The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-04-11
RAYMOND buttoncd up his overcoat

| fore him of Little Eot trlldging his way
back 10 the hotel in a the snow at an
hour wien other children were costly
tucked away in bed, and his heart was
| tillei with pity at the contrast.
poor little chap!" he said again,
with sigh. "Tll give him good no
| tice."
The next night found him at the Va
rie;ies behind the scenes. At his re-
quest he was taken by the manager to
the dressing room that Little Dot occu-
pied, and introduced to him. The child
was with his mother waiting TO ego
on
sits the gentleman who was kind
enough to write that notice about you"
she said to him. .'You must thank him
for il.
..Oh, it was YOU, was it?" he said,
turning his big blue eyes up at Ray
mond. You're an editor, amt you?"
! The awe with which he asked this
question brought a smile to Raymond's
face.
mot exactly" he replied. "Iwrite
for the newspapers. "
"Do you?" said the child, eagerly.
How clever you must be. And it was
You who wrote that about me. Thank
you ever so much. You are very, very
good"
He placed his hand to his forehead
and held it there moment. Raymond
noticed it and looked grave.
Are you quite wellP" he asked,
kindly.
Quite WELL" the child faltered.
Only-only I'm little tired and-my
head aches. Hurry, mamma" as the
cail-boy appeared at the door; and.
turning to Raymond, he held out his
little hand. Goodbye" he said.
ats time for me to 90 on"
Little Dot fastened with his mother
through the dark and gloomy passage
leading TO the stage. and stood at wing
waiting for his cue. His mother sta
toned her,eli near by TO assist him in
making his changes.
Raymond and the manager sought
the front of the house.
That youngster is going to be sick"
they parted. He looked half ill now.
It's too bad that such weak, delicate
child should have to be out nights in
such bitter weather.
"Eh, what was that? Sick, did you
say?" cried the manager, with alarm.
| hope mott hope not. 1t might afiect
business. you know. if he didn't appear.
He is the strongest card on the bill this
week"
Raymond curled his lip slightly at the
others hear lessne>s, and walked of.
Somehow Little lot interested him
strangely. 1t might have been that he
regarded the tiny favorite of the foot
lights with plying tenderness, for the
sake of his own children.
The next night he returned to the Va
rieties to find the fears he entertained
realized. The manager met him with
note in his hand.
Read it," he said, with scowl upon
his face.
Thus aGiured. Raymond took it, and
glanced hurriedly at the contents. 1t
was to the elect that Little Dot was
dangerously low with the scarlet fever,
and. as a consequence could not per-
form the rest of the week
The words he read brought up vivid
recollection OF the two babes who had
Ian in the terrible grasp of the scarlet
fiend until only the great mOther-love
had won them back to life. a lump
took possession of his throat.
Poor Little Dot" he murmured.
Il wouldn't have had it happen for
a hundred dollars" grumbled the man.
ager. 1T places me in deuce OF
fix. 1t almost Impossible 10 put any
one on in his place at sach short no.
tice'
You're in hard lines said Ray
mond. coldly.
Something impelled him before he
w, mt TO the new>paper-otiice that night
to seek the sc, Ond CAS- hotel where the
child and his mother We're stopping.
Passing a florists on his way. he pur-
chased a bunch OF the creamy. full
blown roses that were mpt,ngly dis
played in the window. These he sent
up to the sick room with his card and
re- ,ueSt to know how the little fellow
was.
Presently the answer eame-no bet
ter. Would he go up? Mrs. Whitley
would like to see him.
Ia mond followed the boy p-stairs
and softly entered the darkened room.
The mother, with the marks OF weari-
ness about her eyes, came from the
window where she had been standing
and led the way TO the bed.
He was taken i'll last night on his
way back from the theater." she whis-
pered, in a hoarse, strained tone. a
thought it was nothing but a cold and
and did not call in a doctor. But he
-, h. IL, ~, 7
had TO send for one. and he SAYS it's
scarlet fever in its most malignant
form. He has been delirious nearly all
the time. The doctor did not :ell me
so, and yet-rm sure he'll never get
well again" She gave bitter sob. but
her eyes were dry-her tears had been
exhausted long ago. "Oh. why doesn't
he come, why doesn't he Gomez
She resumed her place by the win
dow, locking vacantly out at the wild,
lack night. Raymond remained BY
the bedside and gazed compassionately
down at the small face marked with
livid spots. Near him stood a stand
upon which his fragrant offering and
several walls of medicine were placed.
Suddenly the little sufferer opened
his eyes with faint moan. For mo-
ment they rested upon Raymond and
then YEARLY closed again.
'.Dadr' the parched Inns formed.
HIS mother approached the bed noise
les>ly and bent anxiously over him.
"les, Dot" she said, soothingly.
che will soon be here-soon be here.
you won't have long 10 wait now. dar-
ling and looking up at Raymond, she
con inued. in a choking voice, she
wants to see his father. have sent for