The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-12-25

intervals, Tor g. lew MOtuen.o oA'I
and we have to be very careful, for II
Il was known she would be discharged.
The last time saw Jane asked her
what she wanted for Christmas, ana
she said "a DOLL She always says my
presents are the prettiest she gets. i
am to see her o-morrow, and then
she will tell me how she likes that
doll. It took me nearly Elk months
to save that money. and I have often
gone hungry and cold to add to 1t pit,
bot you see, sir, got her the best doll
they had, after ALL"
He stopped with look OF almost
triumph ON his face. Evidently he
expected me to say something, but for
A moment or two was poWerless 10
do 80. Ordinary expressions of sympa'
.thy seemed so weak and out OF place.
At last I murmured something which
I hope was more ineligible to him
than it was to me, and sought relief
by plunging into business proposition.
tsWould it be possible for you,"
asked, "to carry on some little business
say newspapers and stationery win
possibly cigars and tobacco, or some
thing or that kind ?" l wasn't very
sure what combinations small stores
keepers make, 80 ended rather
weakly.
81 have often thought of that, sir,
but where could l get the capital
You have seen how little l. can save
in half a year."
uCome 10 my Office the day after to-
morrow, and we will talk it over. l
think can promise to find what is
needed, and as you want, know, TO
be Independent, you can regard the
advance, as loan to be repaid at your
convenience" #&
s.You are more than good and kind,
Mr., Roberts. 1 will welcome, oh, how
eagerly, anything that will take me
out of the Streets"
s.Then let us 60 now. will get pen
and ink at the counter, and put the
address on your parcel"
tOne moment, sir. want you to do
me another favor. You are perhaps
going to make man of me again.
Meet me to morrow and see my child.
1 wish you to see the one thing that
has kept the last spark of pride alive
In my bruised SOUL"
I hesitated, for l had my own
family who would expect to have all
my time, but I finally yielded, and
after sending the doll by messenger
bow. I left Crane with promise to
meet him at IL the next morning.
When, at that hour, l turned into an
uptown street, I found him already
there.
"We shalt not keep you long, sir.
That is, if her nurse can slip her out as
she expected. Why, see, there she
comes nowW
He pointed to the corner, and pro
PEELED by his crutches set off thsther,
at a pace faster than could walk.
The child ran quickly toward him,
crying loudly enough for me to hear
"Papa, oh, my dear papa ~
A moment later he pressed her to his
breast. 1t was strange sight to see
that fair, pretty, exquisiteiy dressed
child and the poorly clad cripple,
whom the ordinary passerby would
have thought a begger, holding each
other in that close embrace. There
seemed nothing in common between
them, and yet, now that his features
were glorified by moment of intense
happiness, could trace likeness.
The child carried under one arm The
blue satin doll, and as I came close to
them heard her say:
ssThank you so much for the lovely
doll"
"Then you knew 1t came from me p
"Oh, yes. had Two other dolls, aut
oh, such lots of things, but nothing 81
lovely as this. So / knew 1t came
from you."
1 am sure that then Crane was more
than repaid for all the sacrifices ho hat
made 10 getit.
He took her by the hand and lee
her to me, saying:
aJane, want you TO know this gen
tleman, who is very kind to me-"
She looked at me fearlessly, put GU
her little hand and said:
"If you are kind TO my poor papa,
love you very much"
For very brief while father ano
daughter spoke together. Then the
nurse said gently but firmly she mus
take her charge back. Mrs. Crane, she
explained, had gone out in the carriage
and might be back at any moment.
With many a last kiss aud good-hy
they parted. Crane stood watching
his child as the nurse led her across the
street, When in the middle of The
roadway Jane slipped from her nurst