Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1915 — TIE BUY [ARTICLE]

TIE BUY

By OLIVE BARTON.

(Copyright, mt by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) The great singes was spending her short vacation In an unusual way. It might be said also that it had been none of her own choosing. What did she know of baby food, or mending holes in Johnnie’s stockings as big as buckwheat cakes? How did she know how many days Flossie should wear the same petticoat? The whole three were in bed now, and the great singer relaxed luxuriously. She knew no one in the town, so there was little danger of callers. Her thoughts were as busy as the fingers of‘the little maid of all work, now doing dishes audibly In the kitchen. She was thinking how odd It was for her to be there at all. - A. telegram had been responsible* Sister Jane and her husband William had been called away by trouble in William’s family. . There had been no one else to ask to look after the children. She, had never even seen ther baby!

Steps suddenly sounded on the little front porch like so many bangs on a bass drum. Tillie, out In the kitchen, heard and was at the door before her temporary mistress could stop her. “Is this where Miss Farrell is staying?” asked a man’s voice. “Joe!” exclaimed Miss Farrell impatiently. “Will he never learn that there Isn’t a bit of use Jn chasing after me, wherever I go?" Joe stamped off the snow noisily and came inside. He came in big, glowing and clumsy. The little room seemed full before he got farther than the doorway. Peggy; In her chair before the fire, half turned—Just enough for him to see the top-loftical expression.

“Peggy!” he exclaimed delightedly, coming forward. "Good evening, Joe,” evenly. “You chose a nice night to come so far. Won’t you sit down?” ’Joe sat down on the other side of the fireplace. “You look awfully . sweet, Peggy. Aren’t you glad to see me?” .

“No!” deliberately. “I—l wouldn’t have come—only I thought of something after—after we’d been talking the other night." She didn't answer. “You see,” shifting uneasily, “if you wopld marry me, you could go ahead with your singing Just the same as ever. You could sing Just as well as Margaret Farrell Sturtevant, as you can as Margaret Farrell. Now, couldn’t you? That wouldn’t be interfering with your career, would it? and, Peggy, you used to care a little for me!"

She watched the fire a minute, relenting. “It’s hard to be crosß with you, Joe.* You just won’t let people, will you? I’m going to be extra nice now and explain. "You see, Joe, your plan won't work for a hundred reasons. You love a home. You’re a regular home man if there ever was one. I can’t make a home. It isn’t in me. I hate everything about a house. I love my musle better than anything on earth, and I can’t give it up.” What she really meant was that the Intoxication of public homage was a sensation she would not care to renounce.

“All right, my girl, you’re the doctor!” Joe got up and locked at his watch. “I didn’t suppose it was mnch use, but I thought I’d make one more try. ,1 won’t bother yon again, ever. Good-night, Peggy, I’ve jnrt time for my train.” He was gone! Peggy tamed out the light and sat watching the fire. “I guess I’Jl get the baby her bottle and go to bed,” she pawned. A week passed. Peggy was getting expert on mending kneeleas stockings, sorting clothes and bathing babies. It never seemed to be a bother any more. Then one night the baby got sick, very sick.

The doctor and trained nurse hastily summoned took it philosophically, saying there was sn equal chance of life and death. But Peggy, a poor, white; stricken thing, never leaving the side of the little crib, thought the world waa ending. Morning brought a change for the bettor. The baby would live! Peggy slipped silently away to her room and sat thinking in the cold, wintry dawn. Mn Joseph Btnrtevant was just settling himself for a nice winter’s morning nap. The telephone rang. He wan awake in an instant. “Is that you, Joe? This Is Peggy! I have changed my mind. And that’s all Pm going to ten yon until yon come out and hear for yourself!”