Seven Miles to Arden

n, Patsy's mind went racing off to conjure up all the possible things Billy and t

w after vagabond company as a thirsty dog trails water; and who could slake that thirst better than the tinker? For a second

tary little figure, coming toward them, supported by a mammoth pilgrim staff. It was a boy, apparently conscious of but the one car-theirs; and he swerved to their left-straight into the path of the car behind-to let them

the roadside beyond. The nightmarish suddenness of it all held them speechless while they gaped at the car's driver, who gave one bac

ime in my life I've seen a mach

cry: "Holy Mary keep him! 'T

red about them; and Dempsy Carter-being a goo

then to Dempsy Carter, "Aye, make a prayer for him; but

Jessup stayed behind with her, and together they tried to lift the still, little figure onto some rugs and pillows. Then

y to the child and back to Patsy again, her face full of harboring tenderness and a great suffer

over the border," Patsy whispered. "Maybe he's there in the gray dusk-a wee shadow soul w

u happen to

. "Ochone! poor wee Joseph! did I send ye forth on a brave adventure only to bring ye to this?" Her finge

be moved at once to the nearest house. Somehow they lifted Joseph and held him so as to break the jar of stone

led about, turning down the bed and bringing what comforts the house possessed. The doctor stayed as long as he could; but t

ed without Joseph's parents; they had gone to to

ow ye had best all go your wa

it, wonderingly. "I thought you s

gs ye think have to be done to-day till they're matched against a sudden greater need. Chance and I star

gripped Patsy's shook the least bit. "I wanted to say something: If-if you should ever happen to run up

blot out the enveloping tragedy along with her surroundings. "Faith! what is the meaning of life, anyway? Until to-day it has seemed such a simple, straight road; I could have drawn a fair map of it myself

g day she sat as motionless as everything else in the room. The farm wife came and went softly, in between

e lad might come back while I was gone and find n

e stand beside the bed. Something in her movements or the flickering light must h

ntil the mother came and guard the mysterious borderland against

isp of a smil

the year?" Her voice was full of gentle, teasing laughter, the voice of a mother playing with a very little c

ramed a silent "No." In another mom

of the vesper sparrow. From the kitchen came the occasional rattle of dish or pan and the far-away mur

adn't found you-after all-there was-so many ways-you might ha' went." He moistened his lips. "At

d her lips. Something clutched at her throat that seemed t

you. Si Perkins said-as how they'd soon forget-if you just stayed away long enough." T

ust humor it. "All right, laddy, let's keep on. Maybe we'll be f

r-have it a big-big cit

r built; and the towers will be touching the clouds, and the streets will be w

circu

t the entrance there will be a

me at last through the open windows: the

by his bed. His eyes sparkled. "They are-woppin' big columns-an'

nt the way i

e boy's voice lagge

'd best h

ow, and there was

in' the city gat

the gat

t crept up

he let

ddy; I might be too

ou. I-I wouldn't like-go

ibrant with gladness. "Now, who do you think will b

s, splendid, tall columns they were,

ing light; but there was only one he saw, a

t's mother-sur

n the braided rug outside the spare c

e lad that day, the tale that brought him-yonder. And if it isn't

our keep; he sawed and split nigh a cord o' wood that night-must ha' taken him 'most till mornin'." She paused

hat he wanted

toneless voice: "I cal'ate I couldn't hate you. I never

we've been traveling since we were born, the bit that lies over the hill and out of sight?" She took the woman's work-wo

pilgrim staff was in her hands, and she stopped on the

rected Patsy in terms of his own home-going: "K

he cross-roads; and chance scored another

father went back to

" inquired Jo

ep

he boy belie

, I

'ate we've g

e th

t seein' her; nuthin' to give the

ugh to know I couldn't tell on any one who'd been good to-" He broke off with a cough. "And what's more, do you think any

f her quest. The tinker had disappeared as completely as if the earth had swallowed him, leaving behind no reason for his going, no hope of his coming again; Billy Burgeman was still but a flimsy pr

nd herself gazing through half-shut eyes at a strange lad-a lad of twelve-who walked ahead for a space, carrying two great white roses; and once she glanced up quickly and saw

ator laden with washing and twins for its small conductor, a mite of a g

strain of the burden. "How

ashin' was small; an' they both growed so gradual I

children a

s babies, then it's babies." She stopped and clasped her hands after the fashion of an ancient grandmother totterin

unloaded the twins and the wash

k will only turn stage-manager," she thought, "and put Billy Burgeman in the cen

ill pulling the wires; and accordingly h

a familiar figure. There was the Balmacaan coat and the round plush hat; and to Patsy, impulsive a