The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-11-20

Ten yards away the girl sat by thu
window In the living room. She wal
alone. too; her father had gone Out
upon some errand, and her mothe<
was making up accounts in the hitch
en-. From the corner of the window
she could just see the Barton end OF
the piazza She had a book in hez
nand. but she was not reading.
She had been trying hard not Ia
cry, and she was exceedingly angry,
because 1t was not about Frank Bar.
ton-and yet 1t was. too. in q sort OF
way. But what had he done? Moth
Ing. That was just it; he was only q
boy and couldn't understand. But
what was there to understand. except
that she hated him?
Shs 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 t:ptoe over to
the stove. 1t had not been lit since
the warm weather began, a month be-
fore. Something like a mouse waa
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 q mouse's nest" he
thought, and 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 had
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 his
mother, from the window OF the liv
ing room.
Il guess not" he answered.
Shall light the fire In the stoVe?"
she asked.
He hesitated. Yes, 1t might warm
up the house. he answered.
The boy was in his room and It was
morning. He leaned over the window
sill. Underneath a lilac tree was be
ginning to blossom and the scent came
up to him. The world was very fair
that soft spring morning. Why was
his heart aching SO?
In the next house, but shut on AZ
by thousand leagues. was Ida. Some
times she would lean from her win.
dow and wave good morning to
him, and he looked for today. But
there was no sign Of her.
She's still mad at me-" he thought,
and the old sense Of resentment be
gan to stir in him again.
Suddenly he heard a sound of sob |
bling. 1t came from the next house
He heard 1t through the chimney, and
put his mouth to the stovepipe.
"Ida!" he called Ida! Ida!"
There was no answer, and he weht
downstairs. He stood beneath the IL
ac tree. The beauty Of nature
seemed suddenly to have become &C
cursed and dreary. He leaned against
he trunk and idly plucked a spray OF
lac. Then he saw a girl coming
llong the piazza and went toward her.
little sheepishly, not yet decided In
What spirit to approach her. But he
Jaw the tears In her eyes, and his
leart leaped with remorse And in
her hand she was carrying some
hing. She held 1t out Indignantly,
1t was three little dead birds-chim
icy swifts, which had been killed by
he fire he had let his mother kindle
"Aw, say, Idal didn't know. ]
hought they were MICE" he protested.
You have killed them for wan,
onness. just like boy!" she said in,
ignantly.
Her eyes were wet. She stroked the
mp little wings, and then suddenly
urst into passionate tears. Frank
TODD by helplessly. He was sure
ow that she wclld never speak to
i'm again.
I'm sorry, dishonest. / am" he
uttered
She raised her eyes to his but there
as not anger in them any more
here was something he had never
zen there. 1t was not love; it was
ore like humility-that which is born
sudden understanding. Something
the tragedy OF life had gripped
lem both, and the seriousness of il
hen one puts aside childish things.
You didn't know-did you. Frank"
le said. And she slipped her arm
rough his. and in that moment the
Nv life lay before them, though they
lily dimly realized what was happen.
& in their souls. For when the but
rhy energies from the cocoon It
once forgets and only rejoices in its