The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-04-10

sensible one moment?" and an amused
smile chased away the look of anxious
inquiry. why won't you think of how
l am placed, with a baby-a mere in
FAINT on my hands, and"
"She is year old, Guardy."
"a year old! How do you know that,
Miss Dot?'
ooh well, 1 should judge so. Would
not you?'-
Eyes, think you are right" and he
looked more earnestly at the baby
face, nesting so contentedly against
Dot.
"Well, Miss Dot"
eyes, Guardy."
ans wit advise me-"
"Woman's witt laughingly. and
you are always begging me to try to be
| sensible"
''Well, then. try to tell me where |
can find home for this child. If | can
not find some good. motherly soul to
tax e it we shall have to send it into
the city to the orphan asylum, where
it will be cared for. Why, Dot! What
/ 10 IllV bloublC' Cthh llS dlis5 III w al u
in alarm.
With a face from which every parti-
Gle of color had fed, eyes fastened on
his in wild, dilated terror, clinging to
the child as if fearful that it would be
torn from her, she faced him.
NO. no. Slowly the words fell
from her blanchcd lips Don't do
that, Guardy. 1t would be cruel, cruel.
Baby was sent to you. Some one wants
you to care for it. Some one knew
that you were pitiful and tender
hearted. Don't, don't send her away"
"Some one! Do you know who that
some one is?" he stcrnly demanded,
"Why. how should know?" and she
looked at him in blank establishment
Only some one must have thought so,
or they would not have left her here.
Don't you see? And" she tinidly add
ed, lit must be that God wished you to
care for baby
He smiled at her childish eXplana-
tiion.
Miss Dot, what a queer girl you are
| Will | ever understand your strange
moods? All terror one moment, tear
fully entreating the next, but always
determined to have your own unruly
way"
And may l this time? May l keep
baby?" she asked eagerly.
DO you realize, child, what strange
predicament this places me in? What
would our neighbors say if l adopted a
baby?"
"Who cares what people say? 1
don't"
No, l know you do not, but do"
| Then / know what we can do,
Guardy. You can tell Mrs. Grundy
that Mrs. Grey. your housekecper, has
adopted Il child. She will consent if l
ask her. May I?'
Earle Wellman tugged viciously at his
dark mustache, looking til oughtfully at
the uplifted face.
You know, Guardy, that | am so
lonesome sometimes. just think how
this little one would amuse me. Do
not refuse me. Guardv."
NO, | will not Have your own
way, little Miss Dot. That is, if Mrs
Grey will consent"
''Oh, she will. Now kiss your little
protege, and Dot laughingly held up
the cooling baby. With deeper color
Earle Wellman bent his dark head and
did as she babe him.
That's right and laughing merrily,
the happy, triumphant girl fled from
the room.
1t was at college that Earle Wellman
met Howard Baker. They were class
mates, and soon became close friends.
A long time had elapsed since the day
they graduated. when Earle received
| letter from Howard. written on his dy-
ing bed. in 1t he implored Earle to be-
come guardian to his mOtherless ten
year-old girl. 'She is rich in worldly
| goods" he wrote, but without a
home" Earle accepted the charge, and
placed Dorothy Baker Under his moth
er's loving care. This was eight years
ago
Dorothy, or little Miss Dot, as she
was generally called, owing to her
petite form and childish ways at ten,
willful, yet loving, a sparkling bit of
fun and cheer was changed but little
at the age of eighteen; while Earle
! Wellman, still handsome at thirty
nine. had lost the frank, merry-hearted
way that had once characterized him.
and had grown coldly stern and re-
pelling to all, excepting the irresistible
| Dot.
1t was true, as the servants said-that
Dot could win Il smile even snatch of
true, ringing laughter from Earle Well
man. while others failed. sller childish
winsomencsS unconsciously compelled
all to love her. Her irrepressible i'm
pulSivenesS was forever causing her
trouble, yet she was always ready to
Soothe and cheer others with her soft,
caressing ways. Willfully defiant one
moment, strangely quiet and lovingly
docile the next, she had woven herself
around Mrs Wellman's heart until she
seemed like an own daughter.
1t had been a happy household of
four, till the discovery that Lucie Well
man had clopcd with a struggling artist
robbed it of all its sunshine, crushing
out the life of the gentle mother, for the
sudden blow was too heavy. Then it was
that Earle Wellman changed-a change
so quick and complete that it was diff