The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-10-20

"
After little Jimmy awoke and
without warning began to cry, refus-
Ing to tell what troubled him, but de-
nying that 1t was his foot. Finally
Ann got low rocker, took the child In
her arms and began to rock him.
Great boy that he was, he Struggled to
her, his unloved little heart accepting
the comfort. trusting this soft voiced,
smiling. mother armed woman who
called herself Aunt Ann.
AS she sat thus. her attention quite
absorbed. Henry Jasper came YEARLY
to the kitchen door. his arms loaded
with groceries. his face hopeless. He
had been wondering where to look for
Jimmy, who had been allowed that
morning to go to neighbours.
Then with unbelieving joy he saw
the clean room, the spread table. the
new air of comfort. and, best of all. In
Ann Marks kind arms he saw his
ly as unmothered before his own moth
er's death as after 1t. She looked up at
him and smiled
'.He cut his foot and came home cry
ing. came over. and when saw so
much to do went to work. I knew
you wouldn't mind. Henry"
Mind. The hard thing was that she
should come just to go again: that she
should give him taste Of this calm
comfort. let him see her like this and
deny him continuance of 1t. He was
very miserable in his gratitude.
Put your packages on the sink"
She commanded. land when have laid
Jimmy down l will put them away.
VIII you open the oven door and look
at the biscult?" He obeyed her, then
stood looking while she deity put
everything in Its place. The milk pail
shiningly waited for him to take it
and 20 out to milk, but he fingered.
And Jimmy awoke and wanted to tell
his father about the enormous fish that
nlbbled at his hook and got almost
caught and how he had cut his foot on
the broken bottle and found Aunt Ann
to bind 1t up.
Supper Is ready. and you had better
eat before you do the rest of the
chores, Henry" she said, helping the
boy to limp to his place.
They ate joyfully. talking. laughing,
the man wondering how many min
utes would pass before she rose to go.
The future yawned emptily. She was
asking him about his housekeepers,
what he paid them. advising him what
he should do. Finally when she rose
he rose too They stood facing each
other and her clear eyes smiled.
You are oh, Ann. you have been
good" he said awkwardly. "Shall l
hitch up and drive you home. or will
you walk?" So he had taken her at
her word II was evident that he had
no thought of anything permanent in
all this. But the woman had. She
saw here her place, her opportunity.
The old hurt and anger had passed,
and she was again at heart the simple
girl who had loved in secret this man
moment. still looking at him. There
was now no thought Of being second
best" She would make herself all to
them.
an wash the dishes up first, and
then after you have done the chores
you can walk back with me-" Jimmy
set up sudden wall from his chair
where he still sat at the table.
81 don't want you to go away" ht
cried, land l won't stay alone while
papa goes with you" Ann went be
hind his chair and put her arms around
him. She did not look at the child's
father.
Listen, Jimmy. Auntie must go to
night. but II you will be good till papa
comes back | will come again."
"When will you? How long will you
stay?" he demanded with the definite
ness of childhood. No uncertainty for
Jimmy. She did not hesitate.
II will come back-in the morning
and will stay always-if papa says
that ] may"
Jimmy, forgetting his foot, jumped
at her neck like little boa construct
or. But his father set him down.
wanting her himself just then.
Are you going to let her stay,
papaY Then Henry Jasper laughed,
and the burden of unhappy years roll
ed from his shoulders. Ann was pres
emily forced to hand him the milk pail
as hint to let her get at the dishes.