Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-02-02


other
Gone to be an angel was the
prompt answer. Papa went away
first, but he didn't go to be angel.
Cook said so. An mamma cried and
cried, an got sick and went to bed,
an | heard nurse tell cook that NAM
ma had divorce. An wen l asked
mamma w'ot that was she JUS cried
and Rugged me; and | asked nurse,
an she cried, an she scolded me an
said | mustn't ever say such thing
again. Then they took mamma away
in long carriage with flowers in it,
an the lady next door came in an said
the divorce killed mamma An to-
day asked the lawyer-man over there
an he just jumped an said, My good
gracious, chile!' | do so want to
know what a divorce is.'' 1t was a
long speech for small girl, but the
words tripped over each other in
their haste to escape, and there were
plenty more waiting to be released
The woman's voice was calm and
even as she answered; the curve of
her cheek youchsafed her husbands
view was as fair and cold as the snow,
but the eyes fixed on the child burned
like living Goals.
But who takes care of you, dear?"
Il don't know" she said, slowly, as
though this were a new idea to her.
Mamma did, but she went to be an
angel SO awful soon; an nurse an
cook did, but they kissed me an cried
an went away the day that lots of
people came to our house an bought
things. Now the lawyer-man is taking
me away to live with mammals auntie.
l guess" Frightening up, shell take
care of me now.
She lifted supplicating face to the
woman bending over her. and with a
childs unwearied insistence again
sought an answer to the question that
lay SO heavily on her little soul.
Won't you please tell me w'ot a
divorce is?"
1t was delicate situation. The man
leaned forward and answered for his
wife, who had mutely turned her head
away. He was fond of children
= Nov see here; suppose | tell you,
Eli you promise not to worry about
y any more?"
A vigorous nod.
He remained silent moment, trying
to formulate an answer so simple that
the child's mind could grasp it, then
spoke to the anxious face:
We'll, divorce is-a divorce-well,
two people get married, you know;
and sometimes it doesn't work as well
as they thought it would, so they go
to the lawyer-man like yours over
there and get unmarried"
He floundered hopelessly over his
definition, ending it with an uncom-
fortably red face, for it was harder
than he had anticipated, and two
searching eyes glued to your face are
apt to be disconcerting.
The little one nestled back against
the bosom which exhaled the same
faint, uncatchable sweet odor that had
always chung to mammals dresses, and,
with her inquiring eyes still searching
the mans face, propounded the next
link in the endless chain of a child's
interrogations.
please, wy do they want to get un-
married?"
The face above her was white, the
arm about her trembled. The hus-
band studied the floor intently a few
moments before answering, a frown
gathering between his eyes and lit
tie droop of self-scorn- pulling
down the corners of his mouth.
God knows" he said slowly, and
stared at the floor again.
A stentorian voice was intoning the
departure of the Philadelphia express,
and with nervous start the woman
looked up from the child on her lap
to see the "lawyer-man" approaching
them.
Pardon me for interrupting you,
but the little girl must be going now, /"
he said, raising his hat and bowling
The child chung silently to her new
friend before leaving, and in the wom-
ans eyes there were hot tears, and
in her throat an aching dryness. as
she gave the upturned face linger-
ing kiss and let her go.
Her husband stood at her elbow as
lawyer and charge passed through
the doorway, the child twisting around
for a last look. Would she rebuff him.
turning the low scorn of her eyes on
him? Had he been a fool to detect
any feeling for him in the whiteness
of her face as she bent over the child?
Would he only make himself ridicul-
GUS? The stubborn pride which had
helped to drive them so far apart
tingled at the notion. But wasn't it
worth the risk?
Your train goes next he reminded
her. watching her face intently. Il
want to go with you, Honora. OF
course. I won't go if it is offensive to
you, but this is such wretched BUSH
ness. Do you know what we are try
ing to do, dear? Can't we try each
other once more? | know I've been a
hidebound brute; it was just cursed
pride all through; but / love you, dear,
and cant give you up. Let me come
with you, just part way If you like.
Honora, dear!
In his heart he cursed the public
waiting room and passing people, fore
ing him to stand like miserable
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