The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-12-19
The Widows Ledger.

lI7S
be such a fool, v with her beggarly
pride, as to stand in her own light and
the child's. Give me that letter, Mar
yaret, it will prove to your Uncle
Michael the vindictive unforgiving
spirit we have to deal with. You may
90 and see her when you please, it shall
not be said that / left any means un-
tried to effect a reconciliation; you may
Tell her that even if she will not see me
L, as Arthur's mother, should like to
see Arthur's boy, and perhaps she will
permit you to bring him here M
times, and say that il she thinks itmore
becoming III respective ages I will
visit her myself"
II will say exactly what you tell me,
mammal
II know you will" Mrs. Allenby said,
angrily, sand in the same tone and
manner, if you could, but that is not
what l WANT
MAY l go to-day?"
"This minute if you like"
" will tell her what you say" Mar
garet said gently, "and soften it as far
as I can, for I should like to see you re-
eonciled. We ought to remember how
Arthur loved her."
"If l could forget that" Mrs. Allen
by said, II could forgive her every
thing"
Margaret took her at her word and
went, much to her mothers disappoint-
ment. Mary was out, but baby was at
home. She could hear him in the din
ing-room, making enough noise for a
regiment Of babies, and she asked very
wistfully if she might see him.
elf you do not mind going in" Mar
tina said; she is playing with Mr.. Park
Ell, and he is nobody-quite as big a
baby as the other. VIII you go in, Miss
Allenbyy"
"Oh, certainly" and she opened the
dining-room door.
Here's a lady to see the baby, SIR
Miss Allenby."
"Come in" said Mr.. Parker, cheer
fully. He had notheard the firstwords,
and quite misunderstood the last.
Come in, Mrs. Allenby; Idon't mind
you, though look very absurd. Moth
ing else will suit the little man but |
must sit on the floor, and pretend to
play the trombone while he beats the
drum. | have quite taken the place Of
the old gentleman upstairs, and-good
gracious mel"
Nothing certainly could have been
more absurd than the picture he pre-
sented, with the absurdity intensified
by his dismay at the unexpected APP
pearance of a stranger. Margaret could
not help laughing, in spite of her tear.
full delight, as she caught Arthur's boy
in her arms.
"What a donkev you must think me-"
said Mr.. Parker, scrambling to his feet.
81 thought it was Mrs. Allenby-his
mamma, you know. What a donkey
you must think me-"
Indeed l do not, Mr.. Parker-the
servant told me your name-unless te
be a donkey is to love children very
much, and then, I like donkies. 1 an
baby's auntie, and my name is Allenby,
that is how the mistake arose.
ITO be sure; nothing could be moro
natural said Mortimer Postlethwaite,
whose senses had gone on a wool-gath-
ering expedition. PRAY sit down and
make yourself at home. Mrs. Alienby
will not be long. Would you like a IL
Of tea if you wouldn't mind? I have
some apricot jam and biscuits, and
several things, if | knew where to find
them, but the little fellow has put the
key of the chiffonier so~mewhere-in the
fire, l think"
will you give me a cup Of teapn said
Margaret, anxious TO put the poor fell
low at his ease. 81 should like it very
much.n
How delightful" and he rang the
bell. Some tea please, Martha. The
boy quite takes to you, Miss Allenby,
SO he does to me; but there is no one
like the old gentleman upstairs. 1t is
really very good of you to take a cup Of
tea. You do not know how delighted
I am"
And Mr.. Parker was very far from
knowing the good impression he had
made on Margaret. She saw the simple,
ch1yalrous good nature under the sur
face OF his nervousness, and he improv-
ed greatly on acquaintance. He went
Into h next room, smoothed his tum-
bled hair, settled his collar and tie, and
changed his study coat for one more
presentable. BY the time he had done
this the tray was on the table. Baby
settled the apricot jam difficulty by
producing the chiffonier key from be-
meath the h%earthrug.
He had taken to Margaret, but he did
not understand her yet. He gave her a
vast amount of unintelligible informa-
tion concerning "Boko,n who lived. if
his tiny finger was to be believed, some
where in the ceiling. He patted her
face and said "pooro when he saw the
tears in her eyes, and let her give him
as many kisses as she chose: but on the
whole, there was his playmate on tile
apricot jam side of the table, and after
q very brief consultation with himself
the little fellow clambered over to him.
Up to this period of his career Master
Arthur evinced a decided preference
for his own sex.
Mr.. Parker had never enjoyed him
self SC much. Miss Allenby put him SO
delightfully."- at his ease. She had the
rare quality of tact, the cultivated in
stinct of a fine, delicate, and generous
nature. She led him by degrees to talk
Of his own profession, the house he lived
In, his fellow ledger. and Mary. Mar
garet learned that Mary was his idea of
perfection, that his fellow lodger was
an extraordinary combination Of con-
trarieties, that the house he lived in was
the dearest spot on earth, and that his
professional hopes were modest to a
degree, but he was confident in a quiet
way.
81 shall make a position in twenty
years or so,n he said; land if l can pay
my expenses in the meantime, it is all
I have a right to expect. The house
physician is very kind and encourage
Ing. Sometimes l despopd, and feel
afraid that l have mistaken my voca-
ton."
"That is a good sign, MI. Parker. |
read somewhere, quite recently, that
no man ever yet attained greatness in
his profession who had not suffered
from that Respondent feeling-a doubt
of his W worthiness and power. 1t
may not be a proof Of genius, but it
shows at least that he has higher aims
"a desire to do his best,n