The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-08-27

"I'm going to see Mr.. Fenwick,"
she said.
The man, who had recently come in
the store, tried to stop her. She only
laughed in reply.
"Oh, he will see me-" she answered,
and pushed open the office door. Mr..
Fenwck turned around at the sound.
There he sat on the same high stool,
with his books open before him, but
there were great rings under his brown
eyes and Mabel thought he looked
tired AS his eyes fell on the little in
truder Fenwick started.
"Hello, Mabel" he said.
She walked up beside his high-chair
and looked up at him smiling.
GLOW do you do?" she asked, cheer
fully. GLOW are you getting along?"
Mr.. Fenwick smiled.
who sent you here?" he asked.
Mabel drew her little form up
proudly.
Nobody sent me-" she answered.
81 thought you might be lonesome
without Fay"
$50 l am" cried Fenwick, getting
down from his stool and lifting the
little girl in his arms.
$50 you came in to keep me from
being lonesome, did your"
eyes," said Mabel, moving her soft
hand over his dark hair; l am to be
your little girl while Fay is away. Do
you think she will be gone long?"
Fenwick hisitated. He did not care
to tell Mable that Fay would not come
back till it had been legally decided
which parent should have charge of
her.
at is very pleasant where she is"
he said, finally; " shouldn't wonder
if she didn't come back right away"
Mabel brushed away tear.
"It's very hard on me-" she said,
"but suppose it's hard, too, on you
and"- She was going to say" on
mamma" but thinking he might not
understand, finished land on your
wife"
eyes," said Fenwick, lit is"
"We'll have to all keep each other
from being lonesome" Mabel said, as
Fenwick at last placed her on one of
the stools by his side.
For some time the clerks in the
hardware store cast frequent glances
through the glass door at their en-
ployer in his office and the little girl at
his side.
"Its Colburn's GIRL" said one of
them; :" she used to come in here with
Fay Fenwick. l guess it makes Fen
wick feel bad"
When Mabel came out of the office
they all smiled at her. She spoke to
Mr.. Fenwick as she closed the glass
door.
81 will try and come in Tomorrow"
she said; stake good care of your
self"
Gall right" answered Fenwick,
smiling; thank you"
He sat for some time after she had
left with his head on his arm, so only
the dark locks were seen through the
door. The men outside felt sorry for
him.
"It's too bad" they said, "and
they were so happy together"
When Mabel reached home she told
her own mamma what she had done.
Mrs. Colburn kissed her.
"All right, darling" she said.
"Surely," she thought, it can do no
harm, and possibly the child may COM
fort them little"
So every morning Mabel called on
the forlorn little mother, who grew
thinner and paler each day, and every
afternoon a second stool was placed by
the side of Mr.. Fenwick for his little
VIC; ha hor
forward to her calls with pleasure.
One gave her pencil once, with big
rubber on the end, which left black
mark after it every time she used it.
But Mabel always smiled on the rough
fellow, because he did not know about
the rubber, probably.
One afternoon she came into the
store in hurry and ran into Mr.. Fem
wick's office, all out of breath.
"What is the matter?" he asked.
She held up little three-cornered en-
velope. 1t was tinted pink and on the
back was picture of tiny white dove
with letter tied around his neck.
"See!" cried Mabel, "here is my
letter from Fay!"
Fenwick took it eagerly. 1t was
Aunt Lottie's handwriting on the out
side, but when he took out the little
pink sheet his heart throbbed, for he
knew that his own little girl had written
that.
"Read it," said Mabel.
1t was written well for ten-year.old
little girl, and had cost Fay much time
and trouble.
DEAR MABEL:-It is very nice place
here. Aunt Lottie is very good The con-
ductor was very good. l hope you don't
eat dinner with Annie Dobson. How are
my dear papa and mamma? l want to see
them very much and l want to see you. |
think / will come home before long. Write
soon. FAY FENwICK."
Ralph Fenwick put the paper back in
the envelope. Then he kissed it.
"When you answer this" he said to
Mabel, "you tell Fay that papa kissed
her letter."
Mabel laughed.
Somebody told YOU" she said;
"Fay's mamma kissed it too"
"Fenwick's color deepened some-
what.
"Did she see it too?" he asked.
"Why, yes" said Mabel, "when /
went to school this morning"
"Does she know you come here?"