t
would account to the farm folk for the