The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-16
< OUR DAILY SHORT STORY <

, up in her narrow castle, only darttng out to procure food from the kitchen. On these occasions Jethuel would beat a retreat to the barn. The front room was the rear room now. and standing by itself, surrounded by the cellar walls. 1t looked odd and desolate. Just what Lyddy would do in the winter wife quieted hfm by declaring that with the first snow Lyddy would seek refuge in the back room and all would be we'll One day Lyddy opened her door and caught Jethuel who was passing. "Jethuel. you've lodged me fer some time. Now you pay heed a min- ute ter what I say. You an Laura | have deserted me. but lem'me tell you this, an you be sure ter tell her. I'll never come inter your house till she tbegs me on her knees an prays me Ter | take tn best room. lookin' out on tn Pitchmope road. She nor you never will enter my room till she does this, an also promises ter move this room so 1t will jine with tn new house. Now you've heard me. git! Only little Dan ever comes in here till what I've said has been done"
 The ten year-old youngster alluded to. was the one person to whom his mother. Mrs. Philbrick. bowed her head He ruled her even as he ruled his spinster aunt. Prob | ably If Lyddy had been asked to give up her room for his sake. she would have suffered But the mother was too jealous of the boys affections to be beholdin' to Lyddy in his behalf. | And so with the exception of the boy. Dan, Miss Lyddy received no vis- itors. The boys mother forbid him gofn gthere. but he disregarded her commands. and called daily, knowing full we'll the weakness of her love. It was after the carpenters had worked two days in raising the old house up story that there occurred | the first serious misfortune to come to the Philbrick household. Mrs. Philbrick had been frying doghnuts and had left her task to get an arm | fui of wood. The fat boiled over, and when she returned she found the rear of the house ablaze. with Jethuel and the carpenters working desperate ly to stop the flames from spreading. | "Ohi Oh! Where's Danieli" moan ed Jethuel, as he saw his wife coming up the path alone.
 "Dan1 in there?' shrieked the dis l tracted mother, rushing for the blaz- ing doorway
 T have Dan in here. I fetched | him through tn end winder an down | Miss Lyddy from her doorway Then she turned and closed the door and ] locked it.
 'Lem'me in, Lyddy Philbrick" shrieked the frenzied mother, beating on the solid old door.
 Miss Lyddy came to the window and | looked down on the distracted wom- | an calmly. When she could make her | self heard she said: NO. you can't | come in here. Now listen; tn house Is ruined, an although tn men are ! savin' enough ter shelter you an Jeth- uel, it'll be no place for this boy. But | If you say so, you can have him. If yo do take him inter that ruin, all water soaked an smoky. he'll probably | die. Leave him here an I'll take as good care of him as you would. But you two can't come in. You'll recol- | lect I made a vow"
 T must be with DanI." choked the mother T must be with him! Lem'me inr'
 Dan showed his frightened face at the opening long enough to sob: Tin ter come out"
 His parents, even In their fright. observed that his hands and arms were bandaged.
 Now, Laura. no matter if 1t does go agin tn grain, jest give in Re- member your VOW and knuckle. Why, | we've got ter be with Dan1. Oh, Lawd. who knows but what he's in- jured internally" Jethuel took on.
 Mrs. Philbrick stiffened up. gulped
 back a sob. and then burst into tears.
 "Its hard, Lyddy." she choked. but
 you saved him through tn winder.
 You was watchin out fer him when I
 was away I am a determined woman
 maybe I'm sot in my ways. but I'm
 Christian. I beg of you ter take the
 best room in our new house when its
 built" and Mrs. Philbrick kneeled in
 application
 | An we'll move this room any
 where you want it." added Jethuel.
 Joyfully.
 Come in." said Lyddy. simply,
 throwing open the door. Come in.
 You an Dan can stay with me, an
 Jethuel can sleep in what's left of tn
 old place. or in tn barn. An l guess
 tn insurance will jest about pay fer
 half of a new set of buildin's. won't
 1t, Jethuel?" she asked. cheerfully.
 Wal, whether 1t does. or don't
 there's goin' ter be enough ter buy a
 new carpet for yer room. Lyddy. an
 some new curtains fer tn winders,'
 declared Mrs. Philbrick, as she kneeled
 beside her son and again noticed how
 skilfully his burns had been treated
 by his rescurer.