The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-01-10

/, 1.-THE second man had lost his wife,
In the years ago. She had-run away
from him. There had been q scandal
then that merciful conclusion which
death brings. My Man feels himself
turning hot and cold: I must be 60
Ing; it's getting late he hears his
own voice continuing, dry and indis-
tinct: Goodbye; you must come and
see me. I'm at the same .place-no
change. Should like to ask you home
but we're only modest folk; and
dull. fear, at times He seizes the
others hand, shakes. it-and tears
himself away"
Again a brief pause: You mas
think that am becoming prosy, as
we'll as sentimental in my old age,
Reggie" Kitty remarked. "But, some
times. one likes to think quietly of the
past. It helps one to be honest,
| and"
Tolerant"
Il was going to say-humble." con
fessed her ladyship. "Wen, my Man
reaches home, and let's himself in with
his key. In small, neat front room
sits a small. neat woman; with the
dearest, truest face In the world. She
is knitting quietly; and turns her head
with some quick, bright word of vel.
come on her lips. One Sees"
Kitty held up little hand, as II to
shield herself from the blaze OF our
fire. Zone sees," she added, gently,
that the small, neat woman-is
blind"
why do you talk Of it, Kit?" asked
I. softly. 1T hurts you; and there Is
no need. One should reread only the
pleasant pages in Lies book"
1T helps me to be honest" persist
ed Kitty. slowly. There are moments
when one 60 nearly forgets {.
My Man asks abruptly for his son;
and learns that he has not yet come
In. This house is almost an hotel,
says the father. grufly and a little
unfairly. "A shabby one-but It serves
for him to sleep in, and eat In He
draws his chair to the fire and sits
there moodily; whilst his wife. putting
away her knitting, noiselessly busies
herself getting the supper. The door
opens. and the mother smiles as she
hears her daughter enter. Such 8
queer little girl, Reggie, with a pig
tail of mouse-colored hair! She glances
shrewdly towards her father, and notes
the tired, pinched features; the scarf
of the many wounds that Time has
dealt upon a gallant, If rather impa
tient fighter. She crosses to him, ant
coming behind his chair"
Il can see you, Kit" I interrupted
"And pig-tail and all. l don't find II
strange that l should so dearly love
you"
"Hushl ought not to remembe.
these things, aloud. But you, Reggie
are somehow different from all the
folk meet Please don't mistake my
meaning. get into way Of speak
ing very intimately with you, I an
afraid"
you make me very proud, Kit"
Proper pride, let me believe" an
nounced Kitty. deciding for US both
"But newspaper is ready and we al
sit down! Well, halfway through sup
per, there sounds knock at the door
The son presently comes into thu
room. He takes the mother back Il
her chair-she had gone to the dool
to meet him-and he stoops to kiss
that dearest face. Sorry to be late
Dad says he. a wee bit nervously
But got kept at the Office. An ole
chum Of the guv'nor's turned up, JUS
as was leaving He waits to sex
If the frowns will reappear, ere tell
Ing US the rest of q marvellous tale
|. The clouds have lifted, in
deed! The boy had stayed late tt
good purpose. He had been summoned
to the guv'nor's room 60 soon as thu
old chum' had left it. Had been of
fered a grand post, tremendous lift
up. But-abroad."
Kitty turned toward me. you Gym
les will say that that's the way o.
things" she declared roundly, as IL OF
her defense. TITS not true! Perhaps
sometimes the good is hidden away
like the kernel in q nut-and we have
to crack a hard shell to get it out
It's there, Reggie, though
You will have guessed that my faith
er's 'schoolmate' and Mr.. Tyson's ole
chum' were one and the same? HI
had gone straight to Tyson's, ant
whilst my brother was fidgeting at his
desk, the two men had been discuss
ing matters, weighty enough for Ut
all. in the end" She smiled within
sically. at another thought, which must
have arisen then.
"My father grew younger and young
er as we all talked of Philips future;
so assured, so dazzling in its many
possibilities. 1t was good Of ole
Frazer; 1t was splendid of him. cried
my father. in his best and biggest
voice. He wanted to help me, could
see 1t. And / resented it, too, sir!
By Jove, he has stolen march on me
) I never should have credited any man
with having such fine instincts. Our
friends. mother, eh? Tonight, as ]
was coming along, was nearly for