Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-08
THE HARBINGER OF THE SPRINGTIDE
By 1EANNETTE MARKS.
W.T., lad dear. no more, or yen

AIMEE > WOfuS SOunueu lHCOE-
elusive. although she fortified
them by an animated gesture
with her plump. wrinkled hand. Her
eyes glanced timidly from the window
to Davids face.
But, AIMEE. we've no said a word OF
che cuckoo said David. plaintively.
"Ay. the cuckoo" replied AIMEE. her
heart sinking as she sent her voice up
the cuckoo
Has ii come? Did We hear ft?"
The old man clasped and unclasped his
hands helplessly, childish disappointment
overspreading his face.
David, dear, IL ye'd but listen to what
/ was agoin' to say"-Annee gulped-"l
was a-goin to say that I've no heard
the cuckoo yet, but that everythin's SO
overearly, an I'm expectin' to hear one
any time now. It's SO warm there might
be one singin' at dusk today-there might
be-
Might there be- asked David, his
eyes Observation-Disclosures there be. An
nee?'
"Ay. there might be. lad" and she
lifted his head on her arm gently while
she turned the pillow.
It's overearly." he objected, AN, An
nee
Ma. David dear. be STILL" she COM
manded, drawing his head close to her
bosom, before she put him down on the
pillow again. Pastor Morris says every
thin's overearly; even the fox glove IS
we'll up in the garden: an the heather
by with the broth: we must be still
early, an the hills will be pink. lad
soon. Now, dearie, I'll be back by and
by with the broth; We must be still
awhile"
AIMEE went out of the room, stepping
as softly as she could. For a moment
she stood on the doorsill, looking into
the old garden, green at last after the
dreary winter, and beautiful In the prom
Use of coming summer blossom. Fox
glove and columbine. honeysuckles lilies
and roses would bloom, but David would
see them no more! For fifty springs they
had gone into the garden together, he to
trim the hedge and bind up the honey
suckle. she to dig about the rose bushes
and flowers And every spring there
had been one evening when the cuckoo's
song was heard for the first time, and
when there came into Davids eyes
look of boyish JOY. All, lad. lad-how
she loved him! And he should hear the
Resolutely AIMEE started uphill climb
ing close by the high pasture wall, and,
painting. made her way as best she could
over Doggy places. After she had gone
around Sus her furtvei ~ Thers s lay se GWyndy
Bach in the distance. Ty Ceryg and Cwm
Cioch far away. and the meeting house
stu farther. Only the mountains were
near by, and a few lazy sheep trailing
over their wild. gray lodges. She did not
gee even q sheep dog. When she sat
down by the stone wall there was a look
OF approval on her face, followed as she
opened her mouth by look Of appealing
misery.
"Ay, 1t was somethin' like THIS, Coco.
Ocm, let me see; every year I've heard
II, an Daud he does it. Coo-o-o! Pwi
that sounds like q hen."~eAnnee peered
.6s sS her Ga sp Then hen she shook
over and over again. sing-song, sing-song.
like this: Cu-cu. cu-cu. Ay, that's bet
ter" Practicing the song. AIMEE rocked
herself backward and forward. Its
CROWN better! she exclaimed; but. lad
lad, I'm plannin' to deceive ye." and the
tears rolled out of her old eyes. She
brushed the tears away impatfently and
began the song again: .'Cucu-cu. cucu-cu,
cucucu-cu. Gu; ay. that's fair; ay. It's
fine. He'll not know me from a real
cuckoo I'll have to be tryin' it now, for
we've no long, dearie."
AIMEE went down into the valley. hum
ming the bird notes over to herself lest
she forget what she had learned She
lifted her short skirts and waded through
the marshy places: in her eagerness she
was unmindfu of the pasture boys, her
seventy years, her weary body, and her
sparse gray hair lay damp on her fore
head. In her mother heart was but one
thought-bringing his wish to Davie
Gasping, she reached the southern corner
OF the cottage garden, and there leaned
on a trelliS for support until she could get
her breath. Completely engrOssed in what
she was TO do, she did not think to look
about her. she did not listen for possible
approaching footsteps. and even Davie
had slipped I'm Importance a wee bit be-
hind the cuckoo song. Finally she drew
a long breath and began: she paused a
moment, then repeated the song. softly
slowly. Pleased with her success, she
sang the song again, very softly, very
slowly, TIL IL sounded much as il il came
from distance somewhere by the stream
ming once more when steps rlastled behind
her and voice said. tauntingly:
Fgi, tbs pretty cuckoo We make.
aimee. an a pretty song.''
Lowry Prichard!''
Its overearly for the cuckoo-is it
not
''Ay.
An what are ye singin' in your gar
den for an David dyin?'
Annee's mild eyes gathered fire, but
she said nothing.
Are ye deceivin David an he on the
edge of the grave. AIMEE? It's "A cody
song TO sing, an a tale for meetin eh,
Annee?'
may-go- out-of-this-garden, an
that this minute said AIMEE, advanc-
ing.
Lowry backed toward the wicket.
'1e look fair crazy, Annee-crazy with
wrath-ay, and your hair is all rumpled
an your smock Is wet. Bein' cuckoo
Is But Lowry never finished her
tsunt for AIMEE pushed her through the
wicket gate
The old wife went toward the cottage
door slowly. David must have heard
l.owry's words. and she could never make
him happy again.
aimee. Annee!' Her face frightened
then fell.
''Ay. David. I'm COMM
Annee, did We hear cuckoo singin' ?"
Davld's eyes glowed rapturously in the
twilight.
''Ay. / thought so. dearie."
1t sang three times. first il sounded
like somethin' else IL was So GREATNESS;
then II sang quiet and sweet, like a
cuckoo; and the third time il seemed
tstenin' for 1t again. when / heard
Lowry Prichards shriI voice, an j could
hear no more "
But. lad dear we've heard IT, an I'm
that glad" AIMEE beamed upon him.
Three times; ay. that's fine. an a real
cuckoo; now we're happy, dearie. an yen
sleep well upon it,
VIII IL be sglgin' again?" asked David.
with "A sigh
'.Ay. in the early mornin an at dusk.
Now ~ must drink your broth an go to
Sleep
David drank it obedientiy.
It's been a fine day, lad dear-is it
not SOL
"Ay fine day did not think I'd
head slipped contente6ly onto the pillow.
"Ay" he nurmured "a happy day,"