Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-11-27


ing out into the dusk.
Ten yards away the girl sat by the
window in the living room. She was
alone, too; her father had gone out
upon some errand, and her mother
was making up accounts in the lktch-
en-. From the corner Of the window
she could just see the Barton end OF
the piazza. She had book in her
hand, but she was not reading.
She had been trying hard not to
cry, and she was exceedingly angry,
because 1t was not about Frank Bar
ton-and yet it was, too. in a sort OF
way. But what had he done? Moth
ing. That was just IT,; he was only
boy and couldn't understand. But
what was there to understand, except
that she hated him?
She went up to her room at last,
and then she crouched down by the
window and cried In earnest. Pres.
emily slight squeaking sound inside
the chimney made her tiptoe over to
the stove. 1t had not been lit since
the warm weather began, a month be-.
fore. Something like mouse was
squeaking and scurrying behind the
place where the stovepipe entered.
Frank Barton, at the end of the
piazza, saw the girls shadow thrown
on the lawn. He was not going to
look up at her. But he looked up, and
saw that she had pulled the stovepipe
from its place and was bending over
something.
She's found a mouse's nest,' he
thought, and a wave OF disgust surged
over him. He had heard the little
beasts scurrying to and fro at night
He had thought of pulling out the pipe
and drowning them. How like a girl!
He almost hated Ida then. He
hoped she had not been angry with
him because-because she guessed
The shame of that would make him
hang his head the rest Of his days
He saw Ida clearly again, pale young
woman whose twin pigtails hat
changed into fluffy, straw.colored hair
He did not even want to take another
girl to the picture show now.
Aren't you getting cold, Frank
It's turning quite chilly" said hi!
mother, from the window OF the liv
ing room.
II guess not" he answered.
Shall light the fire In the stove?'
she asked.
He hesitated. Yes, It might warn
up the house." he answered.
The boy was in his room and It wal
morning. He leaned over the window
sill. Underneath lilac tree was be
ginning to blossom and the scent cam
up to him. The world was very fai
that soft spring morning. Why wa
his heart aching SO?
In the next house, but shut Of a
by thousand leagues, was Ida. Some
times she would lean from her win
dow and wave a good morning I
him, and he looked for today. 3u
there was no sign Of her.
She's still mad at me-" he though
and the old sense OF resentment b,
gan to stir in him again.
Suddenly he heard a sound OF sol
bing. 1t came from the next hous,
He heard 1t through the chimney, an
put his mouth to the stovepipe.
"Ida!" he called. Ida! Ida."
There was no answer, and he wer
downstairs. He stood beneath the
lac tree. The, beauty OF natui
= seemed suddenly to have become a
2 cursed and dreary. He leaned again
I the trunk and idly plucked a spray
q lilac. Then he saw girl comir
& along the piazza and went toward he
y little sheepishly, not yet decided
! what spirit to approach her But /
saw the tears In her eyes, and h
heart leaped with remorse. And
her hand she was carrying som
thing. She held II out indignant
It was three little dead birds-chir
ney swifts. which had been killed |
the fire he had let his mother kindl
"Aw. say Ida! didn't know.
thought they were MICE" he proteste
you have killed them for wa
tonness, just like a boy!" she said |
" dignantly.
= Her eyes were wet. She stroked Il
limp little wings. and then sudden
u burst into passionate tears. Fran
stood by helplessly. He was SUI
V now that she weild never speak
him again.
I'm sorry, Ida-honest, am" /
u muttered.
70 She raised her eyes to his but the
D" was not anger in them any NOR
There was something he had nev,
70 seen there. II was not love- II WI
- more like humility-that which is boz
y OF sudden understanding. Somethir
!. OF the tragedy OF life had grippe
n =, them both. and the seriousness OF
, when one puts aside childish thing
. You didn't know-did you, Frank
she said. And she slipped her ar
o. through his. and In that moment Il
new life lay before them, though tn,
: only dlmly realized what was happe
'' Ing In their souls. For when the bu
'e terfy emerges from the cocoon
~ at once forgets and only rejoices in /
3 new happiness.
h..