Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-12-24

alWays sAysN Nay ptos9"e~ ese sos ks~
esq she gets. am to see her to-mor.
row, and then she will tell me how she
likes the doll. It took me nearly six
months TO save the money, and have
eften gone hungry and cold to addtots
4 bit, but you sse, sir. got her the best
doll they had, after all" ~ a~faae
He stopped with look Of almost tri.
umph on hi, f.oe. Evidently he sx-
pected me to cay something. but for
moment or two l was powerlsss to do
so. Ordinary expressions OF sympathy
seemed 80 weak and out Of place. AZ
last l murmured something which
hope was more ineligible to him than
Il was to me, and sought relief BY
plunglne iato business proposition.
Would Ii be possible for you," l
asked, Ito carry on some little business
say newspapers and stationery with
possibly cigars and tobacco, or some.
thing Of that kindr" I wasn't very sure
what combinations small storeksepsrs
make, so | ended rather weakly.
al have often thought Of that cir, but
where could get the capitals You have
seen how little can save In half .
year."
"Coms TO my office the day after to-
morrow. and We will talk It over.
think can promise 10 find what 10
needed. and ~ you want, know, 10 BE-
independent, you can regard the al
vance as loan to bo repaid at your con-
venisnce." ..s-r
You are more than good and kind
Mr.. Roberts. will welcome, oh how
eagerly, anything that will take me out
OF the streets"
"Then let us go now. will GET pen
and ink at the corner, and put the ad-
dress on your parcel
lone moment, sir. | want you 10 DO
me another favor. You are Psrhsps go
ing to make man VI me again. Meet
me to. morrow and see my child. Wish
YOU a. .es the one thing that has kept
the last spark OF pride alive 10 my
| bruised soul"
| hesitated, for had my own family
who would expect to have all my time,
but finally yielded, aud after ssnding
the doll by q messenger boy, 1 left Crane
with a promise 10 meet him at II the
next morning. ~,
When at that hour turned Into an
uptown street, I found HIN already
there.
"we shall not keep you long, sir.
That 10, if her nurse San alp out a. she
expected. Why, see, there she comas
noww
lie pointed to the corner, and pro-
PEELED by his crurches set on thithsr, At
a pace faster than | could walk. The
child ran quickly towards him, sryiug
loudly enough for me to hear.
Papa, oh, my dear papa"
A moment later he pressed her 10 his
breast. II wass strange sIght 70 ses
that fair, pretty, sxquisitely dressrd
child. and the poorly.clsi cripple,
whom the ordinary passer.by would
have thought q beggsr, holding s"h
other In that close embrace. There
seemed nothing In common between
them, and yet, now that bis features
were slorifed by q moment Of intense
happiness, I could trac, . likeness.
The child carried under one arm The
blue satin doll, and rs came close to
them heard her say: .,l ,s
THANK you 50 much for the lovely
DOLL r.fg tlt
Then you knew IL came from me-"
"Oh, yes. had two other dolls, and
oh, suca lots OF things, but nothing 90
lovely as this. 50 knew IL came from
you" g..I...sl gegs aa.aal oI
lam sure that then Crane was more
than repaid for all the sacrifices he had
made to get IL. .i.s t.I
He took her by the hand aud led her
to me, saying: s., 81. .laa sp3Ei
"Jane, want you 10 know this gen.
tleman. who Is very kind TO me- Sal.
She looked as me fesrlessly, put out
her little hand. aud said:
"If you are kind to my poor Papa. /
shall love you much" agf
For q very brief while father and
daughter spoke together. Then the
nurse said gently but nruIy she anuss
take her charge back. Mrs. Crane, she
explained, had gone out Ia the carriage
aud might be back at any moment. s
with many q last kiss asd gosd-bys,
they psrtrd. Crane stood watching hIs
child az the nurse led her across the
street. When IN the middle Of the
roadway, Jsne slipped from her nurss,
and turned round, movins back space
or tvs. 70 hold up her doll snd Try 70
make It kiss ass hand. A. thatmomspt
q rapidly driven broughsm turned che
corner. The child heard the noise, but
In her hurry 20 run, slipped and fell.
The horses were almost upon hsf when
Crane, who seemed 10 use his srusehes
as leaping poles. cleared with one
bound an almost Incredible dIstsucs.
His erutches dropped bebiBd him - be
siighted by the side Of tie child end
rolled with her cut Of danger. The
carriage passed on. quite ten yards
further before the cpnchmsn could stop
his horses. The nlirse took Jane from
her fathers arms.
"Sbe's NOT hurt BIT. SIR"
mo, pspa. I'm only . IktIs muddy"
Il had BY this time picked up the
crufcbes and given them 70 Crime.
Aiady pat her besc from the carriage
window, and asked Why they hsd stop.
ped.