Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-11

The driver nodded. "All right" He gathered
up the reins and turned about in the crunching
shrilling snow.
The old man turned towards the house, the
bundled figure held close in his arms. face
that had been pressed against one Of the small
window-panes flashed from sight.
He made his way TO the back Of the house.
peering uncertainty, Ms he went, into the folds of
the bundle pair of winking, childish eyes
looked back at him.
When he opened the door a woman who was
washing dishes at sink across the room turned
slowly about and looked for a moment at him
and at the bundle in his arms She did not
speak cross the room.
The old man returned the look, half-defantly
half-p leadingly. il might SEEM He crossed to
big chair by the stove and began to remove the
wrappings When the last one lay on the floor
beside him fairhaired child with soft curls
and wistfu brown eyes. sat on his knee, gazing
at him with fixed, intent look
The old man took out his handkerchief and
blew his nose loudly. Tie took off his spectacles
and polished them. His thin, pointed beard
trembled little as he readjusted them and
peered at the child
The woman at the sink stopped washing dishes
and came across to the other stove. There were
two stoves in the room, just alike. They stood
side by side little distance apart She stood
by the other stove looking across at the child
on the mans knee.
The child looked up and saw her. wan
smile came into her little face. She slipped from
the knee and, running across, put up her hands.
The old woman stopped and caught her up.
She smoothed the soft curls and patted the little
hands and held her to her.
The child nodded with a pretty, bright gesture.
After moment she opened her mouth and
pointed small finger down her throat Her face
wore an intelligent expectant look.
The looked at her in surprise. She
peered into the child's throat and shook her
head. what do you want?" she said slowly.
Her voice had unused, hoarse sound
The child repeated the gesture.
The woman looked at her doubtingly. Her
glance strayed to the old man.
He had risen from his chair and hobbled across
the room to small pantry that opened out of it.
She watched him curiousy he bent over
stone jar and extracted huge loaf of bread.
A look of ncredulity and horror came into her
face. She turned it sharply to the child Cant
you speak hear anything?" She spoke loudly.
Her hoarse voice trembled.
For answer the child lifted tiny hand to
stroke the wrinkled cheek She cooed softly.
The old man came out of the pantry, holding
out big slice of bread. 1t was thicky spread
with butter and rich, sweet molasses
With cry the child reached out her hands.
The old woman placed her the floor, and
she ran quickly to where the old man stood,
smiling and holding out the tempting bait.
With swift sound in her throat the old wo-
man turned away. She opened door that led
into a small room. 1t was pantry, the dupli-
cate of the one across the room. Reaching up to
a high shelf, she took down pan of milk. She
poured some of it into glass and, coming out,
set it on little stand on her side of the kitchen.
The child, taking big bites of the sweet bread,
eyed it hopefully. The old woman nodded en-
couragingly, and she ran across to take it.
The old went out into the back shed.
Presently he returned, a child's rockingham
held carefully in his hands. Wiping the dust
from it, he placed it in front of the stove-his
stove. The child looked at it. and he logged it
gently back and forth with his foot.
When the child had finished the milk she came
across and sat down in the chair. And, sitting
there in the warm kitchen, the two old people
watching her. with faces halfawed and half GU
rious, rocking gently back and forth in the little
chair, she fell asleep.
Early the next morning the old woman was
astir. She swept and mopped her side of the
kitchen floor and spread down piece of bright
carpetng in front of the stove. She brought
down from the garnet dolls cradle. 1t was
made of wood and had quaint wooden hood
over one end She placed it carefully on the
bright carpet She had brought down, Also
from the garrett large corn-cob, which she
dressed with calico and silk. She laid it in the
cradle and stood back to survey the result.
The old man was hobbling stiffy about on his
side of the room, cooking his breakfast and set
ting the table. He placed small plate beside
his own on the table, and, searching in the pan
try for smaller knife and fork, laid them proud
ly beside the plate.
His wife began to hustle about more. She
made coffee and set the table on her side of the
room She laid little plate with knife and
fork beside her own and set up high chair.
softened look suffused her face The sun poured
in at the east windows.
The bedroom door opened and the child came
out sleepy and halfdressed.
The grandmother finished buttoning the
Clothes nodding to her and smiling and patting
her as she worked.