The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-02-25

brick dwelling on the top Of the Town
House hill.
Her stepmother stood beside her
with n young baby In her arms. but
when she saw what held the gaze or
the child she drew her away, saying.
We mustn't look, Waitstill; your IN
Their don't like itr'
"who was the big man at the head.
motherT'
"Uis name Is Jacob Cochrane. but
you mustn't think or talk about him.
He Is very wicked"
Gle doesn't look any wickeder than
the Others" said the child. "Who was
the man that fell down In the road.
mother and the woman that knelt and
prayed over him? Why did he fall. and
why did she pray. mOthcrT
That was Master Aaron BoyntOn.
the schoolmaster. and his wife. He
only made believe to fall down, ms the
Cochranitcs do; the way they carry on
is n disgrace 20 the village, and that's
the reason your father won't let us
look at them"
IL played with a nice boy over Ia
Boynton's." unused the child.
THAT was ivory. their only child
Tie is good little fellow, but his
mother and father will spoil him with
their crazy ways"
II hope nothing will happen 10 him.
for | love him. said the child gravely
"He showed me cumming birds nest.
the first | ever saw. and the littlcst!"
Don't talk about loving him" child
ed the woman. IF your father should
hear you he'd send you TO bed without
your porridge."
"Father couldn't hear me. for ! never
speak when he's ut home" said grave
little Waitstill And I'm used TO going
60 bed without my porridge."
The river was still running under the
bridge. but the current OF time had
swept Jacob Cochrane out of sight.
though not ort of mind, for he had left
here aud there disciple TO preach his
strange and uncertain doctrine. Wait
still. the child who never spoke In her
fathers presence. was young woman
now. the mistress Of the house; the
stepmOther was dead and the baby
girl Of seventeen.
The brick cottage on the hilltop had
grown only little shabbier. Deacon
Foxwell Baxter still slammed its door
behind him every morning at o'clock
fttI
tons as goOdbys TO his girls. walked
down TO the bridge TO open his store.
The day properly speaking. had
opened whea Waitstill and Pat!cuac
had left their beds at dawn. built the
fire. fed the hens and turkeys and pre-
pared the breakfast. while the deacon
was graining the horse and milking
the cows Such minor chores" as
carrying water from the well. splitting
kindling. chopping pine or bringing
wood into the kitchen were left TO
Waitstill. who had strong back or II
she had not had never been unwise
enough to mention the fact in her IA
theirs presence. The almanac day,
however. which opened with sunrise,
had nothing TO do with the real human
day. which always began when Mr..
Baxter slammed the door behind him
and reached Its high noon Of delight
when he disappeared from view.
Hes opening the store shutters"
chanted Patience from the heights OF
kitchen chair by the window. Now
he's taken his cane and beaten or the
Boynton puppy that was sitting on the
steps as usual. don't mean Ivory's
dog" (here the girl gave quick glance
at her sister. but Rodman's little yell
low cur. Rodman must have come
down TO the bridge on some errand for
worry. Isn't IL odd when that dog has
an the other store steps to sit upon be
should choose fathers when every
bone In his body must tell him how
father hates him and the whole Boyn-
ton familyI"
Father has no real cause that ever
heard Of But some dogs never know
when they've had enough beating nor
some people either" said Waltstill,
speaking from the pantry.
Don't be gloomy when it's my birth
day, sis. Now he's opened the door and
kicked the cat All is ready for bust
ness at the Baxter store"
81 wish you weren't quite 80 free
with your tongue, Patty"
Somebody must talk" retorted the
girl. jumping down from the chair and
shaking back her mop Of red gold
curls. IN put this hateful, childish.
round comb In and ont just once more.
then It will disappear forever. This
very afternoon up goes my hair"'
"You know II will be OF no use unless
you braid II very plainly and neatly.
Father will take notice and make you
smooth II down"
"Father hasn't looked me square In
the face for years, besides my hair
won't braid and nothing can make II
quite plain and neat. thank goodness!
Let us be thankful for small mercies.
as Jed Morrill, said when the lightning
struck his mother-ln-law and skipped
his wife"
Patty, | will not permit you TO re-
peat those tavern stories. they are not
seemly on the lips OF girl" And
wsitstill came out of the pantry with
a shadow Of disapproyal In her eyes