The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-11-28

SO Eln0ra went nome IN suspense.
and that night she added TO her pray
ers, Dear Lord. be merciful to my
father and. oh, do help Aunt Margaret
to get his violin
Wesley and Billy came in to supper
tired and hungry. Billy ate heartily.
but his eyes often rested on a plate OF
tempting cookies. and when Wesley
offered them TO the boy he reached for
one. Margaret was compelled to ex-
plain that cookies were forbidden that
nigh. because Billy had used q bad
word thai I day
what" said Wesley. Wrong words
been coming again? oh, Billy, do
wish you could remember can't sit
and eat cookies before little boy who
has none. Ill have to put mine back
too" And Margaret did the same.
Then Billy slid from his chair, ran
to the couch, buried his face In the
pillow and cried heart brokenly. Yves.
ley hurried to the barn and Margaret
to the kitchen. When the dishes were
almost washed Billy slipped from the
back door.
Wesley. piling hay into the managers,
heard sound behind him and In.
quired, That you, Billy"
"Yes." answered Billy, "and it's all
so dark you can't see me now. isn't 1t y
"Well, mighty near" answered Yves
ley.
Then you stoop down and open your
mouth"
Wesley bent over the small figure
and received an lnstallment Of cooky
that almost choked him.
"Now you can eat It," shouted Billy
In delight. ITS all dark. can't see
what you're doing t ALL"
Wesley picked up the small figure
and set the boy on the back of horse
to bring his face level 50 that they
could talk as men.
"Now, what a dandy schemew he
commented. Did you and Aunt Mar
garet fix 1t up?"
"No. She amt had hers yet. But l
got one for her. Ist as soon as you eat
yours | am going to take hers and feed
her first time find her In the dark"
"But, Billy. where did you get the
cookies? You know Aunt Margaret
said you were not to have any"
81 list took them" said Billy. Il
didn't take them for me. | ist took
them for you and her. Did-did--I
steal?"
wesley's big hands closed until he
almost hurt he boy.
"No." he said vehemently. That is
too big word. You just made mis-
take. IL you had told Aunt Margaret
what you wanted to do and asked hel
for the cookies she would have given
them to you"
"Must tPke IL backr
"You think hard, and decide your
self" suggested Wesley.
"Lift me down." said Billy, after Il
silence. II got to put this in the jar
and tell her"
Wesley set the boy on the floor, but
as he did so he paused one second and
strained him close to his breast.
Margaret sat in her chair sewing,
Billy slipped in and crept up beside
her. The little face was lined with
tragedy.
"why, Billy, whateves Is the mat
teri" she crled as she dropped her sew.
ing and held out her arms. Billy stood
back. He gripped his little fists tight
and squared his shoulders. IL got to
be shut up in the closet" he said.
"0h, Billy! What an unlucky day!
What have you done nowT
II stold" gulped Billy. "He said 1t
was list mistake, but II was worser
an that. took something you told me
wasn't to have"
"Stole~ Margaret was in despair.
"wbat. BillyT
"Cookies!" answered Billy In equal
trouble And he told her, 80 l got to
60 In the closet"
Margaret gazed at him helplessly.
"Will you hold me tight little bit
f1rstf He did"
Margaret opened her arms and Billy
rushed In and chung to her a few sec.
onds with all the force Of his being,
then he slipped TO the floor and
marched TO the closet. Margaret open.
ed the door. Billy gave one glance ut
the light. clinched his fists and. walk
Ing inside. Climbed On a box Margaret