The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-21

her mistress; "Mrs. Emsiie the love of heaven, Lefty Lettyf" She ran forward but the other wom~ ans uplifted hand checked her.
 See, Ellal" The shaking finger pointed to the Hoor floor and the girls rosy cheeks paied as her. eyes distinct in the clear light was the print of chids wet foot.
 They come up the stairs rna'am" Ella was sses- bling frightened as hef own ncomprehensibIe terror T must have left the front door the latchs and some child strayed in
 geston of matter-of-fact Did you ed me, Ella! Is anything wrong?
 See if the door is locked, will youT
 They heard her cross the hail and try the door. 'Yes it's locked, Ella" she answered, but sfissea cry followed hard on the words The girl upst=.ra Whats the matter, Letty"
 The unsteady. "Tt's nothinx--or1y tracks. They up the outside steps, and xo on up the stairs They're the prints of feet Little bare feet OhP They heard the sharp intake of her brszz
 Ella did not answer The sturdy cemmcr sense of the farmers daughter was tn revolt sgaiDst intangible fears After all the intruder only thild T couA broom She pushed by Mrs Eimss tnesIing s zesrs. a Snd ioo~ed @ ossd s s.s d ns Ts, os or SGn s Elmsle allowed but herself and Lefty to enter that room, yet this emergency time for nice distinctions. He's in there fast enough Ella fhoEzK triurphantly; the footprints lead f and there's coming out"
 Tentatively she turned the knob TAe breeze from the held the door against her douhefn pressure; and spurred to energetic by this 1d ance she flung it wide. No intruder was in sight though the rocking-cnair by the window stirreE lightly in the breeze, and gave to the empty room an ar of occupancy. As Ella crossed the white mating she saw the prints of bare wet feet running on ahead but e closet empty except for the garnents hzneinr there-a boys garments, half worn with suggestions of vitality still about them
 The emptiness of the was oppressive. Tn spite of the bright sunshine she felt like one making his way through the dark watchful for the figure tat ax any moment might start from some urking-plsee The silence was clamorous, If terrifying voice was on the point of speaking The old foolish alarm was stealing back She went out hastily.
 Lefty had come upstairs and helped cr mistress to her room Mrs. Elnlsc lay back against the piIIcw ing. Ella chcked down sob.
 I've looked about everywhere. can't fnd . trace
 Hold your tongue" Lefty commanded, with asoee- Ity Then her voice changed to crooning tcndernesn I'll take away your hat, my dearie; you are not if 10 leave the house this morning. You'll go the city another day.'
 "No Lefty. Neverw The answer had the solemniev of a VOW, the sorrowful sweetness of peuiteafisf psalm. Never" she said again softly like one xto whispers promise into loved
 In spite of her pleading 1t long time before they left her, and then they went reluctantly looking at each other askance If each dreaded read n fh others eyes the confirmation of her own incredble thought But the woman upstairs sighed with relief as the sound of their footsteps grew faint.
 By the time she had strength enough to drsg herseif from her bed, the footprints in the hall were 10 longer moist but the outline of chld's foot showed plairIv slowly down the hall to the closed room The flaming sword in it's sheath. If the angel were still cr guard he waited with smile With head bored 1isee who prays she opened the door and wenk in