The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-05-07

and soft and real. She leaves me- little
time for building air castles.
You see, I love the child as if she were
my own. For she came to me ono day I
about tours years ago wee little baby
thing. curled up in q heap on my door
step when I went to open the shutters.
Wherever she came from never knew.
Toddles never explained; she Just stretch
ed no her little fat arms to me and gurg
led Tod cd. doddle,"" and that. was her
sole introduction.
twas surmised that the child had |
been dropped BY some travelling circus
passing through the town, and l had ex-
cellent neighborly advice about putting
the treasure in the foundling hospital.
But one seldom takes good advice, and I
didn't. Nj.
To tell the truth. I grew So attached
to the child that I should even have been
wicked eaough, I fear, to regret any ones
turning up to claim it. But that's not
at all likely no more likely now, after SO
many years--no, not at all likely; no
more likely than that Richard and I
should ever meet again in this world.
And that--that is among the things that
can never happen.
It was on this wise our parting:
Richards mother was cid and feeble
and miserely. She'd spent good deal
of money on him-sent him to college,
and expected, folks said, to make some
thing of him." She always expected to
get her moneys worth out of her tran
sactions. Richard held her in sort of
awe somehow, though she was little
wizened old woman that he could have
lifted with his left band. But I liked
him for respecting his mother.
One day we two were sitting at twi-
light talking of tho future dreamily, as
was our wont. rf,G Ii jiyat.E a&L af
my little ore, said Richard. putting
his arms about me; lit half seemed too
bright to ever be-" Iy.s, g. 80. \
"Ever bel" I echoed. sob, Richard,
if you talk that way it will never be-"
Richard smiled, but his face grew over
cast. felt that storm was coming.
"Well2"I queried, seeing that he sat
brooding and silent. -s. s-s.. ...-..
s.Darling' he said. soothingly, II knew
it would come hardly to you; but how can
go against my mother2 Her poor old
heart is bound up in me, Jeanette. and
she will never hear TOTO anything
that u.r ...,.
THAT seems to lower you," added,
In steely voice that seemed to cut its
way out of my heart like keen, cold
knife. .e 81
20, am coward-a poltroon!' cried
Richard, wringing his hands. II was
born to blng trouble on those I love.
Who. who shall I leave to suffer for me
now, Jeannette2" .a..... * !
1.-THE one who will say least about it,"
answered, hardly. My heart was throb-
bling heavily, like the clock that ticks the
hour of execution; but I made no outcry,
and we parted IL that final parting ST.
lentlv. And have lived silently ever
| since. .xlF-.
One year after that I heard that Rich
| ards mother was dead, and then that he
had married: who, knew not-who, I
cared not. He had married another
woman while my last words were yet
ringing in his ears-nght there, before
the face. of the living heaven, married
another woman, and swore to love and
cherish her, as he had often vowed to love
and cherish me! M........,
But did not seem to feel this blow az
1had felt our parting. ! just flung him
out of my heart there and then, and my
love and my silence vanished. locked
into the face of my misery with smile
and took this little shop in the village
and worked early and late, and made il
thrive. Then, two years later. came my
little Toddles to me, sitting like lily
on my doorstep, as if some angel Of
peace had dropped her there. l have
named her Theresa, but Toddles has
always been her own pet name for her.
self, ana like it because it is hers.
The child has brought me peace. And
I feel 20 vengeance against any one now
Nor do rejoice that Richards wife il
said to have turned out ill, and spent thu
wealth she brought him. -....
But I had forgotten the shop in al
this reverie and "reminiscences.
There was sharp twang of the little
bell, and I heard heavy step in tn.
doorway. set down my coffee-cu;
hastily, and hurried in to confront
reat muscular fellow with big beare
and a slouched hat, whose presence
seemed fairly to wi pc out the little shop
This was rather different type from
my usual customers, and I was it'll,
shy of him. He hesitated, and seemed
bewildered when spoke to him-mel
never do get used to shopping i
was some time before I quite made GU
what he wanted. It was some sort O
wooden goods-a scarf or kerchief,
think. These were not very salable stool
just now, and had put the box contain
ing them out of sight somewhere. Will,
I rummaged about, the stranger stood /,
the doorway, watching me in way
did not like; perhaps he wanted to stea
something. He looked needy enough
and SHABBY enough. -. II.
"Oh, here they are at last,' said I
eagerly, handing down the package from
a high and dusty shelf. ~a
The man did rot seem to hear me. II
was looking at Toddles, darling abou
like butterfly outside.
"Whose child is that?" said he, ab
ruptly.
, 1t was an impudent question, and
felt my blood flush up holly for me
} ment. But I reflected that this ma
looked wayworn and weary; perhaps h