The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-04-30


walking in upon her seclusion quite as a
matter of course. Yet. no, not altogether
so. Tommy swayed awkwardly from side
to side an instant, then, with a lift of the
hat and a scrape meant for bow, turned
ae red as the Giant of Battles, and drop
ped upon the other bench, also upon her
shawl.
"This is Miss Denver, children and
Tommy almost stammered in his embar-
rassment. "Come and speak to the
lady
To rise and leave would be an acknowl-
edgement of weakness; so, outwardly cool,
yet inwardly burning, Ms,n1a kept her
seat, turning her attention to the children.
A pink-dressed brood, each one trihe
| overgrown, like their father, staring at
her with his eyes. and making not the
slightest pretence of manners.
"Who fastened your clothes ?" she
asked, seeing that Amanda's and Lucy's
buttons began too soon and ended too
late
"The woman we board with
you're big enough TO fasten them
for each other. Come here both of you
After having Strengthened their backs,
as Lucy afterward expressed it, she dis
missed Amanda with, Now look after
your little sister, and turn your toes out.
What's that on your dress ?" to the third
girl, who singularly enough, reminded her
of her own child-seH.
81 don't know"
'It's shame to have that pretty suit
spoiled. l wonder if ammonia won't take
it out What's your name?'
Melinda Denver Whittlesy."
Melinda senior actually flushed. my
names Melinda Denver did you know it
Keep your fingers ont of your mouth - and
the sharpness of the tones betrayed unusu-
al emotion of some sort
Very shortly the oldest girls strayed
away Melinda said at once she must GO,
but taking Winnie, who had got something
in her shoe, delayed her. There proved to
be nothing in that tiny pink boot. A hole
in her stocking, through which peeped q
toe as pink, caused the difficulty. Miss
Denver rubbed the little foot, and was SO
long getting on the pink boot that the
blonde, baby-head nodded against her
breast, and at length found itself Graded
there.
While Melinda sat there with Tommy's
youngest in her arms, and the man himself
opposite, there came upon her a feeling
that just such a scene was enacted once
before. 1t was ike the turning back Of .
leaf and finding the same passage, word
for word, upon it. She was almost tempt
ed to speak to her companion, and ask him
about it, when all of a sudden there was a
hutter of pink dresses, and Amanda
and Lucy appeared before them, breath
less
''Is Melinda here ?''
She was not, that was quite certain.
Tommy took himself of, listening to their
hurried explanations as he went, and the
only woman in the world he ever loved was
left alone with his baby.
''The trio returned without the missing
one. Thought there VIZ s chance of find
ing her there. Their united voices arous-
ing Winnie, Melinda gave her into Tom
my's arms.
81 ii go and see what 1 can do she
said, with the mien of conqueror Chill
dren, you come right along with me-
Your to tell me just where you went, and
when you missed her. Tommy, you stay
about here, there's a probability of her
finding her way back"
Having issued her orders-short, sharp
Observation-Disclosures hurried away; to be
met by Tommy half an hour later, COM
pletely crest-fallen. Her search had fail
ed. Tommy looked ready to drop; the
girls sobbed bitterly, declaring "M'lin"
was drowned in the river; while Melinda
scanned the horizon for a guard whom she
had not already consulted.
Suddenly voice: Madam. there's a
little lost girl at the mansion, dressed like
these is she yours ?"
Eyes, thank you, SIR" replied Miss Den
yer, promptly, and headed the party that
went toward the place indicated as fast as
feet could carry them.
1--WE all go the same way" said Melinda,
holding fast her namesake's hand, "and
may as well start home at once.''
'One word, Melinda. When the gen
tleman asked was this your little girl, you
said yes is she ?"
''Of course" replied Miss Denver, her
cheeks in a blaze. these children need
somebody to take care of them, and I'm the
one to do it,
Melinda Denver excuse me, Mrs.
Whittlesy, l should say-I'm surprised;
completely so!' and the light of the new
society shook her head sadly. "You told
me again and again you never meant to
marry that man."
81 haven't married him. I've married
the children that's ALL"
Still, Tommy looks as radiant as if it
were himself.
IF there IS anything on earth that beats