The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1922-03-09

BY MARY ). HITCHCOCK.

q 1871, By Mcclure Newspaper syndicate
Angela put the pan Of biscuits down
on the table and looked out OF the pam
try window. At the foot Of the lane
Amos was talking with the rural de-
livery man. Angela's sigh became a
sob. How much OF her present un-
happiness would be gossip tomorrow
A tear splashed onto the bread board
another and another. Angela put
her head down on the table and cried
Summer heat, the time when ro-
nance calls to the blood; blood heat,
the period when desire sings through
ones veins-Angela had known each,
and now II was zerol
at wouldn't be so hard II had
someone else to love-a baby, now"
But the thought was fresh torture
to Angela's bruised heart. Hadn't she
hoped from the first that there would
be children at Meadowbrook7 Hopes
had become prayers and heaven had
been deaf! That was the added bitter
ness to her present grief. If Amos left
her for that other woman there would
be nothing but the long, lonely years !
Angela knew. She had matured early,
faded soon, and she had none of Lina's
plump prettiness In her own lean, lank
shapelessness.
And Lima Summers. who had
laughed at the love of two men, was
claiming Amos for her own.
"what you going to do about 1t. now
that you know about usf" Amos had
demanded. There amt no use our
trying to 60 on same as II you'd
never found II out. You'll have to
say"
But Angela had said nothing. Not
then nor through the long night which
she had spent In the spare room. In
the morning she had come to the
homely tasks Of every day.
And out In the lane Amos was turn
ing toward the house-walking quick
ly, as he was apt to do when excited
or troubled.
Lima amt expected to live the day
out" he cried, standing white and
anxious eyed In the doorway. "She
went to a dance at the Corners last
night and her husband was there. They
say he tried to make her go home with
him, but she jumped into an auto and
tried to run it herself. I've got to
60"
1t was dark when the sound Of
wheels reused Angela to activity
again. All day she had seemed dead,
yet conscious of the underlying throb
of heart-ache-misery that had tor
tured and drained her Of her strength.
But she asked no questions as Amos
stumbled across the lamp-light and
called to her. 'Tve come over after
you; Tn going right back"
mel You came for mew
"Pm banking on you standing by
her. Just because she's a woman, too.
Maybe she won't lest till we get there,
but l told her husband you'd come"
"Her husband. Is he-?"
"Been there all day-and all worked
up now she's going so fastl"
I'm sorry for all of you" Angela
found courage, and voice in the same
minute. "She's done all she can to
any of us, but / can't forget"
LAST nightr' Amos interrupted. 81
know-I said things-but l thought,
seeing as there's a baby"
"Baby" Angela grew tense.
Didn't you know? She ran away
| from her husband because she didn't
want to be tied down to children. He
was trying to make her go home with
him on account of the other little girl
he didn't know how to take care of
himself. Seems like she didn't run
away soon enough, though, and"
But Angela was no longer listening.
In a minute she was slipping into her
coat, pulling on her hat.
Hurry" she commanded, and again
as they walked through the door-yard
to the waiting wagon-"Hurry
was breathing out her life two men
and a woman watched her 'labored
easping. Angela moved close to the
tiny nub Of humanity that had slipped
in as Lima was called out. Amos
! opened the door as the doctor re-
turned from below stairs.
The woman on the bed opened heavy
lidded eyes.
"I've made a lot of trouble-for all
Of you" Her gaze left the others
fastened itself on the husband who
leaned over her. I'm sorry" With
an effort she turned her head toward
Angela IF l had been like you.
You're born mother Could you-f'
The dim eyes fnished>the question.
'T've been promising God I'd be a
good mother-if-oh. want to be -
Angela cried.
Queer. you amt never said word