The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-05-27

NV ned by the suddenness OF
" this catastrophe. She stood
with her feet rooted to the
earth for several minutes and then
walked slowly away out of sight OF the
house. There was chair beside the
grindstone under the Porter apple tree.
and she sank into il. crossed her arms
on the back and. bowling her head on
them. burst into tit OF weeping as
tempestuous and passionate as II was
silent, for. although her body fairly
shook with sobs. no sound escaped.
The minutes passed. perhaps an
hour; she did not take account Of time.
The moon went behind clouds, the
night grew misty. and the stars faded
one by one. There would be rain to-
morrow, and there was great deal of
hay cut, so she thought In a vagrant
sort of way.
Meanwhile Patty upstairs was in
state of suppressed excitement and ter
ror 1t was a quarter OF an hour be-
fore her father settled himself In bed.
then an age ii seemed to her before
she heard his heavy breathing When
she thought 1t quite safe she slipped
on a print wrapper. took her shoes In
her hand and crept noiselessly down
stairs, out through the kitchen and
into the shed. Lifting the heavy bar
that held the big doors In place. she
closed them softly behind her. stepped
out and looked about her in the dark
ness. Her quick eye espied In the dis
lance near the barn the bowed figure
wet grass without a thought of her
bare feet TIL she reached her sisters
side and held her In a close embrace.
my darling! My own. own poor
darlingT she cried softly. the tears
running down her cheeks. "How wick
ed. how unjust. to serve my dearest
sister so! Don't cry. my blessing,
don't cry! You brighten me! I'll take
care OF you, dear. Next time I'll inter
fere III scratch and bite. yes, I'll
strange anybody that dares to shame
you and lock you out OF the house
you. the dearest, the patientest the
best!"
ty Lei US kO
farther away where we can talk" she
whispered
where had we better sleepr" Patty
asked ION the hay, think, though
we shall stifie with the heat" and
Patty moved toward the barn.
mo, you must go back to the house
at once. Patty, dear. Father might
wake and call you and that would
make matters worse. It's beginning to
drizzle or should stay out In the air.
oh, wonder II fathers mind is going
and If this is the beginning of the end!
II he Is in his sober senses he could
not be SO strange. SO suspicious. SO
unjust"
"He could be anything. say anything,
do anything exclaimed Patty. per
haps he is not responsible and perhaps
he is: 1t doesn't make much difference
to US. Come along, blessed darling!
I'll tuck you in and then Ill creep back
TO the house IL you say ] must. I'll 60
down and make the kitchen fire In the
morning; you stay out here and see
what happens A good deal will hap
pen. I'm thinking. II father speaks to
me Of you! shouldn't be surprised
to see the fur flying In all directions.
I'll seize the first moment TO bring
you out q cup OF coffee and we'll con-
suit about what to do. ! may tell you
now I'm all for running awayw
Waitstills first burst OF wretched
kaA hgf nd ghA
cred her balance. I'm afraid We
mus: wait a little longer Patty" she
advised Don't mention my name 70
father, but see how he acts In the
morning. He was SO wild, so unlike
himself. that ! almost hope he may
forget what he said and sleep 1t of
Yes. We must just walt"
mo doubt he'll be far calmer In the
morning II he remembers that, II ht
turns you out, no faces tho prospect OF
three meals day cooked by me" said
Patty. That's what be thinks h'
would face; but. az matter OF fact
she'll tell him that where you sleeI
i sleep. and where you eat ! eat, and
when you stop cooking ] stop! HI
won't part with two unpaid servants
IN a hurry, not at the beginning Of
haying" And Patty, giving Waitstil
a last hug and dozen fearful kisses
stole reluctantly back 10 the house BY
the same route through which she haC
left H.
Patty was right. She found the tir'
lighted when she went down into thu
kitchen next morning, and without
wcrd she hurried breakfast on to thu
table as fast as she could cook anC