The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-07-04


basket; drew her low chair nearer the
larger one in the chimney corner. and
piled another stick upon the glowing
Goals. She could settle to nothing.
Clearly Mrs Winston was waiting in
suspense. Poor fellow she said
thinking aloud, ''he will need all the
brightness We can give him. and a.
gain SHE sighed. sigh of sympathy
Her heart was heavy for her husband
who had been hastily summoned to
the deathbed of q brother, in a distant
State. From rumors that had come to
them for several years. it was feared
that bereavement was not the saddest
feature of the trouble in his family.
Letters telling of the arrival of her
husband. and the death and funeral
quickly following had not lessened these
fears.
At last the familiar ring at the door
bell sent her into the hall, eager ques-
tiOns on her lips. These died into sill
ence at the sight of shrinking little
figure, in pitifuly small suit of
mourning, whose hand her husband held
drawing the child forward with the
words, Il had to bring her. hated
to add to your cares, but there was TO
help for it,"
''Never mind me-" she answered.
quickly, II dare say she will be more
| hal bar h.,
glad of playmate. Now we will have
tea before either of yon go upstairs.
"Yes, indeed, let US have tea, and
how good the oysters smell. am glad
you have something hot, feel as if
every drop of blood were a separate
point of ice pricking my veins"
Sitting at the table unable to eat, the
little girl had not spoken. Bert's shy
attempts at making friends with her
brought convulsive, sobbipg catch in
her throat. so distressing Mrs. Winston
she waited only to pour the tea and at
tend to her boys wants before taking
the child upstairs.
A little room opening out of her own
was soon made ready, and preparations
for bed went on, still in silence. What
is your name, dear child?" she asked at
last.
The dark-rimmed eyes were lifted to
hers for moment, but the quivering
lips could not frame the words to an
swer.
"You will not be afraid or lonely
with the door open, went on the sooth-
ing voice, land ! can hear if my little
girl needs anything in the night"
'Tm mammals little girl. if did have
to leave her." in a defiant tone.
80, yes. But all little girls like to
visit their aunties, and have to call
you that because you do not tell me
your name"
Edna in lower key. ~
"You were named for your father.
then. knew him when he was a nice
little boy, no older than you"
The child threw herself across the
bed with aheartbrokcn wall, 80, papa
dear, papa dear l cannot bear it.
cannot beari it! God is not good. Papa
did not know what he was doing when
he was cruel, and God does know what
He is doing!'
Mrs. Winston gathered the writhing
little form in her arms. What is it
dear chld?''
''The preacher said no drunka ard
could enter heaven. Papa was so bon
ny when he was good, and we loved
him so! He used to hurt mama when
he wasn't himself. hurt mamma, But
we wouldn't punish him forever and
ever. We would remember how nice
he was sometimes. Say it isn't true,
auntie.'
Can you listen to me, Edna?' hold |
ing the thin, trembling hands in her
soft crap. A movement of the head on
her arm assentcd, God is good
Mamma and you loved papa but you
could not help him?''
A dreary "No' answered.
You saw him grow worse and worse
every day, God loves him more, far
more than anyone else can, and he has
taken papa out of world where he
would never be any better. God loves,
and knows how to help. Let us trust
papa to that great and wise love-"
Z. When the long drawn sobs had ceased
in sleep, Mrs. Winston went down
stairs to find her boy asleep on the
coucn, her husband covering over the
fire. Hastily clearing the tea table she
had set with so much pride, she drew
her low chair to her husbands side and
waited for his version of the dreadful
story she had heard upstairs.