The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-08-12
CHAPTER TX.
rIeuREs. nur Nor ~ pRr.


meant that he had never lone so well.
In the parlor his wife. bending over
the page Of neatly kept ledger, sighed
and murmured, III | could only tell
him some things without telling him
everything!"
In the cradle by her side her baby
stirred Slightly, but did net waken
Her face llghtened as she stopped to-
ward the child. then as she rose again,
her mouth took on an expression of de
termination.
She left the table and went quietly
to the window. For n brief space she
watched the man working steadily and
happily in the summer evenshine. "Oh
Davie" she whispered to herself. "Tm
afraid, I'm afraid If you had only
left your hearts desire till it was ready
Till you were able TO take il and keep
it Perhaps it's my fault. Perhaps
I've taken too much on myself. But
how could l explain everything now?
You would never
David Strengthened himself IN order
10 get a birdseye view of the plot and
caught sight Of his wife at the window
He nodded smiled, pointed proudly at
his pansies ana beckoned her to him.
She smiled family in return, shook her
head and signed to him TO come in
doors.
He came at once and entered the par
lor gayly and eagerly. "Was ye want
in me TO TAX the wee yin for awhiley'
he whispered 'TH jist wash ma
hauns, an then I'li"-
"No. no, Dayie," SAL Jess gently
loving him more for his warm fatherly
affection. "Kahe's sleeping sound. But
I've been having a look a the books
and l II wanted to ask you about
something"
"Jist that. lass" he returned agree
ably, trying not TO look disappointed
"Weel, III shin he feenished ootbyc.
an then wen haze a crack aboOt ne
books. Come ava for a meenit an see
the pansies thatll lift the first prize at
the show on Saturday. Come ava,
Jess jist for meenit Ye're no gauu
ootbye enough the moo. Never heed
the books. They'll keep"
"They won't keep themselves" she
said good humoredly. But / want tc
know one thing before you go out
again, Davie," she went on seriously
Whats that?"
Have you given Donald Binnie no
ticeY"
mo yet dearie," he replied little
uncomfortably.
why, Davie? You said you were
going to tell him more than week
ago"
AYE. But-but, We see, Jess, had
ua the hert 10 tell him. He's a daccnt
man, Donald BinRie, an he's served
me weel since he cam 90 KinlOchan"
Il know that" she freely allowed.
"But there's no work for him just now.
IS thereT
"Aweel. there's no mucllle, to tell We
the truth, lass" he admitted slowly,
adding more cheerfully, but We never
can tell when the work II come again.
An Donald Binnle's dacent man. |
wud be vexed TO haze to tell him | did
ma need him ony mair l wud that,
Jessl An ye like him fine yersel dae
ye no'?"
'Of course do. David. But, tell me,
what has Donald done today? What
was there for him 10 dog"
"Neel. ye see, it was kin = slack at
the shop, an / jlst tell't him he micht
TAX a day aff"
"Oh! But you gave him day of
yesterday, didn't your said Mrs Hous-
to1, keeping calm with an effort.
80 l did" he replied somewhat rue
fully.
For ten seconds Jess held her tongue.
Then very gently she asked:
Gould you not do All the work that's
going just now yourself, DavieT'
AYE, aye; | daursay- l was neg
Letting the garden he said thought
fully.
But il you started earlier in the
moningT
What aboot The wee yinT"
His wife laughed against her better
Judgment. lis It you that holds Katie,
or Katie that holds you in the morn
ingsY"
"Weel, weel dearic, ye ken It's rale
nice TO haze the wee yin In yer arms, -
he said half laughngly, half apOlOget-
ically. as he bent over the cradle.
She was disarmed for a moment, but
glance at the ledger on the table was
sufficient TO bring her back TO action.
David" she said firmly you must
give Donald notice on Saturday"
The wee yin's fine at the sleepin'!
Ehg What was ye sayin, lass?"
Il said you must give Donald notice
on Saturday Promise"
"But--but I'll be ava at the show on
Saturday. an so wull you, Jess"
''Then you must tell him on Friday
tomorrow DO you know, David" she
continued sOlemniy, that for weeks
you've been paying Donald more than
you've been making yourselfy"
Houston stared. lis that fac'?" he
exclaimed.
Last week his wages were twice
what n come 10 you"
Mercy on u.s. Is that what the book
saysY
Yes. But / told you awhile ago that
you couldn't sfford 10 keep Donald"
Il ken, l ken. I'm a stupit man an
ill 20 dae Wi But IN see aboot gi'eln'
Donald notice It's a peety, for he's a
dacent man, an -
you'll tell him tomorrow
AYE. IN likely see him the morn
II he disna tax anlther day ar
telrt him he didna need 20 come IN the
morn unless be had naethin better 10
dae. He's got lass at Fairport. ye
ken But it's Ike rain the nicht an