Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-04-26

because he was An invalid, sat gen
tleman in chair. He must have Just
come there, because Wilbur had never
noticed him before.
The child saw that he was observed,
and with the friendliness which was
natural to his lonely little heart, he
showed his teeth in smile and waved
his hand. The gentleman smiled
I back, and, lifting an orange from
somewhere, held it up and beckoned
for Wilbur to come over. The boy
shook his head and then ran back.
He hurried into his clothes and tore
at the tangles in his hair. Margaret
might let him go.
Hes such nice gentleman, Mar.
garet, please" he said. 81 think it's
my duty to cheer him up. He's i'll. "
Lee me have look at '1m," the
Irish woman returned, taking her
hands out of the suds.
She peered from behind the dotted
muslin curtains of the fifth fiat at the
haggard, wistful face, and gave an
Irish blessing upon all ''sowls." p"
'Ye're not goin' to call upon the
gran gintleman with no buttons fast
ened on yer shoes, says /. It's the
good little pants and the fine new
shoes will We wear to honor him in"
she said excitedly.
"Will mama care?" the little voice
asked wistfully.
"I'm thinkin' she will an she
won't, the IrIshwoman muttered to
herself. Her big red hands were ner-
vous, but she moved them brisklv,
and soon had the boy dressed in the
dainty little garments in which his
mother loved to make him beautiful
Then she took him across the street,
and made an inquiry or two of the
boy in the hall of the opposite house.
Hes been sick a good while, but
he's gittin' better. He's been into
some o them countries where they've
been fghtin' wild niggers, an it jest
about killed him. He's setti n up
now. Did he call the kid over? All
/ right. I'll take him up"
Wilbur took his hand trustingly,
and followed him into the elevator.
They had no elevator in their house.
, Margaret followed too. She stood in
side the car and heard the door open
and shut. Her hands were clasped.
{ Then she went home.
At dinner time wild looking youSq
woman burst into her kitchen.
l "Where is my baby?" Mrs. Clint
S asked, looking about
"Willy? Well now, it's beggin' your
pardon, miss, but some elegant people
who lives scrost the avenoo in the fit
flat up, has enticed the child aver to EN-,
D an took him over meself. I'd &C
after i'm this minute, miss, but it's my
: ole man S supper would burn. :"
"I'll go. What are their names
I You must never, never do such thing
again."
\ Mrs. Clint hurried across the street,
e divided between anger and good feel
e ing toward these people who had taken
a fancy to her boy. She didn't stop
} to look at the names. She walked
into the elevator and asked to be taken
, to tine fifth floor She knew there
was only one fiat whose entrance wai
, here.
) Inside she heard voices, her boys
| voice. She rang the bell, and there
, was the sound of his little feet run
/ ming eagerly across the floor He was
SO fond of opening the door for their
infrequent visitors that he was doing
it for these people
The door was nung open, and in the
light of an open fire she saw, past the
child, pale, sick, wistful face that
she knew.
"Mary," ne said, won't you let
Wilbur bring you in?"
The long separation was at an end.
-Munsey's Magazine.