St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-09-18

/ had they been Witnesses. TO the
mothers offer to relieve him of his
burden he returned nasty negative
and begged to be allowed the pleasure
of retaining his charge. She had
turned to converse with the stranger
who manifested such admiration oi
her child, and they discussed the
sleeping beauty exhaustively, from
her dimpled face to the dress and
| tiny shoes she wore.
At last Leith casually remarked that
his destination was Chelsea, and
learned that she was bound for the
same place. The conversation drift
ed into other channels and soon he
heard how she had left her home In
an eastern city three years before
!! when her husband died, returning with
her baby to the home of her child
hood. The village quiet oppressed
her, however, she said, and she aonged
to take her baby and go far away
from it.
II used to live in Chelsea long
ago." remarked Leith, when she had
finished her story. $50 long ago
however" he continued, "that you
would hardly be likely to remember
me-
She looked at him curiously, but
shook her head. -
There was one little girl there" he
resumed, that l was very fond Of
Her name was Lucy Mayburn. Poor
little Lucy! l shall never forget our
| farewell. And it was all my fault
that we did not meet again. was
false to my VOW, selfish and forgetful
of all else in the cursed fight to make
money in big New York. wonder II
you knew herr"
The woman turned pale and then
flushed nervously, controlling her agi
tation by an evident effort.
Il knew her." she replied, softly
'but she is not there now-she-she
went away"
$50 she has gomez" queried Leith;
married, l suppose. Who was the
lucky fellow who won herr"
He felt sure that she had recognized
him now, but allowed matters to take
their course and awaited her reply
with a brave show of composure.
His name was Logan" she said
TREMENDOUSLY. Lucy Mayburn was true
to her promise Tor seven long years;
her promise to you. But she was an
orphan, practically alone in the world
and day came when a good kind
man offered her refuge from her
loneliness. She was frank with him
and told him the truth about herself,
that the best she could offer him
was her respect and broken heart.
And he accepted the conditions. When
her baby was born she realized that
she had found peace, if not actual hap.
ptness. Then came sickness and other
trials. She had many troubles"
The voice of the speaker faltered
and broke, her eyes filled with tears,
and turning away her face. she
sobbed bitterly. She had betrayed her
self. but she no longer cared.
Leith laid the sleeping child gently
beside him and bent over his old
sweetheart.
Don't cry, Lucy. he whispered;
don't cry, dear. I was a brute to
play with your feelings this way"
She glanced up with startled eyes.
Then you knew me?" she faltered.
YES, Lucy, / knew you" he said,
softly. And perhaps, dear, it was
ordained by Providence that we should
mset like this. Listen, little one.
Can't you forget the weary years and
let me fulfill the promise made SO
long ago? Let the past be as dream
and awaken to the happiness of the
present, Lucy. Whatever may have
done, no other woman has ever held
the place In my heart occupied by your
image. And it isn't too late now. Let
me care for your child, and We will
take up the broken thread of our lives
where 1t snapped"
The other passengers in the car
were watching euriously the two act
ors in a little drama which they could
not understand, but neither Leith nor
the woman beside him we're conscious
OF their surroundings, and the baby
slumbered peacefully on. The long,
warning whistle of the locomotive
shrilled through the air, as the train
neared Chelsea. Lucy timidly slipped
her small hand into Leith's big brown
one, smiling through her tears, and he
knew that he was forgiven. When
the train came to stop Leith swung
the sleeping baby on to his broad
shoulder, and with his long-lost love
beside him stepped from the car into
the purple twilight shadows that
brooded over the quiet scenes of his
bOyhood home.