New Britain herald., 1915-08-07

At such times Miss Jo would always swoop down with her grenadier stride and catch the young intruder. and "al- low" grimly that You ain't got no rlght to come in here. and I'll hev' to remember to nail up them boards, but now you are here you may as well stay and help me do my weedin' to pay for it."
 Ana always-just before mummy was que to wake up and come out in 10 the garden-Miss Tapscott would Dunole boy and kitten back through tne gap and ungraciously submit to parung KISS as she ordered the child 10 pc on now about your own busi- ness Ana dont you dare ever come Tn nere unless it's to pick up wind falls. I'm goin' to nail up this hole soon's ever l kin get time to remem- Der it-I really am"
 But, although June passed and July came and deepened and August drew near her memory never appeared to jog her with regard to that particular piece of mending, and the gap was still unclosed.
 But, more wonderful than this. the windfalls continued without the slightest intermission, no matter what the state of the weather overnight might be; and when the cherry season was over these marvellous trees dropped apples or plums or peaches, as the mood seized them, with dar- ing defiance of nature which could have deceived no one but child.
 By the time September with its grape-scented air, filled Miss Jos gar. den with rafts of white and red and purple china asters, Wally boys visits beginning with one per diem, and growing thence to two, had increased to three-one in the morning, one di rectly after noon, and the third jus before twilight came--for "mummy's' headaches had increased in frequency until mummy" seemed to pass mos of her time in sleeping these days.
 "I ain't no patience with her, lollin yourself" commented Miss Jo one day when the child came toddling up tho orchard walk with his pinafore awry his hair at sixes and sevens, and the cheek against which he held the kit ten all smudged with blackberr, stains.
 Agreement or no agreement, Tn goin' round to give that woman z piece of my mind. It's puffickly scan. dalous the way she lets you go. 4 good sound talkin' to is what she needs, and she's goin' to get it. too, ol I'm a Dutchman.
 In this manner the spinster dis coursed as she set to and made tn, child little more presentable; and this done, she marched down the or chard and through the gap, and, witi fire in her eye, bore down on tht porch where Mrs. Thorburn slept in deep old rocking chair, with her thir hands loosely folded and a bunch O late-blooming roses in her lap.
 She awoke at the sound of Miss Jo', coming, and looked up with her grea hollow-ringed eyes and her faded ant wasted face; and at sight of her al the fires of resentment died out of tn, spinster's breast and a great pity; great fear-filled it instead.
 For heavens sake, child, why didn' you let me know you was sa bad al this?" she exclaimed contritely. "Wha in your state of health? My goodness you look as though you was on tn, pint of givin' up the ghost"
 "I sometimes think I am," said Mrs Thorburn pathetically. "I don't thinl I'd mind Tiff it were not for my baby. I miss Walter so much! I'v, missed him every day since we wer' divided"
 Missed fiddlesticks!" sniffed Mis-. Jo contemptuously. There never wal a man yet that was wuth a woman a-dyin' for. What you want more'r all the Walters that ever hampered III the world is mustard plaster, a bed and bowl of hot gruel; and I'm goin to give 'em to you, too. Ugh!"-witf a sudden shudder of repulsion-