lifted her box from the
table. "Dear old Checkers," she said to herself, with a sigh,
preparing the powder; "how he loves me! His first thought was to keep
the news from me for fear I would worry." She took the draught and
sank back upon the pillow--"to be loved as he loves me--Oh, Checkers!
mother!!"

The afternoon wore on towards dusk. Sadie went about her household
duties, humming softly. Once she thought she heard Pert call, but as
the sound was not repeated, she fancied herself mistaken, and sat down
to read, happy in the thought that Pert must have fallen asleep. It
seemed to be blowing up cooler; the wind had shifted, and a few dark
clouds were rolling up from the west, with distant rumbling.

About five o'clock Mr. and Mrs. Barlow drove up in a buggy. Mrs.
Barlow got out, and Mr. Barlow drove on toward the store. Sadie saw
them and opened the door.

"Is Pert here, Sadie?" was the question which greeted her. "We 've
been up to her house, and 'Mandy' said she had come down here."

"Yes; she 's here, Auntie Barlow."

"The poor little thing! My husband only told me the news this
afternoon; he 's been down street all morning, and I wanted to see her
and comfort her."

"She wasn't feeling well," explained Sadie, "and after dinner I sent
her up stairs to sleep. You 'll find her in the bedroom over the
parlor. She must be awake by this time."

"Very well; I 'll go up." Mrs. Barlow ascended the stairs.

Sadie went to the window and looked out upon the gathering storm, now
vividly foretold by constant flashes of jagged lightning. Suddenly she
started, and stood transfixed, as though turned to ice with a chilling
horror. There had come to her ears from above an awful cry of bitter
anguish, quickly followed by a jarring, muffled sound, as of a falling
body.

"Auntie Barlow!" she gasped, regaining her faculties with a superhuman
effort, and rushing blindly toward the stairs. Staggering up with the
aid of the banister, she reached the landing and entered the room
beyond. There, prostrate upon the floor, lay Mrs. Barlow in a
deathlike swoon. Upon the bed lay the lifeless body of poor little
Pert--her pure, white soul had flown.

There are some who faint at the thought of a thing, but are brave when
they meet it face to face. Such a one was Sadie. She realized the
situation at a glance; and though the awfulness of it benumbed her, she
did, dry-eyed and mechanically, what she knew must be done.