Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-05-13


door until he was beneath the pIctul
After several unsuccessful attempts
managed to hook the handle OF 4
cane securely on to the frame, al
throwing his whole weight upon It
dragged the picture crashing to Y
door.
He listened for a moment. hair
pecting 10 hear his wife's footsteps
the back steps, but no one came. \
dragged himself into the kitchen. pul
ing the picture before him. The eel
door was ajar. Thither he made
painful way and pulled II wide Oh
The mingled smell OF damp earth d
last seasons vegetables greeted
nostrils. Without a pause he thru
the picture through the doorway a
listened with many delightful chuckl
as the children of Israel went bun
ing downward. Halfway down \
frame stuck fast. That would ne,
do. He pulled himself back to the b
room to get the cane. With the aid
the cane he was sure he could red
down and complete the descent.
He had scarcely regained the N
room when he heard his wife come
He lay on the floor. spent and bread
ing hard. Perhaps she was going Il
again. He would lay low and w,i
He heard her moving brlskly about \,
kitchen for a time; then a door sque,'
ed raucously on its hinges. There VI
only one door In the house that creaE
in that fashion. 1t was the cellar do
He heard her descending the Gel u
stairs cautiously, step by step, as
she were going down In the dark. Cd
Lord! She was going down, and III
picture was lying there on the sta
In the darkness she would never
It. 1t would send her headlong dol
more than half the flight.
Well, whatever happened he would
speak before she spoke to him.
thumped the floor Justify with his
Undoubtedly she would come bad
thinking he wanted something,
listened breathlessly. Creak. cred
She was still going down. She nj
be close upon that cursed picture. 4
fist was clinched; he bit his lips
he wouldn't speak first. not IL she VI
down a thousand flights of stairs.
an agony OF suspense he thumped +
floor again. and in his excitement
did not notice that this time he ID
his right hand.
abby. Abbyl Come here. qulc
The words broke from his lips an
involuntarlly. He heard her coml
houndering up the stairs in her ha,
and be sank into huddled heap. re
and shame struggling for the mast
of him.
Abby came running into the uM
bedroom. Her eyes fell first on
empty bed, then on the huddled Cd
on the floor.
Father, father" she cried, SIM
to her knees beside him, "what
happened?"
ABBY" he said severely. do
know you're a-talkin' to meT"
II don't care. I'm glad of It."
confessed recklessly. You spOks Is
me. father. You called me-"
She sat down and lifted his he'd j6
her lap, stroking It tenderly as
had been child. "How came yod
be out here2" she asked.
He smiled up at her sheepishly
took notion to git that picture Of
children of Isra'l out of the room,
. explained. ats bothered me a IN
deal OF late. so yanked ii down ~
the cane an slid II down the eel
stairs. Then you come In am sr
to go down them stairs. an I hols
to you. was afraid you'd break &
neck over it."
Ten minutes ago shouldn't
cared much IL had broke my me- 81
she said. but now"-
She drew him to her hungrily. sON<
thing warm and wet splashed on
forehead. Daniel cougbed huskily
II guess you'd better git the child
of Isral off the cellar stairs an
'em on the south wall again." be
Somehow ! feel IS If could stan
now"