The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-05-06

hL@N uuutLStONu that III
IMt by was actually gone IT SEEM
I'LL ed TO her that she could never
- laugh again. She had been too
young TO realize the inevitableness of
death when II came to her mother,
and now she could scarcely believe
that Toby would never, never come
back TO her She felt that she must
lie able TO drag him back: that she
could not go on without him. She
wanted TO tell him how grateful she
was for all his care Of her. She
thought Of the thousand little things
that she might have done for him. She
longed to recall every impatient word
20 him. His gentle. reproachful eyes
were always haunting her lou must
come back. Toby" she cried. You
must.-
II was only when body and mind had
worn themselves out with yearning
that q numbness az last crept over her,
and ont Of this grew a gradual con.
sciousness Of things about her and
returning sense Of her obligation TO
Others. She tried to answer In her
old. smiling way and TO keep her mind
upon what they were saying instead
Of letting II wander away 10 the past.
Douglas and Mandy were overjoyed
to see the color creeping back to her
cheeks
She joined the pastor again In his
visits TO the poor. The women Of the
town would often see them passing
and would either whisper to each
other. shrug their shoulders or lift
their eyebrows with smiling insinua-
tons. but Polly and the pastor were
too much absorbed In each other to
take much notice Of what was going
on about them.
They had not gone for their walk
today because Mandy had needed Polly
70 help make ready for the social to be
held ID the Sunday school room to-
night.
Early in the afternoon Polly had
seen Douglas shut himself up in the
study. and she was sure that he was
writing, 50 when the village children
STOPPED In on the way from school for
Mandy's new made cookies she used
her customary trick 70 get them away.
Tag: you're IT. she cried and then
dashed out the back door. pursued by
the laughing. screaming youngsters.
Mandy followed the children 10 the
porch and stood looking after them as
the mad little band scurried about the
back yard. darted IN and out among
the trees. then up the side Of the wood.
Cd hfll. Just beyond the church.
The leaves once more we're red and
yellow on the trees. but today the air
was warn and the children were wear
ing their summer dresses. Polly's 1.-THE
girlish figure looked almost tall by
comparison with the children about
her. she WIRE 4 plain. simple gown Of
white. which Mandy had helped her to
make. II had been cut ankle length.
for Polly was now seventeen. Her
quaint, old fashioned manner. her seri.
Gus eyes and her trick Of knotting her
heavy brown hair low on her neck
made Der seem older
Mandy waited until the children had
disappeared over the hill. then began
busting about. looking for the step
ladder which Hasty had left under the
vines Of the porch. Il had been busy
DAY al the parsonage A social always
meant perturbation FOR Mandy. She
called sharply to Hasty as he came
down the path which made short cut
% the village.
-so's youse back. Il yo'7~ she asked
sarcasfically.
sure Ts back" answered Hasty
good nsturedly as be sank upon an
empty Dor that bad held some things
FOR the social and pretended 70 wipe
The Precipitation from bis forehead.
"Masss John done send yo 10 de
postorice two hours ago" said Mandy
Ms she took the letters and papers from
bis hand. Five minutes II plenty Oh
time for any Niger TO do dat job"
Il done been detained" Hasty
drawied.
Irouss always 'taiDed when dsr's
any WORK s-goin' On" Mandy snapped
az him
''whars Miss PollyY' IIasty asked,
ignoring Msndy's reference % work.
"Nebber yo' mind bout Miss Polly.
She don't want yo. Jes 30 done
fetch that stepladder into de sunday
school room"
"Hnt vents Ter" ifasty Insisted.
"1's Ipon nn verr 'rrrfaf business
VII ao