San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-25

you so interested in the little Stranger
''Stranger!" Then, as if recollecting
herself, she bent and kissed the little
face, thus hiding the deep color that had
sufused her own.
81 am interested because | love little
ones; and see, she is awake" And she
held up the baby girl to his view. isn't
she pretty" And the tender hearted,
impulsive girl covered the little face
with warm, loving Carcsses.
"Oh, Guardy, say that | may keep
her. Ihave always loved her. r
What"
II mean have always loved chill
dren. Now, please, don't look so cross. :"
1t was true that Earle Wellman did
look thoroughly angry-bewildered.
Dorothy Baker" laying one hand
heavily on her shoulder, DO you know
anything about this child?'
Yes" throwing him look of mingled
fear and defiance: Il know that | love
her."
Love her! You love everything and
every one"
DO L."
Yes, with one exception, Miss Dot.
But that is not answering my question
directly. What do you know about this
stranger"
81 said knew that loved her."
''Oh, Miss Dot, why can you not be
sensible one moment?" and an amused
smls chased away the look of anxious
inquiry. why won't you think of how
am placed, with a baby, mere infant,
on my hands. and"-
"She is a year old, Guardy."
"a year oldl How do you know that,
Miss Dot?"
T-oh, well, should judge so.
Wouldn't your"
She looked so innocently demure that
it was with difficulty that her questioner
refrained from smiling.
Eyes, think you are right" and he
looked more earnestly at the baby face
Nesting SD 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 baby crowed in de-
light. It's little dress was neat and pref
tily made. and evidently careful, loving
hands had robed the little one
well. Miss Dot"
eyes, Guardy."
II am sorely puzzled. Let your wom-
ans wit advise me-"
"Woman's witt laughingly. "And
Won are always begging Inc to try to be
sensible"
well. then, try to tell me where
n find home for this child. If can
not fad some COOL. motherly soul to take
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. r.. ..
With face from which every particle
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.
mo! no." Slowly the words fell
from her blanched lips. Don't do that,
Guardyl It would he cruel cruel!
Baby was sent to You. Some one wants
you to care for it; some one knew that
you were pihfrl 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 added,
lit must he that God wished you to care
for baby"
He smiled at her childish explanation.
Miss Dot, what queer girl you are.
Will | ever understand your strange
moods? All terror one moment, tear
fully entreating the next, but always de-
termined to have your own unruly way. J"
"And may this time: May | keep
baby" she asked eagerly.
''Do you realize, child, what a strange
predicament this places me in? What
would our neighbors say if ] adopted
babyY
"Who cares what people say? don't. "
mo. know you do not; but do"
Then | know what we can do,
Guardy. You can tell Mrs. Grundy
that Mrs. Grey, your housekeeper, has
adopted child. She will consent if !
ask her. May r.
Earle Wellman tugged viciously at his
dark mustache, looking thoughtfully al
the uphfted face.
You know, Guardy, that am so
lonesome sometimes. Just think how this
little one would amuse Inc. Do not re-
fuse me, Guardy."
mo, will not. Have your own way,
little Miss Dot That is, if Mrs. Grey