The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-07-22

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y behind her.
"Sit down, kit
tie, and-make yourself right at home,
won't you?" begged her rugged host, a
bit f1ustered.
"I-er-I suppose you're kind Of sur
prised to sec me round here-aint
you?" remarked the caller, seating her
self.
"Yes-kind of. You see, I amt seen
you-since-Maggfe died"
"1.wou1dn't be here now. maybes" faE
tered the woman, "if-if 1t wasn't that
l."
Don't hold back, Kittie," cut in the
man encouragingly. LIANT got much
myself, but IL II a help you opt,
just say the word"
Kittie Driscorl's heart gave a bang
ing thump. A choking feeling gripped
her.
Il amt needin' anything Frank"
she said in a frmer voice. tits some
thin else l wanted to speak to you
about. It's concerning the trouble
that's been. on down to the shop,
THROWN you and the rest Of the boys
out Of work, for the last three months.
It's been a mighty tough winter, and
know it's hit you pretty hard,
Frank"
Some ones been kiddin' you," he
said, forcing a smile. "I-pm all hunky-
dory, even if I amt been workin' for
some time. You see, I had a nice lit
tie piece Of money banked away when
the row came. But, anyway, it's mighty
nice Of you to drop in and pay an old
friend a social call when things amt
what they ought to be. That's the
only time when you can find out who's
your real friends"
Eyes, l know" said his caller. feel
ing his ~evaslveness, "but l came here
today to square myself for a dirty turn
I once done you"
The woman cast a look into the next
where Maggie's anemic children
lay in bed asleep.
Then she said impulsively, firmly:
when Jack died / got 5000 from the
company. Frank, there's no
use you tryin' to bluff me. We're old
time friends and can talk right out
open and above board. 1t hurts me to
say it, but I know how things stand
with you, and that you're hard-up for
fair. So I've come to lend you the
two hundred until things pick up"
She showed a package Of greenbacks
quickly across the table. "You can
pay it back when you're workin'
Kit" choked the man, his eyes
blinking, II hardly know how to thank
you. But I'm all right ! amt needin'
Frank Porter" she returned, her
voice ringing sweetly, you and me
was always good friends, back In the
old days. So don't you say another
word, but just you take this money
and use it for yourself and the kids.
It's needed and needed bad. I'm a
woman, and I know"
"Kittie," he began, his voice husky,
"you was always Maggie's best friend.
My poor little KID" he gulped, blink
ing painfully, she's better off now.
Kittie you know 1t amt for myself Pm
worrytn' about-but for my two little
girls. And-since you've been SO kind
as to want to help me out for a little
while, I wouldn't be for imposin' on
you, Soft you don't mindful borrow
about ten dollars"
mo, no., take It all, Frank; it amt
NO good to me-" she, urged, rising
quickly: "Good-by and good lick to
you"
you amt goin' 81 soon, are you,
Ktttie?" cried the man. checking her
at the door. "Why-II amt even had
time to have a little talk with you.
Stay o while, won't you?"
"Yeth, p'ease stay" Unexpectedly
chirped a tot Of four years, who had.
unseen, crawled out Of her warm bed.
"Stay-I likes you"
"Howve the children been?" fall
tered the woman through misty eyes,
kissing a pair Of tiny. pouting lips.
pretty good. returned the father
brokenly. There amt no one to give
them the right kind Of attention, al
though my old mother does the best
she can when she a be here. They're
delicate, just like Maggie was. They
need a mothers care badly. Some n
He stopped abruptly. "Kittie," he
went on again In a moment, you n
me and Maggie was always the best of
friends, back in the old days; The
kids here-Maggie's own flesh and
blood-ain't got no one to give them
the right kind Of care. They need some
one to be a mother to them"
The woman's eyes met those or the
man in sudden inquiry. "You-you-
you amt askin'-?"
. eyes, Kittie." His voice rang man
fully, though he brushed a mist from
his eyes. 81 ask you to promise to be-
come my wife az soon as I go back to
work again.
"She said yeth to herself, paDa!"
cried out the child, jumping gleefully,
her face radiant with joy.