The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-12

my child wish you to see the one thing that
has kept the last spark Of pride alive in my
bruised soul.
hesitated, for l had my own family who
would expect to have all my time, but finally
yielded, and, after sending the doll by messen-
ger boy,I left Crane, with a promise to meet
him at III the next morning.
When, at that hour, turned into an uptown
street, found him already there
we snail not keep you long, sir That Is, il
her nurse slip her out, as she expected
Why see, there she comes, now!r
He pointed to the corner, and propelled by his
crutches set off hither, at a pace faster than I
could walk. The child ran quickly toward him.
crying loudly enough for me to hear:
Papa, oh, my dear papa"
A moment later ne pressed her TO his breast.
1t was strange sight to see that fair, pretty,
cx1usitely dressed child and the poorlv-clad
thought beggar holding each other in that
close embrace. There seemed nothing in COM
mon between them, and yet, now that his feat
ures were glorifed by a moment of intense hap
riness could trace likeness.
The child carried under one arm the blue satir
doll, and as I came close to them heard her
say:
THANK you so much for the lovely doll"
"Then you know it came from me-"
"Oh, yes. / had two other dolls, and oh, such
lots of things but nothing so lovely as this So
| knewit came from you"
l amsure that then Crane was more than re-
N.
He took her by the hand and led her to me,
saying:
'Jane want you to know this gentleman,
who is very kind to me-"
She looked at me fearlessly. put out her little
"If you are kind to my poor papa, shall love
very very much"
For very brief while father and daughter
spoke together. Then the nurse said gently but
firmly she must take her charge back Mrs.
Crane. m
riage and might be back at any moment.
With many last kiss and goodbye, they
parted. Crane stood watching his child as the
%nsn 1 the sF mdGe of the the s rosd
way Jane slipped from her nurse, and
thrned round, moving back a pace or two, to
hold up her doll and try to make it kiss its
hand. AT that moment rapidly -driven
brougham turned the corner. The child heard
the noise, but in her hurry to run, slipped and
fell. The horses were almost upon her when
Crane, who seemed to use his crutches as leap
iDg-poles. cleared with one bound an almost in.
credible distance. His crutches dropped behind
him as he alighted by the side of the child, and
rolled with her out of danger. The carriage
passed on quite ten yards further before the
coachman could stop his horses. The nurse took
Jane from her fathers arms
"She's not hurt q bit, SIR"
"No, papa I'm only little muddy
had by this time picked up the crutches and
given them to Crane.
"A laQy put ner mead from the carriage window,
and asked why they had stopped.
Game near running over a child, maam, who
had fallen down. And if you please, ma'am, I
am afraid it's Miss Jane" said the footman, who
had got down and come to the door.
"Jane2" she cried; ''let me out. Why didn't
you say so at once|
She passed quickly to the child, who stood by
her nurse, brushing the dirt and snow from her
little mantle.
'Are you hurt, my daring9"
''Not bit, not tiny Bit mamma"
''She would have been, ma'am," said the foot
man, "but for the chap as saved her. He did do
wonderful jump, and such poor-looking
thing, too"
'Where is he9"
'He skipped away, ma'am, as soon as he saw
Miss Jane wasn't hurt"
did not miss Crane till then. twas true; he
had disappeared.
II sorry he went away" said the mother,
as she lifted her daughter into the carriage, sI
should have liked to have given him something"