Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-04-11

Il
"Oh, Miss Dot, why can you not be
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 oldl How do you know that,
Miss Dot?"
"I-oh well, l should judge so. Would
not you?"
eyes, think you are right" and he
looked more earnestly ut the baby
face, nesting SO contentedly against
Dot.
"Well, Miss Dot"
"Yes, Guardy."
II am sorely puzzled. Let your wom-
ans wit advise me-"
"Woman's wit!' laughingly. "And
you are always begging me to try to be
sensible"
"Well, then, try to tell me where I
can find home for this child. If can
not find some good, motherly soul to
talk 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 fled, 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! mol" Slowly the words fell
from her blanched 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 sternly demanded.
"Why, how should l lknow?" 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.
Miss Dot, what queer girl you are
VIII l ever understand your strange
moods? All terror one moment, tear
fully entreating the next, but alway:
determined to have your own unruly
way"
And may this time? May keeI
baby?" she asked eagerly.
do you realize, child, what strange
predicament this places me in? Wha
would our neighbors say if adopted {
baby?"
"Nyho cares what people say?
don't"
No, know you do not but do"
"Then / know what we can do
Guardy. You can tell Mrs. Grundy
that Mrs. Grey, your housekeeper, ha
adopted child She will consent if
ask her. May -"
Earle Wellman tugged viciously at hi
dark mustache looking thoughtfully q
the uplifted face.
You know, Guardy, that l am 81
lonesome sometimes. just think hov
this little one would amuse me. d.
not refuse me, Guardy."
mo, | will not. Have your owl
way, little Miss Dot. That is, if Mrs
Grey will consent"
"Oh, she will. Now kiss your littl
protege," and Dot laughingly held u
the cooing baby. With deeper colol
Earle Wellman bent his dark head an,
did as she bade him.
''That's right" and laughing merrily
the happy, triumphant girl fed iron
the room.
: 1t was at college that Earle Wellmal
met Howard Baker. They were class
| o1nSa fri lie
A long time had elapsed since the da
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 worldl.
goods" he wrote, but without
home" Earle accepted the charge, an
placed Dorothy Baker under his mott
4 er's loving care. This was eight year
: ago.
Dorothy, or little Miss Dot, as sh
i was generally called, owing to he
petite form and childish ways at ter
- willful, yet loving, a sparkling bit c
t fun and cheer, was changed but littl
at the age of eighteen; while Earl
S Wellman, still handsome at thirty
S nine, had lost the frank, merry-hearte
:. way that had once characterized hin
D and had grown coldly stern and II
Il pelling to all, excepting the irresistibl
Dot.
1t was true, as the servants said-thf
Dot could win smile, even snatch {
true, ringing laughter from Earle Wei
man, while others failed. Her childis
winsomeness unconsciously compelle
6 all to love her. Her irrepressible in
pulsiveness was forever causing he
II trouble, yet she was always ready
7, soothe and cheer others with her sof
l. caressing ways. Willfully defiant on
moment, strangely quiet and lovingl
y docile the next she had woven herse
e around Mrs. Wellmans heart until ST
seemed like an own daughter.
g 1t had been n happy household I
Ie four, till the discovery that Lucie Wei
" man had eloped with struggling arti
robbed il of all its sunshine cruShin