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

| IN dream, sewing OT knittink W cVVn
ing. II Is only when she talks, and
you notice that her eyes really see
nothing. but are looking beyond you,
that you know there Is anything
wrong"
"If she appears 10 like other people.
why don't the nelghbors go TO see her
once IN awhile7"
Callers make her unhappy. she
says, and Ivory told me that he dared
not encourage any company In the
house for fear OF exciting her and
making her an object OF gossip be
sides. He knows her ways perfectly
and that she Is safe and content with
her fancies when she Is alone, which
Is seldom, after all"
what does she talk aboutf" asked
Patty.
"Her husband mostly. She Is expect
ing him to come back daily. We knew
that before. OF course. but no one can
realize Il till they see her. setting the
table for him and putting a saucer Of
wild strawberries by his plate. going
about the kitchen softly. like a gentle
ghost"
at gives me the shudders!' said
Patty. II couldn't bear IT, II she
never sees strangers. what In the
world did she make OF your How did
you begin?"
II told her had known Ivory ever
/ since we were school children She
was rather strange and Indifferent at
first and then she seemed TO take a
fancy to me-"
That's queerr' said Patty. smiling
fondly and giving waitstll's hair the
hasty brush OF kiss.
"She told me she had a girl baby.
| born two or three years after Ivory,
and that she had always thought It
| died when Il was a few weeks old.
Then suddenly she came closer TO me-
ooh. waity. weren't you terrihedr
"No, not in the least. Neither would
you have been II you had been there.
She put her arms round me and all at
once ! understood that the poor thing
mistook me Just for moment for her
own daughter come back TO life. Ii
was a sudden fancy. and ! don't think
Il lasted, but ] didn't know how to
deal with Il or contradict IL. so ! sim
ply tried 10 soothe her and let her
ease her heart by talking to me. She
said when | left her: Where Is your
house? l hope It is near! Do come
again and sit with me. Strength flows
into my weakness when you hold my
handr | somehow feel. Patty. that she
needs a woman friend even more than
a doctor. And now. what am ] to dor
How can ! forsake her. and yet here IL
this new difficulty with fatherT'
81 shouldn't forsake her. Go there
when you can, but be more careful
about 1t. You told father that you
didn't regret what you had done, and
that when he ordered you to do I'M
reasonable thines you should disobey
him. After all. you are not a black
slave. Father will never think OF that
particular thing again, perhaps, any
more than be ever alluded to my driv-
/ Ing to Saco with Mrs. Day after you
had told him II was necessary for one
of US TO go there occasionally. He
knows that II he Il too hard on us DIR.
Perry or Uncle Bart would take him
| In hand. They would have done II
long ago II we had ever given any one
even a hint OF what we have to endure.
You will be all right because you only
want to do kind. neighborly things. !
am the one that will always have to
suffer because can't prove that It's a
Christian duty to deceive father and
steal of to a dance or frolic. Yet l
might as well be nun In a convent
for all the fun | get. ] want white
book muslin dress; want a pair OF
thin shoes with buckles: | want a
white hat, with a wreath OF yellow
roses; want a volume OF ByrOn's
poems, and, oh, nobody knOws-nobody
but the Lord could understand-how !
want a string of gold beadsr'
Patty, Patty! To hear you chatter
anybody would imagine you thought
Of nothing but frivolities. ] wish you
wouldn't do yourself such injustice.
Even when nobody hears you but me,
II Is wrong"
sometimes when you think I'm talk
ing nonsense it's really the gospel
truth" said Patty. I'm not a grand,
splendid character. Waitstill. and it's
no use your deceiving yourself about
me- II you do you'll be disappointed. I"
go and parboil the beans and get
them into the pot. Patty. Pick up
some Of the windfalls and make a
green apple pie. and I'll be with you In
the kitchen myself before long. new
er expect TO be disappointed In you.
Patty-only continually surprised and
pleased"
II thought I'D begin making some
soft soap today" said Patty mischiev-
ously as she left the room. 1--WE have
enough grease saved up. We don't
really need It yet. but It makes such
disgusting smell that I'd rather like
father to have 1t with his dinner. It's
not much OF a punishment for our
sleepless night"
Ito be Continued)
That's When.