St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-10
ALUCKY LEGACY,

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himself, cit could go and apply for admission
to some institution. If hadn It it, could
but Lord that is not the idea must decide
what am to do"
Tom had solemnly promised to care for the
newborn babe of his only sister, who had
just died.
Tom was interrupted by knock on the
door. 1t was followed by cry OF mingled
entreaty and command, such as only hungry
babies know how to emit.
1--WE fetched the poor little dear around,
SIR said the nurse, brandishing her charge.
"Therel there It's got wind this minute,
mixin' milk. Have you found nurse, sir!
And baby wants clothes.n
She dropped her shrieking charge upon
TOMS bed and started toward the door.
"Oh! oh'' gasped Tom. EDO not go!
In the name of mercy do not! Why do you
say want a nurses Are you not one?'
81 am, sir,' she said, turning conddenti-
ally to Tom, ga monthly I am willing to
stay with you while can. But, sir, my sum-
mons may come any day or hour. 1t Is i'm
possible to calculate. I'll work for you while
| can, sir, but when my call comes no earth
ly thing can keep me.''
"Can you," said Tom, looking gloomily at
his now silent prise on the bed, ''can you give
me any advicc?"
Mrs. Primmins placed her arms akimbo.
Tom fervently prayed for light on the med
itations.
81 have it," cried Mrs Primmins. s'Mal-
why's got to take it!''
''Bless your dear souln' responded Tom,
s'Malviny's the very one! What talent
you have for managing, auntie dear"
There was Tom, his very self! He had hit
on exactly the right compliment to pay the
old nurse He was actually floating through
life on this instinct he had for saying the
most pleasant thing to everybody. Mrs.
Primmins of all things desired the reputatiod
of 4 maneuverer, as it was, of course, the
one of all others that she did not deserve.
eyes," she cried, chuckling, II can man
age, Let me alone And first thing in the
morning III 60 there with you. Now" said
she, Selling her charge, who was beginning
to squirm, "now I'll see what's to be got out
of your landlady."
Winking violently with first one eye and
then the other, she started to go; then, with
sudden solemnity, she reinserted her head
in the doorway
eff I'm summoned she said, cts above
all else If I'm called must go day or
nightr'
Certainly" said Tom, much puzzled,
but you won't be auntie!" AS the young
man walked abroad to get his dinner he left
impressed with an almost mysterious awe OF
old nurse,
s'To think of living always with death grin
ming one in the face like that ~ he IN uttered.
In the night Toms dream ofIpeace was
again dispelled. 5oos % 4.rg.3-
Another knock at the door.
Gam I under a ban!' growled Tom
"whats the matter now!'
"I'm called,' said the voice of Mrs. Prim-
minis. ''My summons has come''
ooh, the devii'' cried Tom, lost to all
aense of the importance of conciliating the
nurse. go to bed! 'tHold on till morn
ing!"
+ In the morning Tom, who, happy fellow,
alwaps slept soundest under sense of de-
preston, did not make his appearance until
9 o'clock. He found that Mrs. Primmins
had actually disappeared for parts unknown.
In the arms of his hitherto stern landlady he
found his charge nesting. A new light
that of love--was beaming in the solemn
woman's eye-that woman thought Tom, who
could see any of her boarders starve and rot
for 10 cents a day saved
81 have undertaken said the landlady,
giving Tom smile such as he had never
dreamed could rest on her features-'I have
to go with you in search Of Mrs. Primmin IS
niece, Malviny.'
Several hours later Tom Collins sprang
from light wagon in which he had driven
to the door Of a pretty cottage.
''We will make one last effort by inquiring
here" he said to his landlady, who held
the baby.
With his usual impetuosity he pushed d.
rectly through into the rear kitchen. There
he forgot his errand-forgot everything ex-
cept what he saw. A young girl, plump neat,
and rosy, stood with round arms barred be-
fore table. She was assiduously occupied
in caressing with white hands little Jumps of
dough into shape.
Suddenly she turned. Such dimpling
smile! such rosy embarrassment! Tom,
great black-haired, jetty-eyed giant that he
was, thought this little plump blonde an
angel. Thoughts why he was sure of it!
After awhile he came to his senses and
said:
''I'm looking for one Malvina Barker.''
"And that is me- said the rosy lips.
''Then I've brought you baby,n he said,
abruptly.
good deal of astonishm rent can be put
into pair of light blue eyes without spelling
them-and so there was. Fortunately, at
that point the landlady appeared and so, a
moment later, did Malvinas mother, called
up from the cellar by the voices.
Negotiations were soon completed.
Tom, again in his little room. found it the
loneliest, drearest place he had ever in his
life looked upon.
A couple of days later he concluded that
it would be inhuman not to 60 and inquire
after his little charge. In an incredibly
short space oftime he seized with the same
impression again. Then he went to take to
baby, who had not yet learned that the moon
is more distant than the door-knob, box of
geographical blocks. Then he went to in
quire if it needed pocket money; and he told
Malvina that he knew she was not kept
awake nights with it, because her eyes were
so bright.
After tea the moon came out. Oh, that
wicked, shameless moon! Tom, by its light
told Malyina right out that her eyes were
bluer than heaven-her lips sweeter than
roses-and all that.
When they parted Malvina went to her
room and cried.
What could perfect king of man mean
by talking like that to her!, OF course he
could not mean to marry little shcoolmis-
tress only home on a vacation!
Tom acted queerly. too, when alone in his
room. He took paper and pencil, and fig
ured and calculated. He made list of all
the little properties he possessed. He added
them up and he added them down. Then
he set down list Of all the things he was
accustomed to spend money upon that could
be dispensed with. Then he brought out a
book on economy, where 1t tells how man
can live cheaper with a frugal wife than he
can alone. He was aatonished to find that
books SO intensely interesting!
The next day Tom went again to see the
baby. In fact, 1t had seemed to him as
though the afternoon never would come. He
had more waiting to do at the cottage. for