The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08

you know we We're oid?@ Closer and
closer chung the silent. ragged compan-
Ton Many minutes ticked by. Then
the old clock, faithful 10 its mistress
house. where so many years il had
signaled the passing days for Kimballs.
struck 4. Abigail. frightened at the
hour. Jumped to her feet and, pressing
the doll 10 her cheeks. tiptoed up the
creaky stairs 10 the attic.
Now the Kimbau attic was a jolly
place. IL spite OF the stin haIrcloth
chairs ard uninteresttng boxes poked
into corners. Maybe it was the many
well worn trunks. bedecked with faded
labels, suggesting foreign lands. that
added the mysterious touch. At any
rate. Abigail loved this shadowy gar
ret; for here she and Peggy had
watched the sleek coated robins build
their nests. or counted the merry squir-
rels as they ssucily robbed the great
signing FIR trees OF their graceful
cones. But way back in the farthest
corner OF the room stood q rusty black
leather trunk Abigail knelt before il
and pulled the cover open.
oh she sobbed as she looked down
into the trunks fragrant depths.
Peggy. YOU aren't afraid, are you"
I've got 10 leave you here ] am a
Rimbau and you are not That's why,
Peggy. But 1 love you and you know
I DO. don't you2 I'll put YOU deep.
deep down under my nlamma's pretty
dresses See. Peggy, il viii be nice
and warm and oh. so sweet By and
by. when I have growed up more and
have little girls in dolly time We
we viii all come and get you, dearie.
But Peggy cIung the tighter You
mustn't cry, old dolly mine. I have
got 10 be a Kimbali like all the Kim
balls used 10 be. But. oh / guess I am
wicked. for 7 don't feel really Kim
bailer. but like you, Peggy. my love
lost dolly.
And again the old clock struck: this
time its somber. warning voice was Just
audible 10 the little girl in the dim
attic Il was o'clock. Abigail
paused breathlessly Then followed a
deep sob which included days. years,
Of goodbys to old Peggy whom she
placed lovingly deep down under her
mothers wedding dress. Abigail was
very pale when she rose 10 her feet
She looked neither 10 the right nor 10
tne LEFT. but marched straight ahead,
as previous Kimballs had marched
II was at the tea table half hour
later when Aunt Abigail. sitting state
lv ana imposing behind her tall. shiny
tea service. with the Kimbau coat OF
arms engraved upon it. seemed more
indifferent than ever 10 her little
l,fece;s Efforts 10 be a kimball. With
her tiny feet scarcely touching the
floor. and the shadow Of the love lost
6ollv still in her eyes. Whatever were
the auats thoughts. she did not intend
10 forget that she was a him5atL And
the great family portraits. grouped
about on the wall. We're stern reminders
Of The fact. But Mary forgot OF course
she could. for. overwhelmed By the
ift:le girls endesvors to forget. served
the child to a second helping of jam
q thing not allowable except on sun
davs and this was Tuesday. What
might have happened al this point is
hard 20 say If Mary had not been
missed After she had left there was
2 silence. Even Aunt Abigail, with a
gentle hand stirring the tea in her
gold band cup. clicked the spoon
harshly Then Abigail spoke.
IT is gone" she said.
What is gomez"
Ny doll
n am very proud Of you Abigail
You are a Klmbail. Then the child
was excused from the room.
Maybe the great great gra ndfather
Kimbsll little later became trifie
disconnected at the behavior of his
descendant. who was sitting so very