The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1918-10-25
Aunty rose ana not even smlls.

"A telegram foS you, Joseph Stage"
replied the old lady composedly.
"Well" muttered the hardware
dealer, and Carolyn May wondered If
he were not afraid to express just the
emotion he felt al that instant. His
face was red and he got up clumslly
to secure the sealed message.
"Who brought It. and whenT he
asked finally, having read the law
yer's night letter.
"A boy. This morning." said Aunty
Rose. utterly calm,
"And never saw 1t this noon"
grumbled the hardware dealer.
Mrs, Kennedy quite ignored any
suggestion Of impotence in Mr.. Stages
voice or manner. But he seemed to
lose taste for his supper after reading
the telegram.
where Is the letter that this Mr..
Price wrote and sent by you, Carr
lyu7" he asked as he was about to
depart for the store.
The little girl asked permission to
leave the table and then ran to open
her bag. Mr.. Stage said dOubtfully:
Il s'pose you'll have to put her some
where--for the present. Don't see
what else we can do, Aunty Rose"
"You may be sure, Joseph Stage,
that her room was ready for her a
week ago." Mrs. Kennedy rejoined,
quite unruffled.
The surprised hardware dealer
gurgled something in his throat
"What roomF" he finally stammered.
What which was her mothers, Han
nah Stages room. 1t Is next to mine
and she viii come to no harm there"
"Hannah's" exclaimed Mr.. Stage.
"Why, that amt been slept In since
she went away"
at is quite ct, then" said Aunty
Rose, "that 1t should be used for her
child. Trouble nothing about things
that do not concern you. Joseph
Stage" she added with, perhaps, addl-
tional sternness.
Carolyn May did not hear this. She
now produced the letter from her law.
yer.
''There It is, Uncle joe" she said.
I'll guess he tells you all about me
In It."
"Huml" said the hardware man,
clearing his throat and picking up his
hat. "I'n read 1t down at the store"
"Shall-shall I see you again to-
night, Uncle JoeT the little girl asked
wistfully. "You know, my bedtime's
half-past eight"
swell, If you don't see me tonight
again, you'll be well cared for, I
haven't doubt" said Uncle Joe short.
ly, and went out.
Carolyn May went soberly back to
her chair. She did not eat much more.
Somehow there seemed to ybe q big
lump in her throat past which she
could not force the food. As the dusk
fell, the spirit of loneliness gripped
her and the tears pooled behind her
eyelids, ready to pour over her cheeks
at the least "joggle." Yet she was not
usually a 'cry-baby" girl.
Aunty Rose was watching her more
closely than Carolyn May supposed.
After her third cup Of tea she arose
and began quietly clearing the table.
The newcomer was noddlng in her
place, her blue eyes clouded with sleep
and unhappiness.
"It Is time for you to 90 to bed,
Car'lyn May" said Aunty Rose firmly.
II will show you the room Hannah
Stage had for her own when she was
girl"
'Thank you, Aunty Rose" said the
little girl humbly.
She picked up the bag and followed
the stately old woman into the back
hall and up the stairway into the ell.
Carolyn May saw that at the foot of
the stairs was door leading out upon
the porch where Prince was now NOV.
ing about uneaslly at the end of his
leash. She would have liked to say
'gOod night" to Prince, but 1t seemed
better not to mention this feeling to
Aunty Rose.
The fading hues of sunset IN the
sky gave the little girl plenty Of light
to undress by. She thought the room
very beautiful. too.
do you need any help. childf"
asked Mrs. Kennedy, standing In her
soldierly manner In the doorway. It
was dusky there and the little girl
could not see her face.
"Oh, no, ma'am," said Carolyn May
family.
every WELL" said Aunty Rose and
turned away. Carolyn May stood In
the middle Of the room and listened
to her descending footsteps. Aunty
Rose had not even hidden her good
night
Like a marooned sailor upon O des-
ert island the little girl went about
exploring the bedroom which was to
be hers-and which had once been her
mothers. That fact helped greatly.
Then she looked at the high, puffy bed.
"How ever can ! get Into 1T" sighed
Carolyn May.
She had to stand upon her tiptoes
In her funny little bedroom slippers to