Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1921-02-10

BY RUsY d. MARTIN.

0AG sA"uyS put dSluC TIE DSSL AOa4 "a
the baking for this sombre-eyed small
customer who came at twilight to the
little house room where Rose Mary
kept her shop Of homemade candles
and bread and cakes.
'T'm glad to hear that Mr.. ArmItage
is better" she said quietly.
"oh, but yesg He sits by the fire
todayi"
81 guess you are good cake eater,
Henri"
The boys lip trembled and Rose
Mary thought he was going to speak,
but with bare thanks he took his loaf
and went out into the wind-swept
shadows.
For moment Rose Mary's fair head
bent over hands that she cIenched on
the counter edge.
Ben Ben Armftage! What makes
you another man toward me?" she
breathed intensely. "What makes you
lavish all your kindness On this lad2
want my sharev
But she did not mix salt, tears with
bread dough and candy sugar with
counter waiting. Only the second night
when Henri failed to come for bread
at the accustomed time Rose Mary
kept the shop open and watched
anxiously. When the village doctor
pushed open the door her smile was
forced.
II haven't come to scare you out of
your wits. girlP he laughed "But
Henri has the measles hard enough to
need care tonight. The youngster lied
when he said he had had them, be-
cause he was bound to stay with Armi-
tage through his siege. Now Henrl's
down and Armie isn't at to watch out.
I'm going to Ten Acre Corner to make
some calls and I'll bring Mrs. Jackson
on the way back. But Henri keeps
calling for you and / don't see any
reason you shouldn't stay with him
while I'm at Ten Acre"
Rose Mary's strong fingers curled
over the counter edge.
"DOes Ben know you're asking meT'
''NOt a word! He-See here, Rose
Mary. Ben'H hump by the fire, and
the lad needs you"
, "I'll 60" said Rose Mary throwing |
on outer garments. Her only moment |
OF hesitation was with her hand raised |
to knock at the Armitage door.
"EntrezW called Ben's voice when |
she did knock.
Rose Mary pushed the door, and en-
tered the room. A man sat in deep |
chair by the hearth, but he did not
turn his face to greet her. Henri lay |
on narrow bed beyond the man,
muttering YEARLY in French.
doctor Gales sent me to stay with
Henri for an hour" said Rose Mary.
The lad cried out gladly, and she
crossed the room to where he lay and
Quieted him. Once she glanced to-
ward Ben Armitage. Would he new
er turn nor speak to her? She had
not seen him so near as this since he
away to overseas service,
leaving her to know without words
that he loved her.
And then after the tense months
Of anxiousness, and the other months
Of Impotence, Ben Armitage had re-
turned with small French Henri. and
lived alone with him In the low farm
house, receiving old friends with nom
chalaht GOODNESS, refusing bis old ma
chine shop position while he roamed
the woods beyond the fallow farm
aelds. He seemed to have forgotten
Rose Mary's very existence-she
wondered sometimes Il b even knew
That Henri came to her little house
shop for bread and cakes and candy.
The lad turnad and cried out end
started up Ia his tFoablod sleep. Az
Rose Mary lnelt to dafae Mn she
heard Ben rise from the chair. There
was q crash end cry. Ths man had
run squarely into the small table on
which the lamp stood For an instant
lie room WAS IN daPhnesG and then
/ long tongue Of dame ieaped up.
Rose Mary grabbed a heavy rug and
imotnered out the nPe that spread [
With the spreading Oh.
II seem 20 have made q messI"
aid Ben. slowly.
TO Rose Mary his voice seemed 20
.Ome from q faE distance. She felt
Ter way 70 throw some sticks On tha
loarth embers and when they Jared N
p she went to where be stoad oEer
he charTed, singad place.
why. didn't yOu zee that tabssr
be asked
The mans face twisted gFfmly.
y cant zee anything bat the ssaEs
D my eWn had. The blamed maalesl
inishsd what the blooming gas had
III When Henri cries out Ike that :
e's seeing things we saw over there. {
nd started Ter him. I thought I 6
nd things properly located IN this
hack"
But Rose Mary had heard only the
rat sentence.
"Benl e that why you didn't come &
traight to met Is that why?" Q