The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-12
SPRING-By Grace Margaret Gallagher

called the Widow Judd down the path l in answer to Cap'n Wisdom's cheerful shout. "Ye an Ambrose air settin' out on constable of a jaunt I view ct ye | won't be hum till come night" That day, the last of school, Saloam | rewarded the faithful few still on the | benches by closing early. She hurried l home through the woods that she might cast her tired body on the bed out Of sight and sound of all the world. At the edge of the Judd farm she stopped in suddenly sharpened misery.
 She had caught sight of her mother stealing under the apple trees toward the TreadWay farm. She remembered
 that Ambrose and Nathan would both
 be gone all day. and that Sarah
 Frances never stirred further than the well. Unable to go either forward
 or back, she crouched in the shadow of tne barn.
 l The Widow Judd made but nasty pick ings Perhaps she feared the unexpected in the form of neighbor; perhaps her own act, viewed in the sunlight. wore different face than when wreathed about by the moonbeams.
 When the kitchen door closed with @ | don't-care bang, Saloam started to her feet, then sank down in horror with a l ouiyering cry. There in the qunee bushes, where she had hidden the first night, was Ambrose. He leaped the wall and stood before her. Don't you say a word against my 1 mother.' She was up on her feet and 1 backed against the barn. at bay. l. q ain't goln--"
 Don't you say a word against my 1 mother!' Her voice was 8 shriek. | Ambrose gently opened her clenched i hands and drew her down on log beside l him. The angle of the barn hid them | alike from his house and from hers. The girl rocked herself back and forth. ] "Oh oh! oh! I tried to keep 1t! l tired
 to keep it! she repeated necessarily. | With one hand Ambrose held her hands, l with the other he stroked her hair ten l derly. Poor little girl!' he said once to himself his voice deep with pity. l Soothed in spite of herself. Saloam gave 1 him a quick glance IIe was smiling down | on her with infinite love. 1 "FIow come you to be here?" "Mis' Wren took one O her poor turns ' with her head, an I promised I'd stay with her till Nate could raise her daugh- | ter Hong Bashan road. So, not ter put 1 Cap'n Wisdom out on his cruise I sent l him an Nate on together. I he'd jest come 1 out ter look at the qulnces when l see l your mother--'
 How did you know frst?" Saloam I turned her face, white with suffering, 10 | him.
 Ambrose, still stroking her hair. an l swered in his quiet drawl: "'Twas a night last week Old Bully | warnt well, an I'd come out en the 1 middle O tn night ter tn barn. fur I l thought I heard him kickin'. I think a sight O thet horse, though he Is so | old for father always drove him. When l I come out O tn barn I see somethin' | movin over here. I donno jest what expected ter find. but crep' over kind | O careful hidin' en them same bushes. | an pretty quick I made out your moth CT"
 oh" saloam struggled to rise. Ambrose held her back gently with I his big hands.
 How long ye know, honey?"
 -Four nights ago."
 -Four nights! Well. now" he laughed
 softly, "an' I thought ye wuz sick, or tn young ones he'd worn ye clean through Ye couldn't tell me? No. l
 spose ye couldn't
 ! If you tell any one-if you speak