The Green Forest tribune., 1910-02-18
SECOND BEST
By LOUISE OLNEY
J9 by Associated Literary Press.)

1 in her arms and began to rock him Great boy that he was, he snuggled to her, his unloved little heart accept ing the comfort. trusting this soft voiced, smiling, mother-armed woman who called herself Aunt Ann.
 As she sat thus, her attention quite absorbed, Henry Jasper came wearily to the kitchen door, his arms loaded with groceries, his face hopeless. He lad been wondering where to look for Jimmie who had been allowed that morning to go to a neighbours.
 Then, with unbelieving joy, he saw the clean room. the srread table, the new air of comfort, and best of all in Ann Marks kind arms, he saw his sleeping motherless child-a child nearly as unmothered before his own mothers death as after it. She looked up at him and smiled.
 He cut his foot and came home crying l came over and when I saw so much to do l went to work. knew you wouldn't mind, Henry"
 Mind! The hard thing was that she
 
 she should give him a taste of this calm comfort, let him see her like this, and deny him continuance of it. He was very miserable in his gratitude.
 Put your packages on the sink" she commanded, and when l have laid Jimmie down will put them La and look at the biscuit?" He obeyed her. then stood looking while she deftly put everything in it's place The milk pail shiningly waited for him to take it and go out to milk. but he fingered. And Jimmie awoke and wanted to tell his father about the enormous fish that nibbled at his hook and got almost caught. and how he had cut his foot on the broken bot tie, and found Aunt Ann to bind it up.
 Supper is ready and you had bet ter eat before you do the rest of the chores, Henry" she said, helping the boy to limp to his place.
 They ate ioyfully, talking, laughing, the man wondering how many minutes would pass before she rose to go. The future yawned emptily She was ask ing him about his housekeepers, what he paid them, advising him what he should do. Finally. when she rose. he rose, too. They stood facing each other, and her clear eyes smiled
 You are-oh, Ann, you have been good" he said awkWardly Shall I hitch up and drive you home, or will you walk?" So he had taken her at her word. It was evident that he had no thought of anything permanent in all this. But the woman had She saw here her place, her opportunity The old hurt and anger had passed, and she was again at heart the simple girl who had loved in secret this man who was at last hers. She paused a moment. still looking at him. There was now no thought of being "second best"-she would make herself all to them
 "Tll wash the dishes up first, and then, after you have done the chores, you can walk back with me-" Jimmie set up sudden vail from his chair where he still sat at the table.
 'I don't want you to go away" he cried, and l won't stay alone while papa goes with you!" Ann went be- hind her chair and put her arms around him She did not look at the child's father
 Listen, Jimmie, auntie must go to- night, but if you will be good till papa comes back I will come again"
 When will you? How long will you stay?" he demanded with the defniteness of childhood No uncer- tainty for Jimmie! She did not hesi- tate
 'I will come back-in the morning and l will stay always-if papa says that l may!"
 Jimmie, forgetting his foot, jumped at her neck like a little boa constric- tor But his father set him down, wanting her himself just then.
 Are you going to let her stay, papa?" Then Henry Jasper laughed, and the burden of unhappy years rolled from his shoulders. Ann was presently forced to hand him the milk pail as a hint to let her get at the dishes.