Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-30
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ah,h yOu ~ MIL neT, Sa10 Lne OOCLOTs
briefly. 1t may be the most merciful ending
to her sorrow, but | wouldn't like to be the
maj man to strike the blow So goodnight, Miss
Talbot; can do nothing more. II you're
equal to this occasion, I'm not"
but the tenderhearted doctor did not get
on SO easily, for figure appeared at the door
behind him that arrested his footsteps. 1t
was was qld grandma herself, with her lossened
pray mar falling about her face and neck, and
her aim eyes shining with a strange bright
ness, VINO came tottering out upon the porch,
leaning on her cane.
My. babies" she said, in a faint, quaver-
ing voice-"my pretty brides! Haven't they
come home yet? 1t must be very late, for Pvej
Deen asleep, | think-asleep and dreaming of
ther mother, Haven't my babies-Therese'
bables-come home yet?"
Doctor Jeffries fell back step or two out
OF the poor cid lady's sight Lie, who was
always where she ought not to be, gave an
audible sniffle. Aunt Prue-aye, even Aunt
rrueIwas struck dumb. For the first time
10, well, nobody knew how many years of her
NE that lady was quite unequal to the occa-
sion. She did not know what to do or say
POOR old gran, with her outstretched hand
and trembling voice and wistful eyes, was too
much for her
It's so late, so very late" continued the
Old lady, tottering out further into the moon
light Il know that angels watch over moth
erless children; but they never stayed late as
this before. Trixl Tesse Trxw
And the feeble voice trembled through the
still moonlight in tones that went to every
hearers heart.
fries to himself "My dear Madam Garonne,"
he said, stepping forward, this night air is
too chilly for you. Go back into the library,
beg. l will go look for your little girls my
Eyes, look for them!" she repeated. "They
cannot be far, surely. It's so late-so very
late" And again she leaned against the stone
balustrade OF the porch and called, "Children,
children ; t; where are YOU; Tesse, Trix, my lit
tie BIRDS come home"
Coming gram" shouted CHEEKY young
voice through the garden.
And Doctor Jeffries, who was very wise
shock.
For, bounding up the grass-grown path in
The moonlight, came two little, ragged, hatless,
bare-footed, berry-stained figures, who flung
themselves upon dear old gran, kissing and
nugglng, and sobbing and laughing altogether
In way, that threatened to take away the
poor old ladys remaining breath
oh, gran! dear, darling old gran! we're so
CAD to get home Did we frighten you, gran"
they cried, in a fresh outburst, while Lie CAV
shrek OF JOY, and Aunt Prue found voice to
"Beatrix! lherese! Well, II never
But Beatrix and Therese. paid no more at
tention to Aunt Prue than if she had been the
pillar OF salt Lot left in the desert;
49, - iran, hl dear grant! was all they thought of
irles caught the nearest little culprit by the
ear and demanded an explanation
Then Aunt Charlotte Laws, who was quite
too heavy and asthmatic to follow her young
missiles flying feet, came putting slowly up
the path, and between them all the mystery
was made clear.
Aunt Charlotte, who was something of a
doctor IN her way, knew all about the spring,
where she often went to draw the medicinal
water; so guided by the sound of Trix's voice,
she had no difficulty in finding grams lost
brides. and bringing them home safely in
Uncle Jake's boat
Gran, who was still very nervous and shak-
en-, was taken up to bed in her own spacious
chamber; Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Jake
were given comfortable quarters for the night:
while Trix and Tessie were rolled I'D in bian.
kets,. dosed with "yarb" tea, and put to bed
by Nam Chloe herself, who .Prophesied that ''if
they wasn't dead tonight, they was like to be
in the morning, for they was chilled to the
marrer of their bones.''
But in spite of the. chill. the weary little sis
tiers slept very sweetly and calmly-more calm
y, perhaps than if they had known that the
light burned in Aunt Prues room until nearly
morning, and that that lady sat up at her desk
very straight and stiff letter. that was to 90
by the morning. mail to General Maurice Tai
bot. Fort Blank, Dakota.
1T is time that somebody took things in
hand" said Aunt Prue, grimly, as she closed
her letter and sealed it with the Talbot crest
--an iron hand. 81 think this will rouse
wretched, neglected children It will be two
weeks before l can get an answer. In the
meantime, I'll watch them as well as T can. .
But there was no need of Aunt Prue's
watching for the next two weeks, for Trix
and Tessie were subdued by grimmer visitor
than their maiden aunt Poor grandma was
kalr ind III n