The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1913-02-12

Lizzie. thought you had too much
to do, and that she might just as well
help you, but II she bothers you, we
won't have II. And now tell me
where Mrs. Stoddard and the others
are"
Sallle's symptoms indicated that she
was about to be propitiated; but she
had yet desire to make her position
clear to Miss Redmond. IT'S all right !;
only I've taken care of the china for
seventeen years, and IL don't seem
right to let her handle Il. And she
told me herself that anybody that had
any respect for their hands wouldn't
do kitchen work. And IL her hands
are too good for kitchen work, I'm
sure I don't want her messing round
here. She left the tea on the stove
till II boiled, Miss Redmond, Just yes
terday."
Agatha smiled. I'm sure Lizzie
doesn't know anything about cooking,
Sallie, and she shall not bother you
any more"
Sallie turned rather less melan.
choly face toward Agatha. tits been
fairly lonesome since the parson died.
I'm glad you've come to the red
house." The words came from Sal
lies lips grufTly and ungraciously, but
Agatha knew that they were sincere.
She knew better, however, than to
appear to notice them. In a moment
Sallie went on: "Mrs. Stoddard,
she's asleep in the front spare room.
Said for me to call her at twelve"
Poor woman! She must be tired"
said Agatha.
Aunt Susan's a stout woman, Miss
Redmond. She didn't go to bed until
she'd had prayers beside the young
mans bed, with Mr.. Hand present. l
had to wait with the coffee. And I
guess Mr.. Hand amt very much used
to our ways, for when Aunt Susan had
made prayer, Mr.. Hand said: Yes,
maam!' instead of Amen"
There was a mixture of disappro-
baton and grim humor which did not
escape Agatha. She was again be-
guiled into a smile, though Sallie re-
manned grave as a tombstone.
"Mr. Hand will learn" said Agatha;
and was about to add Like the rest
of u.s." but thought better of it. Sal
lie took up her tale.
"Mr. Van Camp and his friend came
in just after I'd put you to bed, Miss
Redmond, and ate bite of breakfast
right off that table; and twas mercy
Id cleared all the kulch outer the at
tic, as l did last week, for Mr.. Van
Camp he wanted a place to sleep;
and he's up there now. Used to be
whole lot er the parsons books up
there; but put them on a shelf in
the spare room. The other man went
off toward the village"
Agatha, looking about the pleasant
was tempted to linger. Sal
lies conversation yielded, to the dis
corning, something of the rich essence
Of the past; and Agatha began to
yearn for a better knowledge of the
recluse who had been her friend, I'M
known, through all the years. But she
her industrious plans for
the day and postponed her talk with
Sallie.
Il remember there used to be a
grove, stretch of wood, somewhere
beyond the church, Sallie. Which way
Is it-along the path that goes
through the churchyard?"
mo, this way; right back er the
yard. Parson Thayer he used to walk
that way quite often" Sallie went
with Agatha to another stile beyond
The churchyard, and pointed over the
pasture to fringe of dark trees along
he farther border. Right there by
hat apple tree. the path is. But don't |
go far, Miss Redmond; the woods amt |
healthy"
"All right, Sallie; thank you. I'll
not stay long" She called Danny and
started out through the pasture, with
The hound, sober and dignified and |
happy, at her heels.
The wood was cool and dim, with |
an uneven wagon road winding in and
put between the stumps. Enormous |
reared their forms here |
and there; occasionally 1.-THE birch |
lifted tossing head; and, farther
within, pines shot their straight |
trunks, arrow-like, up to the canopy
above.
Farther along. the road widened into |
4 little clearing, beyond which the |
birch and maple trees gave place en- |
.irely to pines and hemlocks. The un-
lerbrush disappeared, and a brown
carpet of needles and cones spread far |
lnder the shade. The leafy rustic of |
he deciduous trees ceased, and ma
estic stiffness. deeper than thought. |
pervaded the place. At the clearing |
lust within this deeper wood Agatha |
paused. sat down on a stone and took |
Danny's head in her lap. The dog |
ooked up into her face with the visit
'ul melancholy gaze of his kind, in
articulate yet eloquent.
Tho ann was naarlv at zapitb and |