Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1907-03-21

II don't think I do" said Mrs Per-
civai, o trifie stlffiy. aud took the hoy
away.
CurIously enough. one morning
tho orchard door was again left ajar.
and although there had been no storm
overnight. the earth beneath the near
est peach tree was strewn Win
blushing windfalls. q perfectly IRE
sistible temptation TO the small shape
that slid past It and then crept pack
to look whilst Mummy" dozed on
garden bench In the shade VI the
late blooming roses.
II never see slch critter rs your
ma Is for sleepin'," she said 10 the
child as she sat In the shade OF the
ample tree. knitting. How on earth
does she ever attend to her house
work? Or does she let II go without
attendin' to? Pears to me she don't
do nothin' but loll round them rose
bushes and sleep the hull blessed
time. II what you say IL true.
Miss Packenham then rose sudden
ly and took the boys hand.
Come" she said "'Twon't be no
worse'n her intrudin' on me that day.
and reckon good talkin' to uii DO
her n heap Of good. Them buttons
has been of your shoes for week
now, and it's time somebody spoke TO
her sharp" And holding the childs
small soft hand in hers she marched
through the wall door where Alice
Percival slept.
But the wrath went out OF Miss
Packenham's breast as soon as she
saw her. She drew back with a
frightened expression in her eyes.
Eyes. it's me-" she said as she met
the surprised stare Of Alice's eyes,
I'm intrudin' and breakin' agreement,
| know: but reckon it's about time.
Why didn't you tell me? ] never see
anybody so changed In all my born
days. You mustn't sleep out here;
it'll be the death Of you"
1T will be that, anyway" she an
swered, with a pathetic smile. my
mother went the same way. and II
came on suddenly with her just as IL
has done with me. / have always
known that 1t would. Don't ask me
TO 20 indoors; like to be out here
with the roses Harry loved"
Miss Packenham felt curious
sensation gripping her throat, and
looked away to where Willy Boy was
chasing q nimble grasshopper round
and round the garden beds.
"Aint there no cure for IT." she In
quired.
mot now. There was once. but It's
too late now. It was that that tempt
ed me when Mr.. Tompsett first asked
me to marry him. / might have
been saved then. He said | might
And there was Willy Boy to live for
too. But oh! Miss Packenham.
couldn't do i'll simply couldn't! II
seemed like proclamation, like disloy
alty'to Harry
One thin hand slid to her neck as she
smoke. loosening her collar and drew
| into sight thread OF gold chain
with large, fiat. old.fashioned locke'
attached to 1t.
Look at him. Miss Packepham,
said Alice. Wasn't his noble face?'
"Yes. he was q good lookin' man,
she said, at length. "But l can't stant
here talkln' about men; I've got pi'
| in the oyen.'' Then she walked ava!
Fin haste.
For AZ hours gloom and stiffness
hung over the divided house, and
then II was broken suddenly by thu
hacking sound of q piled AZ and thu
noise Of splitting wood. and Alice Per
ciyal. was startled to see Miss Pack
enham's head appearing suddenl!
through q gap In the dividing pard
ton and her body followed It imme
diately afterwards.
I'm takin' down this pesky part
tion." abe said In answer to Alice
startled inquiry. "'Tain't a Christian
thing for US two women to live Tx
this. and, besides. ! want the boy
The thing l need most is u goo
mans child to comfort and save m
from gettln' sour and onwomanly
Lets share the boy between us a
, Hong as God spares you to him. an
after that"
aplease 60 on. Miss Packenhan
"And. after that-what?"
'I'li take care Of him." replied Mis-
, Packenham" and he mote jist as vel
be my son, anyway. the way l feel to
wards him, and. I'll make good MAJ
of him, II l die q tryin' to-"