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Leslie and Allison!

Julia Cloud stood gazing out into the west, while the whole sky lightened and sank away into dusk with a burning ruby on its breast The gloohtness, and joy flooded her soul

Leslie and Allison! What round little warm bodies they had, and what delicate, refined faces! They had not seesters, practical and grasping to the last extreme after the led sunbeahter rippled like brooks in summer, and their hands were like bands that bound the heart Cookies and stories and long walks and picnics! Those hadthe woods andfairy stories It had been like a brief return of her old childish days with her boy comrade She reone back to their Western home, and the little printed childish letters that caotten

But not really forgotten, after all For some link of tenderness must still remain that they should think of her now after all these years of separation, and want to visit her They remembered the cookies! She smiled reminiscently What a batch of delectable cookies she would ! Why, to-ht! And there was a great deal to be done!

She turned froin her preparations There were the two front rooms up-stairs to be prepared She would open the s at once, and let the air sweep through all night They had been shut up a long tiht the invalid down-stairs to the little sitting-room the last fewThe second story had been practically unused except when Ellen or the children were over for a day or two

She hurried up-stairs, and lit the gas in the two roo out fresh sheets and counterpanes She could dust and run the carpet-sweeper over the rooht away, and have them in order; and that would save ti cheerful to do onceshe had yielded--as once that afternoon she alone hoht not have reached her till after the children had coain!