The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-06-02
CHAPTER VlIl.-contInued.

Mr. Kent gave up the walk down
the river road to met Miss Cynthia
that had been in his intentions for
the 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
1t too bad that Miss Seliny Lue have
got to suffer SIGH affliction?"
We'll, Mrs. Kinney, | don't think
that Miss Selma Lue feels as"
"Oh, course she don't feel it like 1t
was her own. They can't nobody know
the feelings Of mother. lessen it's a
father-about halfway"
81 think l 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 wom-
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 a
dangerously suave voice. He doubly
welcomed the sight of Miss Cynthia
hurrying down the street accompanied
by the anxious messenger, as he was
on the verge of few disastrous OBJ
servations.
Leaving Mrs. Kinney to attend to
the needs of the various supper-shop-
pers that were approaching the gro
Gerry, Mr.. Alan led Miss Cynthia to the
door of the lean-to and there posted
himself as 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
butterhys wing, while she slipped her
other hand into the one of Miss Selma
Lues 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 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, If Blossom amt
smiling! l 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 shan't 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 a sympathetic message.
HE says she is plumb wore her
heart out with coughing, but if we
can keep her quiet tonight so as to
git a little strength, she might come
through by morning" answered Miss
Selma Lue quietly.
1T is the crisis, and 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 so the pale Blossom lay In the
circle of Miss Selma Lue's arm with
one little hand curled around Miss
Cynthia's finger, and fought her fight
inch by inch-such a desperate pite
GUS fight for the tiny woman. The
tall gray figure at the door never left
its post, and at 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
quietly delivered the sleeping Clemmie
along with the Flarities, to keep until
their fathers return, Il don't want no
SIGH secret doings over my folks.
think the neighbors oughter be al
lowed to git some comfort outen set
ting up with the sick. Why, when
Ethel Maud most had that lockjaw
from the tack In her heel, there never
was less than six friends in the room
with me all the time; and they GER
tainly helpt me up lot"
well, I'm thankful I've got mine all
SAFE" answered Mrs. Simmons as she
Rugged Clemmie closer, though OF
course Miss Seliny Lue won't take 1t
as hard as II Blossom was her own"
mo, course not" answered Mrs.
Kinney as she took her way home to
find Luella asleep on the doorstep, and
all the other little Kinneys piled on
the floor of the stoop, awaiting her
motherly ministrations.
The waning moon that climbed over
the Bluff at midnight shone softly
across the sill of the wide window in
the lean-to and found the wilted Bios
som white and suffering, each labored
breath shaking the little body with
pain; but as the minutes licked them
selves away she lay more quietly and
was able TO keep back the cough.
Miss Cynthia crouched by the bed