Suzanna Stirs the Fire

ough her vivid personality, color to him. Big, hearty, he was not picturesque. He seemed to take note of realities more than she did.

art. She found a quick, tender language springing fro

at he wanted that which she could not give him. So she pl

rew his feet from the window sill and went as slowly down the hall. He opened the door to Suzann

, Reynolds,"

lds hospitably, but totally at a loss as he looked a

for a moment blinking in the light streaming from the ha

eynolds, to stay. I've ad

rs. Reynolds could say as she wiped h

, you think you'd like a

. I love my little home; but first I don't want Mrs. Reynolds to throw her apron over her head at your slams. And second it'

w." His tone was belligerent. Mrs. Reynolds threw him a withering look. "Here, Suzanna," she said; "give me the bag, an

Mrs. Reynolds pulled forward. Then she went on: "You know, Reynolds, you do slam doors and make Mrs. Reynolds cry. And you know, anyway, you

cries he remembers to love her even if he's on the way upstairs to the attic to his wonderful Machine, and he puts his arm

hoes and slamming them down, as he always did under stress. "Women, my dear, will make up all sorts of stories. If I did

ow that, Reynolds. I was born in this town an

and knocked the ashes from his pipe, and ran his fingers through his thick ha

exposed a tender home method of salving hurts, and her listener, as near as his nature could, appropriated the method. He rose from his chair and went softly to his wife

than that, Reynolds," she denied, almost indignantl

to doing what the little lass suggests." And with the words, his big arm went clumsily about h

to stoop to hear. "It's that I'm achin' all the time to hold one in my arms; and always to y

in a new understanding. "I didn't know, Margie, that yo

g to stay with you forever'n forever, only except when my mother that u

across the street brought the hot tears to Suzanna's eyes, but s

way from under the lace on my pink dress, can't you?" She went

zanna. Did you tell your mother you

e her a

ons to her husband: "You run across to the little home while I put her to bed." T

do anything to mak

s the words floated down:

eynolds heard only the exquisite title. She li

p the stairs to the little girl. "This night you sleep un