The Ordway new era., 1911-05-05
CHAPTER viII-contlnusd.

= Mr.. Kent gave up tho walk down
that had been in his Intentions for
tho last few moments. and set himself
to the task Of holding Mrs. Kinney out
Of the lean-to.
''Howdy. Mr.. Alan!" she remarked
in a lugubrious tone of voice. "Ain't
It too bad that Miss seliny Lue have
got to suffer sich q afdiction?'
well. Mrs. Kinney. l don't think
that Miss Selma Lue feels as"
"Oh. course she don't feel 1t like 1t
was her own. They can't nobody know
tho feelings Of \ mother. lessen its =
father-about halfway"
II think 1 should say that Miss Sc
lima Lue doesn't miss much"
That's light view Of the case. Mr..
Alan. OF course she misses not hav.
ing children of her own. It's = WON.
ans duty to have children and hus.
bands and"
well. think we can all acquit Miss
Selma Lue of any failure to do her
duty by the rising generation. Mrs
Kinney" remarked Mr.. Alan in q
dangerously suave voice. He doubly
welcomed the sight Of Miss Cynthia
hurrying down tho street accompanied
by the anxious messenger. as he was
on the verge Of a few disastrous OBJ
servations.
Leaving Mrs. Kinney to attend to
the needs of the various supper.shop.
pers that were approaching the gro.
cery. Mr.. Alan led Miss Cynthia to the
o$ hn %
himself as a vigilance committee to In
sure quiet.
He watched the girl bend over the
bed and touch the tumbled curls with
a caress that was as light as that of a
butterhy's wing. while she slipped her
other hand into the one OF Miss Selma
Lue's that rested on the pillow.
when did she seem not SO well?"
she asked. and her voice was low with
tenderness-and fear. The Blossom
opened her eyes and with a little sigh
put her tiny pale hand up to the beau
tiful face bent over her.
There, now. that's the first time
she's taken any notice today" whis-
pered Miss Selma Lue as Miss Gym
thia slipped to her knees and carried
the baby's hand to her lips. Jest look
at that. Mr.. Alan. II Blossom amt
smiling! do declare, Miss Cynthia
and her act like they was twins-in-
heart. l suspicion she have been
pining fer you all the day, honey,
same as the rest Of us, only she
couldn't ask fer you like we can"
"Well, she shant miss me again. for
am going to stay with her until she
is better. What did the doctor say?"
Cynthia questioned Miss Selma Lue
with panic of fright in her voice. Be-
yond. from the door. the dark eyes
sent her sympathetic message.
HE says she is plumb wore her
heart out with coughing. but II we
can keep her quiet tonight so as to
git little strength, she might come
through by morning." answered Miss
Selma I.ue quietly.
1T Is the crisis. and I suppose he
counts on her fighting past tonight.
The danger Is from her heart. He's
coming back at ten to see." answered
Mr. Alan in a voice as low as that Of
Miss Selma Lue.
And 50 the pale Blossom lay in the
circle of Miss Selma Lue's arm with
one little hand curled around Miss
Cyntha's finger, and fought her fight
inch by inch-such desperate pite-
Gus fight for the tiny woman The
tall gray figure at the door never left
it's post, and at a motion Of his hand
the grocery was quiet beyond any pre-
vious experience.
LAS for me-" said Mrs. Dobbs to
Mrs. Simmons. to whom Mr.. Alan had