The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-11-19

I6dnW " Aito tnih6o thAN AAeRRcAc@e
The doctor had eono to the city. he
had visited Mr.. Brathwaite, and Mr..
Brathwaite had come home early, to
find his house deserted and prefer
paturally silent, and white and suf-
fering woman in darkened room up
stairs.
But that was two hours ago. Now,
at FIVE o'clock, two pairs of eyes,
little misty, watched Cordelia as she
marshalled her brood up from the
back road and on through the mea-
dows.
At the garden fence she halted her
followers, and seemed to utter ad-
monishlng words, at which--most
curious slghtl-they all squatted
down and waited in perfect quiet
while Cordelia proceeded alone to the
back door.
There in the doorway stood her
| father and mother, and her mother,
although still pale, looked so marvel
ously radiant that ten years seemed
to have dropped from her age. She
had on her white dress, and there
was a rose in her hair. Her father
wore his new linen suit, and he
looked flushed and hot, but very
| happy. Through the door Cordelia
saw the dining-room table all set,
and on 1t was great plate of ginger
bread and opposite that heaping
mound of biscuits.
When Cordelia recovered from her
astonishment, her first words were
of reproach:
20 mama, why did you get up and
| get supper? l was coming home In
time to do everything"
81 didn't do single thing, DEAR"
answered her mother, hugging her.
Papa did 1t all. See, he made gin
gerbread and biscuits"
The parents very graciously per-
mitted their hungry offspring to sit
down to table with them without any
further preparation than the wash
ing of their faces and hands.
At this supper there was a change
in the usual manner of seating. Or
dinarily Cordelia had Laura one side
and her mother had Bobs-baby next
to her, and Nan they shared between
them. Meals were rather busy occa-
sions for Cordella and her mother.
Tonight their father placed him
self between Larua and Bobs-baby,
a change occasioning much joculari-
ty, which grew visibly feebler toward
the close of the meal.
do they always eat like this?"
the father asked, as at last he pulled
back Laura's high chair, attempting
at the same instant to evade Bobs-
baby's buttery caresses of his sleeve.
"Yes,' answered the mother.
After supper the younger members
of the family were about to dance
out into the summer evening, after
their care-free habit; but strong
voice called them back.
Marjorie and Nan, you will please
wash the dishes, and jamie, your
mothers pansy-bed needs wedding;
and 1 think Laura is big enough to
amuse Bobs for bit, and keep him
from bothering mama. To work, all
of you! Cordelia, don't you want to
take an evening stroll with your old
daddy?"
Cordelia beamed with pleasure and
| ouCn III UOllOI udu nOl
been hers for many year. Usually
her father took the dainty four-year-
old Laura by the hand after supper,
or perched Bobs-baby on his shoul-
der, and went romping with him
down the garden paths. Cordelia
supposed that fathers always pre-
ferred the youngest ones.
But tonight the father chose Cor
della, and put his arm about her and
called her sweetheart-plain, over
worked, overworried Cordelia. He
was very nice father, very hand
some and debonair and jolly. He led
his daughter to the apple-tree bench.
and there they sat and talked over
what the doctor thought about the
mother.
"The doctor says she must go
away" said Cordelia's father.
TITS too bad that she can't" re-
Joined Cordelia.
why can't she?"
Because you are going away
i 'Is that all?" he asked, dryly
"Well, propose to vary my program
this year. 1 propose to take my va
cation in my own suburban retreat,
and send your mother to the noun
tains."
Cordelia gasped, but was speech
less.
why this surprise? l can cook,
can't 1, young lady? And as for the
management of this family, it has oc-
CURED to me that season of gentle
paternal discipline would not come
amiss. There is a pleasant little
boarding-place ten miles this side of
camp, and mama could be very COM
Portable there"
Cordelia's face was still blank
with astonishment.
"The doctor says" continued her
father, that 1t would be we'll for
mama to have one of her children
with her."
Cordelia was certainly very dense,
for she replied In resigned way:
Il suppose Bobs-baby wouldn't let
her so alone"
Her father looked at her in some
: puzzlement, and looking, noticed how
thin she was, and what knobby little
wrists she had.
"I'll settle that with Bobs-baby,"
he replied. HE is not to go. It
nuqt ha ma ~ vou xuhA oon loolr