The Irish standard., 1913-03-01

HusHeO, tueh Sno followed the otherQ
In to breakfast. 40.
The farmers wife had made some
hot coffee. strong and black, and fried
some bacon, and with thick slices Of
bread and butter, they all ate raw.
enously at the bare deal table in the
kitchen, with no pretense whatever of
tablecloth or napkins. The Water.
melon and the farmers wife stood
alone in the kitchen after the others
had left and looked down kindly at
her with the camaraderie felt only by
one unfortunate in trouble for another
in a like place.
Its - hard on you," he said,
And on him." said the woman. "All
the hay was just in"
Lay not up for yourselves treas.
ures- murmured the Watermelon
laconically, instinctively turning to
the Bible on every occasion. "Pity
you aren't man. Then you could
chuck the whole show and hit the
road with me. I'm stony broke, too"
He patted her shoulder gently and
tears leaped into the woman's tired
eyes. She cried a bit and he soothed
her softly as one would soothe a tired
child.
Those Others" said she, wipins
her eyes on her coarse apron, "they
are kind. but they don't understand"
They mean WE'LL" said the Water.
melon. "but you have to 60 through
the mill yourself, to do we'll. know
what poverty means. It's ways Amt
always pleasantness by q dog-gons
sight,"
"Beggars all. begsars ALL" cried
Henrietta. as they started up the road.
In the dewy freshness of early morn.
Ing.
The air was like ozone. It was 4
physical Joy simply to walk, to breathe
the odor of fields and woods and
| open places and to let ones eyes
dwell on the beauty and the glory of
the land.
Il am glad it pleases you, Henri.
etta." said the general tartly.
Henrietta sobered. Father, I feel
as bad as you do about the car. But
[ can't 60 into mourning for it."
you needed another one anyway"
consoled Billy. with the kindly reas-
surance and hopeless misunderstood.
Ing of the rich. "The last model ia
Iut now. you know"
Billy" said Henrietta, do YOU
think we can buy q cur every time the
humor moves us? You don't under
| stand"
II know" said Billy humbly.
crushed under repeated rebuffs from
every one II am a perfect fool, Hen
rietta, but can't help It,"
1t was nearly noon when they came
In sight of their destination, gaunt,
gray farmhouse. perched on the top
Of the gentle slope overlooking the
valley and the winding river to the
woods on the hills beyond. They came
to the bars Of COW pasture and a
narrow COW path leading across the
field to the house, shorter way than
by the road.
| Henrietta and Billy. seeing no cows
in sight, allowed the Watermelon to
let down the bars and to pass through.
Billy waited inside the fence, standing
by the path, among the sweet fern,
until all but the Watermelon had
started up the path for the house.
Quietly she watched the Watermel.
on as he slowly and reluctantly re.
placed the bars.
Jerry" said she. when he had at
last finished. what is the matter?"
She had stepped into the path In
front Of him and he had to stop and
face her.
He flushed hotly and would not look
at her. There Is nothing the mat
ter" said he. why? What makes
you think so?"
| She drew herself up with pretty
dignity. "You need not have told me
what you did yesterday in the rail-
road cut, IL It were not So" said she,
quite simply.