The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-15

ut of the Van Antwerp cradle by a
newcomer long before that time.
Julius had been its first occupant, and
he had given place to Fred, who in
turn had resigned in favor of the twins,
Bessie and Belle; and it seemed only
month or Two after they were too big
to sleep comfortably within its limits
that our Tommy appeared. Now he
was strutting about in kits, and little
Minna and her doll held undisputed
sway in the roomy cradle.
But to pretty Mrs. Gresham, ''the
lady over the fence" as Tommy called
her. he was the Van Antwerp badly;
nor had she ever given thought to
any other Van Antwerp whatsoever.
The Greshams and Van Antwerps lived
back to back-that is to say. the tiny
backyard of the Van Antwerp estab-
hshment bordered on the beautiful
gardens in the rear Of tho Gresham
mansion: but while the latter fronted
on one of TIE most elegant and exclu-
sive residence quarters of the large
town, the Van Antwerp front door
opened upon an questionable little
back street.
Mrs. Gresham was very lonely
woman in spite of her beautiful house
and grounds. There were no little chill
dren to fill them with music and mcrri-
nent. and the birds and blossoms did
not seem 10 make up for the lack Of
chiid-laughter and curly heads. There
was Mr.. Gresham, of course; but,
strange to say. though she was very
sweet al fair to look upon, he saw
very little of his wife. He had mar
ried late in life, a merry, loving young
girl, bubbling over with girlish fun and
brightness. He brought her home to
the lovely house with its beautiful
trees and gardens. and she was happy
for time as the birds among the
branches; but Mr.. Gresham, unfortu-
nately for the continuance of his wife's
happiness. had a mother whom he de-
votedly loved, aid who loved him with
an affection that amounted to idolatry.
She had gone to her final rest some
time before our story opens, but she
lived long enough to make havoc Of the
young wife's happiness and to SOW
enlargement which bid fair never to
be healed.
So it came to pass that in the besnti-
full May mornings Mrs. Gresham used
to bring her embroidery or her novel
out into the garden and read, work or
write in the dain ose bower near the
fountain; and ~, being too little
h; 70 ha I-o,,f
safely in the cradle like Minna, was
sent into the back yard to play. Here
he conceived gread admiration for the
LADY over the fence" and p ,oceeded
one morning to climb over the low
iron railing into the Gresham garden.
Mrs. Gresham. looking up from her
work and her thinking. was surprised
to see sturdy, round little fellow
with tuulbled yellow curis. big blue
eyes and faded kits regarding her in
tently.
Good morning. little boy" she said.
pleasantly, who do you want?"
Wants to see you; what's your
name?'
Mrs Gresham; what is yours?"
Tommy"
Tommy what?"
Tommy"
"Wha. is your papa's name?"
.sA-y popa's name is Van Antwerp"
speaking very slowly, for he had been
:aught this thoroughly. II view OF his
tondaess for running away. Haven't
you got any papaY'
Now. this word had different mean
ing IN Tommy's vocabulary from tic
one it had N Mrs Grcshan's. In large
families it often happens that the heads
OF the same come 10 be known 10 each
other as papa and mamma. and II WIS
so in tfe Van Antwerp household
When. therefore. Mrs Gresham re-
piled: s'No. Gear. | haven't AM papa
nor mamma. nor anyone 70 love Ene.
Il conveyed TO Tommy the idea OF such
depth Of loneliness AID dcsolation as
10 rocsc intense pity II his manly little
bosom. and fin4inE both tat arms abcut