The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-03-18

holding his gun. too dumfounded to
speak or move. st last he started for
the door. and she called him I'm her
usual Voice:
- ,,oSt IL. and dinner u, be ready
al -. What you want with the gun.
pa" He answered duly:
Saw some fat rabbits over In the
eo-nstalks. Thought I'd like to taste
one We amt had any this winter"
He marched out OF the house, and
from the window una watched him
piow through the snow and cornstaiks
till he passed out of sight behind some
old sheds and haystacks back OF Mol
iy's barn.
She put dinner on the table at IL and
called loudly To the barn. She waited
awhile, then put things In the oven to
keep warm. In the pantry the pies
stood in delicious brown crispness be-
side the fruit cake and cranberry jelly
and all the delicacies the farm az
foFaed
At i O'Clock he had not yet come.
and she grew impatient She had
heard the gun one or twice. but that
WIS some time back. At she went
out to search the barn.
Then she thought. he might have
| been asked il 10 dinner at neigh.
boris. and she ate a little herself aud
| cleared the things away Ii grew
dusk, ana still he did not code home
| She flung her shawl over her head and
1
| ly's. forgetting everything except thai
she must lind Richard and get him Il
| look for pa. She was sure something
must lie done. As she went down the
road she saw little Jimmy run wildly
| up from the barn and rush into tn,
house. leaving the door open. lie raj
ont again with Richard and Molly
| who followed him to- the barn.
They disappeared back OF the oil,
sheds behind the barn. Mas limbs al
most failed her. She seemed to b
making no progress. though she wa
not twenty rods from the gate. Thei
Molly ran back TO the house and re
emerged with blanket OH her arm.
Mas heart was oppressed with
| VAGUE Hhl At last SHc u
reach the porch and sink upon tn,
steps. She rested there a moment til
around the corner of the barn came
sight that made her sick and dizzy
pa. limp and seemingly lifeless. in TIL
blanket. with Richard carrying hi
head and Molly his feet and the littl
boy crying. Ma toppled over and fel
senseless in the snow.
When she opened her eyes she wa
on the sofa in her own room. Tn,
lights were bright. and little Jimm.
stood beside her. patting her cheek
Molly stood over her. smiling. ant
across the room she saw pa proppet
up in bed. Old DR.. Smith was just 60
ing from the room. She tried to &c
up to go to pa, but he called out t
her to stay where she was. Richar,
was standing near him, and he locke,
kindly up at the tall young fellow.
Tell ma I'm all right, Richard.
only fell and hurt my leg. and tn
rheumatism was so bad that l tainted
and when l come to l couldn't get uI
If Jimmy hadn't come chasin' out Their
and found me I'd "a froze to death
though. l amt to say hurt at all. r
be up in d day or two. Amt uothiI
broke ma. but my hard old heart, an
twas high time it was. l had owe
four hours out there in the snow hgh,
in off freeZin' to death and tryin'
make some one hear. l had plenty Q
time to think, and was afraid I'd di
and you'd never know wasn't as mea
as l acted" Ma began to cry softl!
but Molly soothed and petted her.
"Never mind. ma; it's all right nov
and Richard and Jimmy and I'll com
over every day and look after you.
But pa had another word to say. jim
my was sitting in dark corner yer
busy at something He rose and cam
to his grandmother with his blue apro
gathered III his two hands.
You'll all come right over here
pa was saying. THAT house Amt owe
comfortable. an ma an me have roof
here for a dozen. Amt we. mar Sh
assented. and Jimmy put up his hand
TO pat her face again.
Law sakes"' she calculated. your
all sticky. Jimmy. Molly. what in tim
is he holding in his apron" Togethe
she and Molly coaxed him to let ther
look. 4 yellow saucer rolled to tn
floor
'Molly's pie.'' said ma. ''Wher
did he get it. must have dropped
on your steps and he's picked 1t up an
eat it most all but the chunk in hi
hand. He'll be sick. Molly" Bu
Molly laughed.
Jimmy, give mamma bite. 1t
mammals pie. and she wants grandp
to taste il. We always used TO divid
up, pa. didn't we:" She went over
him with n broken bit in her hand.
"Open your mouth. pa" she sal
roguishly. Pa. obeycd. and then b
said
Its humble Pie. Molly. but II
good