The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1908-10-15

II was very dark in the brass cage
and the little bundle Of yellow feathers
moped unhappily. There weren't any
cheerful nice sounds about the room;
there hadn't been for many days. II
seemed TO Sixpence that the world hau
some to an end.
And then of a sudden It was differ
ent, for the horrid black thing tha'
made It always night was taken gent
~ of. and the beautiful day shone all
over and around Sixpence. He chlrpeu
feebly in response. He tried le"
notes Of his long disused voice. ana
then he burst into a triumphant resur'
rection anthem, joyful thanksgiving
for the light that had come,
Poor little chap" a voice SAID
mans voice.
Sixpence stopped a second then De-
gan once more.
There was a quick step across the
hall; the door opened, and a black
gowned. white-faced woman stood IN
the room, tense and questioning,
THE bird! He mustn't sing
why not?' The man who had tax
en- the dark cloth from the cage re-
turned He asked the question only
with his eyes, but the woman under
stood.
81 can't let him sing. It's too soon
It's too cruel" She shut her lips
tight in an effort at self-control.
at is cruel" agreed the man. That's
why took this of, and let in the day.
don't want to seem arbitrary, Aileen,
but l must ask you to let little SIX
pence have all the Joy and happiness
he is entitled to-"
Very we'll"
Alleen Trent went slowly back
across the hall. Alec, her husband,
watched her till she disappeared IN
the library beyond. Then he turned
to the brass cage again.
The bird hoped to the side OF the
cage. Trent reached a finger between
the bars, Then ensued a futtering and
a scoldlng and a final descent on the
intruding finger in battle royal
Alec Trent smiled sadly. 1t was at
this point that the boy would always
shout with glee, and poke his tiny
finger into the cage in disastrous imi'
tation.
Out into the hall, past the library
door and up 10 his own den walked
Trent slowly. Then he took some pa.
pers from his pocket, some books Of
reference from his revolving stand, and
seated himself at his desk. One long
look out through the window into va
cancy; then he sighed and plunged in
TO the work before him.
Below, by the library fire, the moth.
er Of his boy lay on a couch and under
her closed lids the tears we're creep.
ing The clock on the mantel struck
four. Aileen raised a langu!d hand,
and rang the bell.
"Order>the victoria, please she said
to the maid. Have the roses come
from the fiorist's?' Then she got
up slowly.
six months tomorrow" she said.
six months!"
"Aileen!"
She turned to see her husband in
the doorway. He wore his riding
clothes. i
81 couldn't work. 1t is too beauti-
full out of doors. Won't you come
with me?"
Aileen opened her mouth TO reply,
but he stopped her.
Obi l know where you're going, but
does It do you any good-or him?
Come out with me. like a good girl. II
will put the roses in your cheeks. !
can't bear TO see you so pale"
He took a step forward. His hand.
some face was full OF longing.
Come on. little girl, can't we-cant
things be as they used 10? Can't we
Jog about together again, and be
happy?"
Happy"
He started back at the bitterness Of
his wife's tone.
"Tll be happy again, Alec, when /
hear my boys voice. don't want the
roses in my cheeks again. don't
want to ride. want to 60 to his grave
where find peace and comfort"
Trent Strengthened, and a cold light
came into his eyes.
you find neither peace nor com.
fort there, Aileen. for If you did you
would want to share them. Instead. |
you shut yourself away from me. To /
you the boy is dead; TO me he is alive I.
am going down through the woods /
that he loved, down by the brook
where he played, and / shall hear his