, 1911-10-26
I.

A&l pie Cow was e%ndeavOring to
~ master another gem from the
Burgess Nonsense book. The draw
IEgs appealed to him immensely. He
sat OIL the edge of the rug, his back
ar0irst his fathers chi. ionnier. his
leg Of six years growth stretched out,
the book open upon his knee. Occa-
sila,lly he made n dash with his hand
at an inquisitive fly.
Across from him on a low rocker.
her shining head bent slightly we in
tie serious operation of sewing a but
tOH on n coat, softly hummed his young
mother, Presently the boy shuffled
along the floor, still keeping the book
on his lap. till he got close to her and
lodged his chin on her knee.
see if l don't know it, muddie,''
said lie. And he began:
THE roof it has a lazy time
A-lying in the sun:
The walls they have-they have
An incipient dimple showed in his
mothers cheek.
TO hold him up:
They do not nave much fun"
Finished she gayly. She pushed the
boz hair back from his brow and
kissed him. Now run down into the
garden. honey, and play with nurse
aud Baby Harold. Plenty of sun and
fresh air and deep breathing, you
know. That's what makes a little fell
low into a big, strong man, eh-not
too many nonsense verses?"
Robert put his book away reluctant
". But l love po'try, too, darling,
dear asserted he. stroking her face
pgettily, before quitting the room.
Hes his father over and owe again
gentle, appealing, winning. And
sentimental, too, I'm afraid" added
Anna, with u slow, enigmatical smile,
Us she shipped off the thread with her
sound, perfect white teeth.
She rose to put the coat away. In
doing so the contents slipped from one
Of the pockets hat had been hanging
over her knee. She stopped to replace
them. the content. varied and inconse-
Q~uential as any boys. Then her glance
fell upon u bill of fare-a French bill
Of fare, full of naughty things to eat
eh'. VI ~ Ibl wv. II AhC uoiS VI
tie day previous.
\ dancing little spirit of mischief
played in the beautiful gray eyes.
I'm keep it forninst my lords re-
turn quoth she. I'm chaff him with
It a bit when he gets home this after
noon, pretend I'm catty and Jealous.
Injured virtue through and through
Oh, lordy, lordy, fancy me being jeal-
Gus, and of dear old Bobs!'
Robert Granger reached his subur-
ban home in Westfeld early that aft
ernoon. 1t was Saturday, "A fine sum
ner day, and he'd promised to take
his boys to Crawford. n few miles dis
tant, for u sail on the river.
Glad you have on that dress, Anna"
Said he. ITS awfuliy becoming, and
want you to look your p attiest. Bra
dy is coming out this afternoon, and
But the boys-the river?' Her
FIRST thought was of her children's dis
appointment Though her dislike for
the man Brady, who always got on
her nerves." came in n close second.
The boys? I'd quite forgotten.
We'll, you'll have to fix it up with
them; put them off till some other time.
r
Robert, | wish-I wish you wouldn't
forget like that. It's growing to be
a habit with you, dear, and l hate-l
nate to have the children lose faith ia
your promises. ! want them to learn
mat a promise means
He interrupted with some sharp in
Consequence, and Annals wide, sur
lriSed eyes goaded him into a tempest
Of words.
Are you so burdened with mother
hood,' he cried. "that you cant even
lie Il wifef It's plain to'see that I'm
only worth to you what l may be
worth to the children, and NO man
10 man. I repent-can stand that sort
VI thing"
Anna flushed and wondered what
sue could have done to cause this eX-
uaordtnarv outbreak. Her first I'm
pulse always where Robert was con
'erhed was to try to ascertain where
sue herself had been found wanting.
IL The symphony of womanhood she
udd but played over and over again
ue largo Of motherhood, this slim,
sf'ISh figure with the exquisite flow
.FlEe face. for her physical attitude
toward even her boyish. irresponsible
husband vas largely maternal.
sue wondered, but in this Instance