The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-11

drawing q gO-caft Dehlnu ner.
1--WE got to go downtown and
wonder If can't leave Baby Ruth IN
here with you for little while. III
be right back" the young woman said.
aWhy yes" But the slight hesi-
fancy In Lydia's voice would have
6arned Mrs. Knapp that she was In
truding IL she had not been SO eager
10 get her child cared for In order
hhat she might have greater freedom.
lShe gave a hasty tuck to Baby
iRuthie's blanket, snatched Off her bon
net, kissed her, smiled at Lydia and
was gone.
Lydia Lane was an old maid who
lived alone. Naturally she knew moth
ing about infants except the little she
had culled from taking care OF her
neighbors' children. She was well &C
auainted with Baby Ruthie for she
had taken care Of her many mes and
ordinarily she did not object to such
a task. But today Lydia was beset by
many difficulties. She had promised
90 bake q cake for the church supper.
she had promised to read to old Mrs.
Rmpey for an hour, she had promised
60 take some jelly to Anna Holt and
she had promised to hem some nap
kins for Della Combs who hated to
sew. All these promises must be full
fflled somehow, during the afternoon
and it was three O'Clock and she had
not even begun TO make her cake. This
was because she had had company to
lunch. Her brothers wife had one Of
her customary headaches and had sent
the three boys over to Aunt Lydia's
10 get the MONDAY meal. Added to all
this Lydia was feeling. bit tired for
she had been up late the night before
helping her niece, Betty. finish dress
which she wanted to take away with
her when she left on the morning
train for a visit with a school friend.
No sooner had Mrs. Knapp departed
than Baby Ruthie decided she wanted
! to get out of the go-cart. This meant
trouble. for Baby Ruthie was Unto"
everything quicker than wink" ac-
cording to Lyiia's previous knowledge
OF her. She upset the coal scuttle and
investigated the contents Of a cup
board before gentle Lydia could In
terfere. When reproved she howled
rebelliously. 1t was while she was
bowling the highest that the door-bell
rang.
Lydia hurried to answer it and
found q shining-faced little 10y who
smiled up at her with big blue eyes.
Here's d note from motherl' r he
said In loud, sweet voice and he
but 10 Eyu ls,Tdsd DapeF
She wants an answer right back. he
added
Lydia, distracted by strange sounds
from the kitchen. opened the note and
read: Dear Lydia--I want you TO
come to dinner tonight and meet an
old friend OF yoLrs Alice Burdette."
aJusf wait an instant. Tommy, /
Lydia fed to the kitchen and found
Baby Ruthie trying to climb on the
table. She snatched up the child and
hurried back to the door.
"T-Tm sorry. Tommy. but I'm
afraid-yon'd better tell your mother
I can't come" she said breathlessly.
.sThere's going to be, ice cream
Tommy told her confidentially.
Lydi; tried to get a small clutching
hand out of her streaming hair; she
smiled wanly.
II know. am sorry. Tell your
mother | am and-and thank her for
asking me-
Tommy ran away and Lydia re-
turned to her problems. In the kitchen
she set Baby Ruthie down on the
floor, gave her an eggbeater to play
with and again glanced at the note.
This time she read something into
the words that had escaped her be-
fore.
An old friend! Why, that was Hosea
Keator, of course. She had heard
about his being at the Burdette's for
a brief visit. Once long ago before
Hosea went West she had "gone with
him some" that was the village way
OF saying that she had had chance
TO marry Hosea Keator. But her ia.
ther was not In good health and need
ed her and she had felt 1t her duty to
stay at home. So she had lost all
track Of Hosea for years. Now her
father was gone and she was alone
and Hosea was back once more. Well.
1t didn't matter. She was an old WON.
an now, or at least felt like one. and
maybe it was better that Hosea should
not see her with her gray hair and
faded cheeks; better that he should
remember her as the pretty girl he
had once known. Her lips quivered
and tears filled her eyes; for love is
love no matter how long 1t goes IN
nourished. But at that moment Baby
Ruthie broke the eggbeater.
Lydia. heating eggs with fork and
at the same time trying to keep her
charge from climbing into the sink
thought drearily Of the years TO come
which. like the oast ones, would he
full of little duties performed like
those OF today. She was getting tired
Really she must not promise to do so
much. yet how could she refuse when
mamie asked her to do things? The