Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-11-28

SenC-mlOQeuIy1 ais lie WalcHeN MS
mother feeding milk to the little
stranger.
Eyes. he's the poor commissioner.
amt he?'
sWllat of that?''
"'What of that! did I ever! Why
you can't git this young one into the
poorhouse without seeing him about
it,"
A wave of color swept across Jacks
sun-burncd, unshaved face, but he
only replied that he guessed they could
board her until Sunday, leastways no
one could he spared from the husking
now.
IND how dye s'pose I'm to do my
work md care fer baby all that
time? Here it's only Thursday"
''She don't seem troublesome yet"
mo, of course she'll be good while
I'm Winding her all the time; but wait
till put her by"
Before Jack had been at work two
hours he made an excuse to go to
the house. His mother happened to
be out Of doors when he entered the
kitchen, but there sat the lovely child
in her basket, gleefully pulling the
strands of q skein of scarlet yarn.
The moment she caught sight Of hin.
she gave happy, gurgling laugh.
dropped the yarn and held out her
arms; but he pretended not to see
her. When next he glanced in her
direction, the baby's lip was trembling
and tears We're yelling up into the
great dark eyes.
He made a step toward her. then
paused, looking from his dirty hands
and dusty clothes to the dainty gar
ments she wore.
II amt fit" he muttered, but then
that look!
Once more the smile came like
burst of sunshine through the clouds
and the dimpled hands reached out
alluringly.
1900. goow she said, but he thought
she meant good, and-well, when his
mother entered the room she was
simply dumbfounded at the sight that
met her gaze.
Jack, who had never even touched q
baby before, was marching about,
the child on his Shoulder, one hand
fastened in his rather unkempt hair,
the other patting his check.
''Gco. goow she cried louder and
louder.
Jack Kingsley, are you crazy?" she
cried. With a shamefaced expression,
he turned toward the basket, but
paused half way and turned, detiantly.
NO. l amt crazy, but I'm goin' to
keep her"
Coin to keep her? Mercy on us,
you must be out en- yer head"
Il tell you amt, but I'd be 'shamed
to put purity little critter like her in
, the poorhouse. Hain't we got enough,
I'd like ter know, to feed one sech
kid?"
"But who'll take care Of her?"
The poor fellow looked perplexed,
but Fay, at this moment, nestled her
bead against his neck. cooling content
cdly, "Da. da. da. dap
II will, If there's nobody else" he
answered defiantly;; ''leastways I can
hire a girl"
.'4A girl" Mrs. Kingsley fairly shrek
| ed, for in all her life she had never
hired help in the house one day.
And then she poured forth trade
of abuse that, could little Fay have un-
derstOod. would have burned into her
very soul! Happily she could not I'M
derstand, but Jack did, after fashion
at least, but the effect was exactly
contrary to what his mother desired,
| and his answer showed her her mis-
| take.
ut may all be as you think" he
said slowly; 1--WE don't know anything
about it, but l do know this inner
cent babe amt to blame md I'll be
blamed if l don't stand for her nd
fight the hull world, if need be. 1
amt fit fer much! the Kingsleys amt
ike other people nohow, md if this
here kid amt respectable it can't make
no great odds to us; we amt s'ciety
folks but all these fine fixens she's
got on shows she don't b'long to no
poor trash round here. There's q
mystery about it that hope we won't
never understand"
After this uncommonly long speech.
Jack Kingsley put the child in the
basket aud went out. his mother never
saying a word. We are inclined to
think she was little alarmed for hfs
mental condition, though. When she
recovered from the shock a little, she
remembered few other times in his
life when Jack had unexpectedly flung
out in a similar fashion in defense Of
an abused animal, and once In the case
of sick tramp. She blamed herself
severely for not using more strategy
at the outset; now the battle was hope
lessiy lost. Well, he might hire some
body to care for it; she would not;
and in five minutes after she had set
tied this point she was holding the OBJ
ject of controversy in Ter arms and
feeding it most tenderly. Then for
the first she remembered that this was
Thanksgiving day. Thanksgiving!
And, sitting and rocking, her mind
Travelled back to time when the day
meant much to her; to time when
life was not so narrow, so sordid,
when she went to church and enjoyed
human companionship. Then she re-
membered the first Thanksgiving on
this farm, when Jack was a sturdy
boy of five and the others younger;
how she had made little feast almost
out Of nothing, but, despite the home
sickness and loneliness, they had been
far happier than in the years since
when love Of gain had "eaten them
. up" spiritually and mentally. With a
start. she heard the clock strike eley-
Ell. The baby was sleeping; could
she manage to get up Thanksgiving
feast in IN hour? She had intended to
vNnt v.rsI. st.