Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-10-29
THE LITTLEaWAIF.

Mr. Jacob Pinkham and Mrs Adele
Bronson were near neighbors, and, as
Jacob was a bachelor and Adele was
widow, and both were about of an age,
many thought it little surprising they
did not marry ; others thought it would
be still more surprising If they did, as
Jacob was, in their opinion, confirmed
bachelor. To be sure he was yet in the
forties, and looked younger than many
others of His age, but his habits and
tastes were those of recluse. and the
solemn, moro.e, old housekeeper who
had lived with him since the death of
his mother, ten years before, was calcu-
lated to repress rather than encourage
any attempt at sociability.
He was well aware that his neighbor,
the bright, cheerful little widow, was
quite the opposite of that old ogre, and
the moments he. lad passed IN her COM
pany he recalled as pleasant ones, still
he would never put himself out of the
way in the least to meet her. Once or
twice he had Overtaken her in a rain
storm, and offered her the greater share
of his umbrella, and they had enjoyed q
chat, the abrupt ending of which, as
they reached her gate, he greatly re-
gretted Indeed, to have continued
walking in the rain all day in such
companionship would have been agreea-
ble to him. But he went home and set
| tied down in the same old routine tC
| which he had been SO long accustomed,
and the widow kept along in her OWL
| cheerful course, neither seeking the ia
vor Of the other. He passed her house
daily, and sometimes number OF times
in day, and they bowed to each Other
the same as to other acqualntances, bu
seldom exchanged a word and If any
one had limited to either that they woul(
one day become intimately acquainted
the possibility of such thing would
have been denied But in spite of thel
lncredulitv, such a state OF affairs wa
brought about in the following way
One dav a terrible railroad accident oc
cured in the city, caused 10y the engln
Of one train running into the rear ca
of another. and killing and manglin!
thirty or forty persons. Jacob hap
pencil to be near by at the time, am
made himself very useful in caring 70
the unfortunate. In the midst of 1t a
lovely babe was thrust INTO his arms
and there it clung about his neck wit
a teracitv that compelled him to car
for it, The train man said that 1t bt
longed to lady and gentleman VII
tl.en lav dead at their feet. The sigh
of the mancled bodies of the parent
and the helpless little creature that ha
seemingly come to him for protection
awakened els sympathy. and Ae believe
it his duty to. DO all he could for it.
Il will take it right home" he sale
and leave il with my housekeeper unit
| can hire some one TO come INTO Il
house and take careAof it
SO he walked home with the babe
his arms. rather curious proceedir
: for a bachelor, he thought, and, whe
h, reached the door, his housekeep
met him with anything Int pieasal
greeting.
, Il shall not take care OF that hit
brat. she said, ''nor could live III Il
house with its squallins So you HI
!, better take IT. M. Jacobs, over 10 Nh
z Bronson she has nothing ID partlcul
a 70 do. ana il won't hurt her TO ta
care of il.
Here was a dilemma. He could u
bear 10 see the child suffer, nor toi
few minutes did he think money cou
hire him TO take II over 10 the @.do
But he was III hurry TO 60 back
tne scene 81 the wreck. SO he did as
: was advised, asking heT 10 take II
4 charge until he could And some o
q who wanted it. and whom he would =
u llherallv for caring for II.
~ ~ Mrs. Bronson assured hin she Woi
I. he delighted to take 1t. She had thoue
- sometime OF adopting child, and
j. only fear was. IN this case. that al
Z. ste became greatly attached to II SO
~ one would claim II.
% Mr.. Jacobs was quite pleased 70 .
- so good harbor for the little stTaAe
no still he did not like the idea of CIV
%. il up entirely he was conscious I
he had conceived something OF nA
for II in the few moments Its u