The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

her heart to have so beautiful a baby dead
 She took care of 1t, and the baby was not afraid. Afterward when they had gone with the little box Miss Sarah stood in strange daze till some one touched her arm. It was one of the rough men. indefinably akin at that moment to her only his fatherhood had not been for bidden him.
 you've stood awful while-dont you want l should help you into the wait ing room an fix you up nicer" She looked at him, still in her daze, but smiling gent ly. "Oh, no, I am going home,o she said.
 There was train two hours earlier than the last one that she usually took She had just time to get her bag and the heavy basket and get aboard it. She was in a little fever of hurry; she could not bear the thought of missing it. Once in the seat, she drew a long breath of relief
 Were going home. Bismarck. We'll get there two hours sooner! Therell be time to sit on the porch little while be- fore we go to bed. We're pretty tired. but homes good place to rest" She felt old and homesick. "Traveling is kind O hard work-perhaps we're too old to go again, Bismarck I shouldn't wonder much. See ing so many folks-'' She shut her eyes. She did not want to see them all.
 "Ill make a cup O tea and get you your milk. I'll warm it! Wait till you see how good it tastesl Here. look out the window a minute and see how near we're gettingr'
 At the kttle country station she alighted quickly. Its familiar shabbiness soothed her torn heart like the homely face of a friend She gazed about her, comforted- In a window a row of gay geranums Haunted their blossoms Miss Sarah went up to them and sniffed them joyously. One or two buds she was sure had opened while she was gone.
 She walked away up the road, balancing her heavy burdens. The air felt pleasant on her old face. the trees nodded in it as if greeting her on her return-tha very dust she waded through was soft, friendly dust At the houses. as she came to them. she stopped a moment with eager interest in what had been happening during her travels. The pindling heifer was better again-they'd saved it after all Miss Sarah was glad. At the next house she was happier still, for the baby had had a good day. He was sitting up in his lit- tie high chair playing langmdly.
 'Oh, my dearl" Miss Sarah dropped her burdens and went up to the weary little mother-"you've got so much to be in, hot hatc in, his little chairl You're tired out, poor dear, but put your cheek down against his and feel how warm it is!'
 The next house was Marthy F1aggs. Marthy came out to meet her. What in the world-as early as this!
 You aint got tired of travelin't Why, you've always waited till the last train!'
 T did get tiredr Miss Sarah admitted, along toward the last. It's tiring work when you're growing kind O old. Marthy. l shouldn't wonder if I settled down now"
 Marthy Flaggs keen eyes were on the saddened face What in the world
 Weren't things goh sarnes al- ways? Didn't anything happeny'
 "Yes" Miss Sarah said gently. She began to search hurredly in her bag "Where's the children? Here are the checkerberry lozenges. I got 'em the first thing, so not to forget. They're in a new kll1 o pdCkdsts Dul l SuSoS lAcAc just as many. And I got you little something. Marthy-just a little some thing to remember the day by" But Miss Sarah was aware, with a little shud- der, that she did not want to remember the day.
 They tried to keep her to supper but no, mo- she must get home, she and Bismarck, to open the house and air it. She went hurredy, that they would , not urge her, The big cat, still in the basket stirred restlessly. 'Yes yes, pretty soon, but not quite yet!' Miss Sarah soothed him. 'I want to let you out on your own doorstep. Here we are at the old chestnut, Bis marck-we're half way from Marthys.' And little further along: We're com ing to the currant bushes now-we're past 'em. Bismarck here's the pumpr' It was beautiful pump. The tiny house, the shed. the little struggling bushes, were beautiful Miss Sarah un- covered the basket and held out her arms as if to embrace them all-house, pump and great gray cat.
 Its good to get home, Bismarck" she cried.