The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-07-03

ed voice. W0at woman WOulQuC DC
comforted by being called a luscious
peacbW | looked out between my fin
gers to see what more he was going
to say. but he had turned to shelf
bnd taken down two books.
"Now," he said in his most business
like voice. as cool as bucket Of wa
ter fresh from the spring, ''it is no
trouble at all to take off your surplus
avoirdupois at the rate of two and
half pounds week If you follow these
directions. AS take 1t. you are about
twenty-five pounds over your normal
weight. 1t will take over two months
to reduce you, and we will allow an
extra month for further beautifying,
so that when Mr. Bennett arrives he
will find the lady of his alteration In
proper trim to be adored Yes, just
be still until copy these directions in
this little red leather blank book for
you. and every day I want you to keep
an exact record Of the conditions Of
which | make note. No, don't talk
while | make out these diet lists!
wish you would go across the hall and
see If you don't think we ought to get
Billy thinner set Of night drawers.
1t seems to me he must be too warm
in the ones he is wearing"
When he speaks to me in that tone
of voice always do It. And l needed
Billy badly at that very moment
took him out of his little cot by DR..
Johns big bed and sat down with him
in my arms over by the window
through which the early moon came
streaming. Billy is so little, little not
to have a mother to rock him all the
times he needs 1t, that l take every
| opportunity to give 1t to him find
when he's unconscious and can't help
himself She died before she ever
even saw him, and I've always tried to
do what could to make it up to him.
Poor Mr.. Carter said when Billy cut
his teeth that neighbor's baby can be
worse than twins Of your own. He
didn't like children, and the baby's
crying disturbed him, so many a night
I walked Billy out in the garden until
daylight, while Mr. Carter and DR.
John both slept Always his little,
warm, witty body has comforted me
for the emptiness of not having baby
Of my own And he's very congenial.
too for he's slim and flowery, pink and
dimply, and as mannish as his father,
in funny little flashes.
"Git a stick to punch it, Molly" he
was murmuring In his sleep. Then
heard the doctor call me and l had to
kiss him. put him back in his bed and
go across the hall.
DR.. John was standing by the table
with this horrid small book In his hand
and his mouth was set In straight
line and his eyes were deep back un-
der their brows. hate him that way,
too, and would like to get up so close
to him that he couldn't hit me or have
a door locked between us. It's strange
how the thought of taking a beating
| from a man can make woman's heart
jump. Mine jumped so 1t was hard to
look as meek as l felt best under the
circumstances, but looked 1t out from
under my lashes cautiously.
"There you are, Mrs Molly" he said
briskly as he handed me this book.
"Get weighed and measured and sized
up generally in the morning and follow
all the directions; also make every rec
ord / have noted so that can have
along-or rather down. And If you will
be faithful about 1t to me, or, rather
| AL, think we can be sure of buttoning
that blue muslin dress without even
the aid of the buttonhook." His voice
had the "tf you can" note In 1t that
always sets me off.
Had we better get the kiddie some
thinner night rigging?" he FASTENED to
ask as l was just about to explode.
He knows the signs.
THANK you, DR.. Moore! | hate the
very ground you walk on. and I'll at
tend to those night clothes myself to-
morrow" / answered, and | sailed out
of that Office and down the path to-
ward my own house beyond his hedge
hand. and ! made up my mind that |
would do 1t all II 1t killed me. | would
show him | could be faithful-to whom
l would decide later on. But hadn't
read far into this book when | com
mitted myself to myself like thatl
don't know Just how long sat on
the front steps all by myself bathed in
perfect food Of moonlight and loneli
ness 1t was not bit of comfort to
hear Aunt Adeline snoring away in her
loom down the dark hall. 1t takes the
greatest congeniality to. make a per
sons snoring pleasure to anybody, and
Aunt Adeline and l are not that way.
When poor Mr.. Carter died the next
day she said: "Now, Mary, you are en-.
tirely too young to live all your long
years of widowhood alone, and as l am
in the same condition, will rent my
cottage and move right up the street
into your house to protect and console
you" And she did-the moving and
the protecting.
Mr.. Henderson has been dead forty
two years He only lived three months
after he married Aunt Adeline and her
Grape veil is over yard long yet. Men