The Ordway new era., 1911-03-31

| lu&8 W kuo uu1uut0s OAly oAo0SSA&es -
her box where Miss Cynthia had put
her. was quiet and pale with terror.
Her wide. frightened eyes added the
finishing touch to Miss Cynthias
plight. and she sat down on the floor
| by her box and buried her head in the
mites small pink apron.
Then suddenly in the storm there
came a calm. deep and breathless.
Miss Cynthia looked up and. behold,
relief stood on the threshold! In one
hand Mr.. Alan held a tin bucket full
Of the brown. sticky mama and in the
other a jug OF milk. both dripping
from their immersion in the we'll. She
sat as motionless as the babies; and
II her mouth did not stretch open. no
will of her own prevented 1t.
The mixing Of the potation was the
matter Of few seconds. and the feed.
ing began without delay as the gray
raven perched on the stool and ladled
out dripping spoonfuls. Miss Cynthia
was almost surprised that he failed
to offer her some In her turn. but she
sat on the floor and watched him with
deepest gratitude.
"I couldn't find the dinner" she
said in a small voice. do you think
they will be ill?" As she spoke she
looked up at him with wide. trustful
eyes that reminded him In expression
Of all the other five pairs fixed upon
his.
mo. indeed. the little rascals!
have heard them do worse than that
when Miss Selma Lue happened to be
behind time with the quicklunch." His
| big comforting voice revived her so
that she rose to her feet.
miss Selma Lue has gone up to the
Lock with the Dobbses. and l stayed to
take care Of them for her Your din
ner is on the table" Her meekness
was fast vanishing and her eyes
drooped In a way they had that meant
mischief.
have troubled about me-" Bother the
girl-his ears were getting hot again
and he was sure she was laughing at
him. though why. he could not see.
ut really was no trouble" she an
swered. again sobered by her respon-
sibilities. Let me finish feeding the
babies while you eat your dinner"
Her voice was positively solicitous.
Aren't you going to have some
with me?" he asked politely.
II don't think am hungry now."
she answered. intent on getting the
spoon between Clemmie's uncertain
lips. IL hope 1t will be all right.
| ! never cooked that sort Of dinner be-
fore. but | followed Miss Selma Lue's
| directions. so 1t must be the way YOU
like It,"
II was we'll that he approached hts
dinner in a mood Of distraction. for 1t
was with difficulty that he restrained
| an exclamation ut the first mouthful
OF eggs. But across the bobbing heads
| Of the oatmeal-and.milk diners. Miss
| Cynthia raised trustful. proud eyes
to his.
"ls It good?" she asked with be-
wildering solicitude.
Good? Watch me-" and there with
those eyes fastened on him in shining
delight. he swallowed all OF the six
incinerated eggs and devoured in
gulps a painful Of halfraw. stone-cold.
nauseating potatoes.
Halfway through the dose he
paused. Should he leave any for her
| to agonize over. or should he assume
a reputation for abnormality OF appe-
tite? Better anything than that she
should. ever find out the truth. and In
n rush he finished the job. IT, by that
time. she had not been standing d.
rectly across the table. he would have
scraped the dishes. but her nearness
confused him and he let her set aside
a teaspoonful Of potatoes and chip
OF egg.
She was beaming with satisfaction
and at his hastily framed apologies
for having cleared the table. she an
swered cheerily:
Don't say n word about leaving me
any. I am too hot to eat for hours.
Those blessed babies are asleep al
ready. Could they have tainted from
exhaustion"
"T assure you they are safe. and for
ut least two hours" he laughed. as he
rose and stepped to the door. Light
ing n cigar. he fingered tentatively.
hoping for some sign OF invitation to
remain. The petunia dropped from
his buttonhole.
Then she raised her eyes to HIS and
said sweetly and directly. with graft.
tude tlngIng every accent: "Thank
you for helping me out with them.
You-you won't be far II they wake
up and get beyond me?"
Those eyes and that curly mouth,
Mr.. Alan only really came to-" as
Miss Selma Lue would have put IT,
when seated by her side later on the
steps
AS for Miss Cynthia. some evil fate
or perhaps n sleepy chirp from Glenn.
mie. the roarer. led her to the back
regions Of the grocery and while
there she Idly tasted that spoonful OF