Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-03-30

"Hey!' CALCULATED Mr.. Perkins, let
ting his hand drop at his side. Whats
the matter?''
81 thought you were going to
throw the plant away" murmured
jamie. still with downcast eyes
$50 1 amor was" as he began to
understand s'It's pretty well bruk up,
an 1 can't bother with a common
geranium. You don't say you'd like
it? Have it. jest as well as not, an
welcome, if you want the bother of it. %
''Really?" Janie's voice had joy
full ring. For my very own? Oh,
thank you, sir! Might leave it by
the step until nave carried this work
home-if it wouldn't be in your way"
Mr.. Perkins looked down into the
starry eyes and the thin face. whence
all WEAKNESS had fed. '.All right,
little 'un," he said, cheerily. feeling his
heart warm at the pleasure he had
given. 1t was an unusual sensation to
the man of shrewd bargains.
How happy mother will be!' the
child said, aloud, as she hurried away
on her errand. "And Allie will be
tickled most to DEATH"
In ten minutes she was back again.
But her heart fell in bitter disappoint-
ment; the plant was not there.
'.Here you are,'' came voice from
the store, and the proprietor appeared
with the poor little plant enthroned in
brand-new pot. 81 had lots of 'em, F"
he explained, with elaborate careless
ness. Thought it mightn't be SO
handy fur you to find one. There,
that'll do, child. You're welcome.
1t was flushed and painting little
girl who hurried up the long flights Of
the shabby tenemept-house to the bare
rooms called home Putting her
precious burden on the floor, she quiet
ly opened the door and slipped into the
room. Two faces were lifted to greet
her-one worn and lined by her hard
struggle with poverty; the other no
less worn, but with the delicate ap-
pearance that betokens an early fit
ting from this life, that of a tiny child
lying propped with pillows before the
one window, with wide unearthly eyes
fixed upon a dusty elm and patch OF
sky beyond.
Guess what sister has brought you.
Allie" cried jamie, swinging the door
back and forth, her face flushing and
paling with excitement.
Allie smiled softly transferring her
gaze to JAMES face IN mute question.
In an another mo1asnt the plant was
produced in triumph, and never was
rarest orchid received with the delight
and admiration that greeted the spind
ling geranium, denuded, by the acct
dent, of its single blossom. The story
was soon told, and from that day the
little plant became the axis around
which revolved the joys and hopes of
the two children.
Two blocks away stood the fair
brownstone church of which Mrs.
Turner was a member. In happier
days, before sorrow fell upon the little
family, robbing it of the father and
bread-winner, she had been d regular
attendant, but now jamie usually went
to church alone, while the mother read
to her other darling of the New Jeru-
salem and of One who calls the little
ones to His arms.
One clear October Sabbath morning,
as jamie sat alone in a back pew,
young lady, entering late, slipped in
beside her JAMES, thin little chest
rose and fell with excitement, and she
could not refrain from casting shy
chances at the fair girl beside her.
Many time she had noted the sweet
face with its tender expression and
loving eyes, but always at a distance.
Surely this was white Sunday.
Miss Eaton noticed the child's inter-
est, but made no move to betray her
knowledge until the service was end
ed. when, with sunny smile, she
looked down into the admiring eyes.
care you coming into the Sabbath
school, dear?" she asked, gently.
'I-nO, ma'am," answered jamie,
shyly. II dou't belong"
s'Why, haven't / seen you often at
church," asked Miss Eaton, in sur
prise.
"Yes, ma'am, but nobody ever asked
me to stay to Sunday school"
Then will ask you now. Will you
come with me. nay dear? L have a class
of girls about your age and the girl
held out her gloved hand for Janie's
sunburned fingers
heartily. ''But i oughtn't to stay to-
day. Mother would be worried
Next Sunday, then. But come a
moment and 1 will introduce you to
the girls. so that you will feel more at
home next time
It was not with unmixed approval
that the dainty maidens in Miss Eaton's
class received this addition to their
number. Petted and curled darlings
of wealthy parents they felt indignant
that alien element should be intro
duced into their charmed circle.
THE idear' muttered Blanche Everts
in Mabel Sheriden's ear. miss Eaton
knows the class is large enough al
ready. All of our set, too! It's a
shame!'
But Miss Eaton's calm courtesy held
them in check, and it was with an out
ward show of politeness that they
acknowledged JAMES timid nod One
or two welcoming faces were there.
and, with Miss Eaton's friendly clasp
upon her fingers, jamie promised to
come again.
And come she did through the chill
| winds of late fall and the cutting
storms of winter, filling quiet niche
among the girls of a widely different
life from hers So retiring was she
that they hardly minded her presence.
save by grudging acknowledgment
that JAMES, lessons were invariably
| well learned, and that Though she
| isn't like rs she's not So trOu hleSOma