The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-09-17

ana KISSED MIS-, E'enWlCk gOOd-by.
"Take good care OF yourself till /
come back" she said
Mrs. Fenwick stood at the window
watching the little figure go down the
street. She would turn around every
minute and throw q kiss at the win
dow, as Fay used to do.
School was very lonesomefor Mabel
Usually Fay sat by her side, and at
noon they ate their lunch together
under one of the big trees in the
school-yard. Some OF the other chill
dren came up to Mabel now, but she
turned away from them all with q
little sigh. Had she not promised Fay.
that she would be true to her and
takeno other place? Atfnoon she put
her little lunch basket on the desk be-
fore her and ate alone. f.:.5..s#s ,s.
The afternoon seemed very long,
but WI hen school was dismissed atlast
Mabel was the first to leave the build
ing. Up the street she ran. around
the corner by the green lamp post,
and never stopped till she chad reached
the hardware-store, where Mr.. Fen
wick had his little office at the
end. AS she pulled back the heavy
door and stepped inside one Of
the hardware men who had a black
streak across his forehead smiled at
her from over the counter and asked;
"What do you want little girl?"
Mabel smiled too, as she walked
past him. g..
"Fm going to see Mr.. Fenwick," she
answered.
The man who had only recently
come into the store tried to stop her.
She only laughed in answer. -. -
"Oh, he will see me-" she said, and
pushed open the Office door.
Mr.. t'enwick 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 upon
the intruder Fenwick started.
''Hello, Mabel" he said.
She walked up beside his high chair
and looked up at him smiling.
"How do you do?' she asked cheer
fully.
Hoy are you getting along?''
Mr.. FenWick smiled"
"Who sent you here?" he asked.
Mabel drew her little form up proud
Nobody sent me. I thought you
might be lonesome without + ay."
$50 I am," cried Fenwick, getting
down from his stool and lifting the
little girl in his arms. $50 you came
to keep me from being lonesome" did
your"
YES" said Mabel, moving her soft
hand over his dark hair. II am to be
your little girl while Fay is away. Do
you think that she will be gone long?"
Fenwick hesitated. Heidi not care
to tell Mabel that Fay would not
come back till it had been leagally
decided which parent should have
charge of her.
cts very pleasant where she is" he
said finally. ~ shouldn't wonder if
she didn't come back right away"
Mabel brushed away a tear.
otis 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, "and on your
wife" "
eyes, it is" E.-.< f..s:%# W -s5.
"Well have to all keep each other
from being lonesome" Mabel said, as
F'enwlck at last placed her on one of
the stools by his side.
For some time the clerks in the
hardware store cast frequent chances
through the glass door at their en-
ployer in his office and the little girl
at his side.
cts Colburn's girl" said one of the
them; "she used to come in here with
Fay Fenwick. I guess it makes Fen
wick feel bad" y @%#4.@}
When Mabel came out Of the office
they all smiled at her. She spoke to
Mr.. Fenwick as she closed the glass
door.
II will try and come tomorrow"
she SAID; "take good care of yourself"
"All right" answered Fenwick, smil-
ing; "thank YOU"
i He sat for some time after she left
him with his head on his arm, so only
the dark locks were seen through the
door. The men outside felt very sorry
for him.
"Its too bad" they said; "and they
were so happy together"
When Mabel reached home she told
her mamma what she had done. Mrs.
Colburn kissed her and said:
"All right, darling"
She thought it could do no harm,
and possibly the child might comfort
them little - @
So every morning Mabel called on the
forlorn little mother, who grew thin
ner and paler each day; every after
noon Il second stool was placed beside
Mr.. Fenwick for his little visitor. The
hardware men looked forward to her
calls with pleasure. One gave her a
pencil once, with a big rubber on the
end which left black mark after it
every time she used it. But Mabel al
ways smiled on the poor fellow be-
cause he did not know about the rub
Der, probably. .......
One afternoon she came into the
store in a hurry, and ran into Mr..
Fenwick's Office all out of breath.
"What is the NATTER" he asked.
She held up little three-cornered
envelope. It was tinted pink, and on
the back was g. picture of g. tinv