Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-03-10

linen IOr more t1tU an nOuT CnSTe
was silence on the canal boat. silence
that was broken only by the night
| noises outside.
Then, extremely weak, the woman
prepared herself to go out. 1t took
| her long time to write a note she
had to leave for Tony. and when that
was finished, she divided the money
the doctor had left and stole softly
from the boat.
1t was in the full blaze of a morning
sun that Tonnibel opened her eyes and
looked around the cabin. The other
bunk was empty, and her mother was
not In the cabin. III her night clothes,
Tonnlbel went to the deck, shouting
the name, Edith" her strong young
voice repeating itself back from the
woods in echoes. Then she went down
stairs again and begin to dress
hastily, and every moment her fear
was growing. She spied the note
pinned to the lamp handle and stared
at 1t mutely as If dreading to know its
contents. but she tnpinned it with fin
gers that seemed to be all thumbs.
Her legs were shaking so she had to
sit down TO read 1t.
Tony DEAR" IT began.
I'm going to look mp Uriah. took
part Of the money. We might need
some. You can go to work some
where's if don't come back. Maybe
some day you'll see me. Leave the
boat where she Is so your daddy can
! find her. love you. darling. Remem-
Der about your swearing not to tell
yin your Pop, and don't tell I'm gone TO
| find him. MUMMY"
Tonnibel give a gasping sob. They
had all gone and left her stranded Il
a land Of strangers. Because it was
no longer her home, she began to love
the silent old canal boat, and to wish
with all her soul that Uriah and Edith
would come walking down the cabin
steps.
For long time she sat thinking,
looking out over the water, sometimes
with tears flooding her lids, sometimes
dry-eyed with fright. After while she
got up, took Gussie to the lake, where.
much to the little animals disgust.
she washed her with a scrubbiug
brush and soap. Then she carefully
washed herself, letting her feet and
legs hang over the end of the dock
until they, too. were as clean AS her
little friend
1t was while she was sitting there
with the pig in her arms that canoe
slipped under the overhanging trees
and came toward the canal boat swift
ly. She watched 1t coming with no
show Of interest. Directly In front of
her the paddle remained suspended.
and the boat came to a stop. Tomb
belS heart thumped, then seemed to
fall to the pit of her stomach. Here,
right before her. was the Salvation
man.
How do you do?" he said. smiling
at her. II see you're having nice
time"
Tonnibel shook her head
mo, J amt, and Gussle amt,
either" she replied almost sullenLy.
! BY skllful twist of the paddle,
Philip MacCauley drew the canoe close
to the dock
as this the boat You told me you
lived ona" he asked. climbing up be-
side her and holding the canoe fast by
rope.
"Yes, the Dirty Mary" answered
TonnibeI, with little catch In he.
voice. Now live on her, / mean to-
day"
what do you mean by now you
live on herr" he asked. "Isn't this
your home? Didn't you tell me that -
The girls dark head dropped. and
the shower of curis almost covered
Gussie to her short hind legs. Tears
dropped silently.
Philip touched her gently, where's
your motherT he questioned
She lifted her head and looked al
him through her tears. She wanted
to confide In some one--yes, she did
want to tell him, but the oath she'd
taken on the gentle Christ flashed into
her mind.
"She amt home just at present,
she replied in low voice.
Oh how she wanted to ask him II
ne knew of any work she could dol
..-sAsff he had read her thoughts, ht
, asked abruptly. "Can do anything
!, for your brought you this"
! She made slight movement witt
, her head but accepted the card he ex
a tended.
|, Then, there drifted over the quie
summer day the tolling of the chimes
}, from the university clock on tn,
!. campus of Cornell. She bent forward
to listen. It struck one and drawn'
!. her feet from the water. she got up