The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-04-11

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She looked so innocently demure that
it was with difficulty that her question
er refrained from smiling.
Eyes, thinI, you are right" and he
looked more earnestly at the baby
face, nesting so contentedly against
Dot.
The eyes, pretty blue, were wide
open and gazing at him in pretty won
der. Involuntarily he held out his
hands, at which the babyocrowed in de.
light. Its little dress was neat and
prettily made, and evidently careful,
loving hands had robed the little one.
"Well, Miss Dot"
eyes, Guardy."
~ am sorely puzzled. Let your wom
ans wit advise me-"
"Woman's witl'' laughingly. "AnC
you are always begging me to try to be
sensible"
''Well, then, try to tell me where
can find home for this child. If l car
not find some good, motherly soul tc
TAX it we shall have to send it into
the city to the orphan asylum, where
it will be cared for. Why, Dot! What
is the trouble?" and he sprang forward
in alarm.
With face from which every parti.
Gle of color had fed, eyes fastened or
his in wild, dilated terror, clinging tc
the child as if fearful that it would bC
torn from her, she faced him.
mo! no' Slowly the words fell
from her blanched lips. Don't dc
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 sternly demanded.
"Why, how should know?" and she
looked at him in blank astonishment.
"Only some one must have thought so,
or they would not have left her here.
Don't you see? And" she timidly add.
ed, lit must be that God wished you to
care for baby"
He smiled at her childish explana.
tiion. 80
Miss Dot, what queer girl you are.
viii l 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 this time? May 1 keer
baby?" she asked eagerly.
''Do you realize, child, what strange
this places me in? What
would our neighbors say if l adopted a
baby?"
"Who cares what people say? l
don't"
mo, know you do not, but do"
"Then L know what we can do,
Guardy. You can tell Mrs. Grundy
that Mrs. Grey, your housekeeper, has
adopted a child She will consent if l
ask her. May II"
Earle Wellman tugged viciously at his
lark mustache, looking thoughtfully at
he uplifted face.
You know, Guardy, that 1 am so
onesome sometimes. Just think how
his little one would amuse me. Do
lot refuse me, Guardy."
No, will not. Have your own
way, little Miss Dot. That is, if Mrs.
Trey will consent"
"Oh, she will. Now kiss your little
and Dot laughingly held up
he cooling baby. With deeper color
Earle Wcllman BEN his dark head and
lid as she bade 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, 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 a smile, even snatch of
true, ringing laughter from Earle Well
man, while others failed. Her childish
winsomeness 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 eloped 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
cult to realize and believe. He opened
one letter from the erring girl, pleading
for forgiveness, thus obtaining her ad-
dress, so that he could forward one-half
the fortune bequeathed him at his
mothers death, and forbade her ever to
let him see her face again. Then he
asked Dot to refrain from uttering her
name in his presence, laying his moth
er's sudden death at her door.
True, Lucie had pleaded with her
brother to allow her to marry the art