The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-12-19


bound for Canada. The young women on
Sightseeing tour met Mrs Graham:
snxiousiy awaiting her husband who had
duced to Lord Wilfrid and Lady Edith.
a cottage by the ocean was rented by
the trio for the summer. Elizabeth
learned that a friend of her fathers was
to call, TWO men called one of them
being the queer-actine stranger on The
but discovered by the cards left that one
of the men was Elizaheth's father 3
Blake and Gordon Bennett The party
told of the search for smugglers in
the vicinity OF the cottage
CHAPTER ".
few days later | paid visit to
Mrs. Graham. We could see her cot
tage from the path which led to the
village. and every time l passed it !
had an uncomfortable feeling that she
was lonely and perhaps i'll. and that
l ought to be neighborly. So at last
] went
1t was most unprepossessing little
clapboard house. evidently built for
the sole purpose OF affording shell
ter. for certainly no time or thought
had been wasted on verandas or other
unnecessary. though agreeable, acces-
sories. AS I stood on the narrow
front steps, waiting for my knock to
and wondered il, after all, her sum
mer would prove very beneficial.
Mrs. Graham herself opened the
door, with an exclamation of pleasure.
This is very nice" she said, 'and
you are especially welcome this
morning. for sometimes ones thoughts
are but Indifferent society, are they
not?"
We'll" l remarked, as I seated my
self on the chair she indicated, so
we are really neighbors, after all, Are
you settled yet, and do you like your
new home? We are quite in love with
ours"
Settled" she said, with slight
shrug We'll, yes, l suppose so. But
don't call it home. please-four bare
walls, two windows, and a door. Is
that home?"
But" l suggested, why not look
through the window at the ocean,"
"Ah, the ocean," she interrupted.
How l hate it. Always rolling. al
ways changing; so deceitful, with its
treacherous laughing water, and so
cruel. l dislike salt air anywhere,
and this seems to me the most OBJ
noxious l ever breathed. l do not see
how l am going to live through this
summer"
listened in silent astonishment,
and Mrs. Graham paused with short
laugh.
Pray excuse me-" she said: you
see, I'm from the SOUTH and love the
warmth, the flowers, and the many.
many trees. Ny child Is there, too.
You could not expect me to leave him
IN Virginia and be happy In Canada,
could you?"
why not bring him to Canada
also?"
"Oh. no, no." she said. with un.
necessary vehemence. He is better
there-far better. See, this is his
picture Do you wonder l am rebel.
lious at the separation? My mother
writes that he is quite well and hap
py, and no longer frets for me, Think
of that! He is already learning to do
without me-"
He is like his father" said, study.
ing the laughing little face.
Very like" she replied: very,
very like. Do you think" she con.
tinued slowly, that the rearing Of a
child determines its after life?
mean, do you believe in environment
or heredity?"
looked from the picture In my
hand to the tense face OF the mother,
Il do not know" l faltered. You
see. have never thought about It,"
"Of course you have mott" she ex-
claimed. why should you? And how
silly in me to get started on my hobby
SO soon! l am apt to think every one
is as much Interested in children as
l am, but l suppose that is the way
with all mothers. A childless woman
loses both the greatest pleasure and
the greatest pain in life, and do not
know whether to pity or envy her"
There was movement in the room
above. and she held out her hand for
the picture.
Il will put 1t away" she said, hur-
riedly; "and let us talk of something
else. Mr. Graham thinks I allow the
boy to absorb me to the exclusion of
everything else. and perhaps he is
right"
Mr.. Graham was coming downstairs
now. I listened to the descent of his
slippered feet, and speculated Idly
Whsther he breakfasted every morning