The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-23
"A CHARACTER
! {: PARADOX,
Jack BoWdoin's Conversion
and How It Came About.
BY CLAY M. GREENE.
CHAPTER III.-Continued.

on the veranda.
aWhy, what have you got there, Mr..
Bowdoin2" she asked.
"Ive brought poor little orphan for
you to take care OF for me.
For me to take care OFF,"
yes; why, can't do it myself" And
he related to her the incidents that led
to his adoption Of little Helen.
Its sad story, and I'm real sorry
for the poor little thing, but I can't
have her here"
What's that? You pretend to be q
Christian woman, and want to turn
away this motherless little innocent?"
Il can't be bothered with young ones
running about the house. I don't like
them, anyway"
That settles it, Mrs. Brown, replied
Jack with determination. Then you
needn't be bothered with me. My
boards due to-day, and there's the
money. I'll send for mS things before
night, and now good-1nornin'.
"Weu," stampoered Mrs. Brown, now
conscious ths: she had made mistake,
how much would you be willing to pay
for my care of the child?"
Not dollar a year, to you. You
said you didn't like children, and I'll
put her with some one that does, II l
have to brace every woman in COL
orado."
At this, Mrs. Brown slammed the door
angrily, and little Helen began to cry.
Jack lifted her up and carried her down
the hill, at the same time speaking to
her in his cheeriest tone.
There, don't cry, baby; we'll hit 1t
right next time. The next lady won't
refuse yer"
What LADY,"
The name came to him in an instant.
That Of the only one to whom he could
appeal, the only other good woman he
knew, and her name sprang to his lips
with burst Of joyful confidence.
Miss Charles. I'll take yer to her.
It's time for my music lesson, and we'll
find her at the church now. So come
right along and I'll show you an angel
that dropped right out Of heaven"
But angels don't eat.
"What-are you hungry?'
Yes, awful"
well, why didn't you say so before?
Well fix that in two minutes"
He carried her to the nearest restau-
rant, and the hundred men gathered
there-some for late breakfast, some
for dinner-received them both with
open arms.
'"Say, toys, who knows how to feed
children?" Jack asked, with consider
able anxiety, for, on that point, he was
wofully ignorant. =.
Il do" answered every man jack OF
the crowd in breath.
~Mush and milk"
No crackers and cream!"
-Them's for babies, you Ignorant
cuss. Give her corned beef and cab
bage!"
No, roast chickeD!"
whats the matter with pie?"
Its too film. Give her an oyster
stew"
These suggestions, coming in such
rapid succession. plunged Jack into
fever of doubt and increased anxiety.
"Pierre!" he shouted to the landlord,
fetch on everything you've got and
let her select for kerself!"
The banquet that was set before the
astonished child would have fed twenty
men, but she eyed the viands with q con-
fident air that charmed and delighted
the admirers crowded about her table.
She chose a variety Of eatables that
paroxysms of despair, and when she had
declared herself "all froo" Jack paid the
bill, looked nervously at his watch, and
taking his ward by the hand, announced
that he had an important engagement,
and left the restaurant. They soon ar
rived at the church and entered. Miss
Charles was waiting for her pupil, and
when he appeared with little Helen in
\ nh bar fro In Q
recognition to look Of surprise.
Sorry ! kept you waitin', Miss
Charles" said Jack, apologetically.
that's goin' to change my whole
the experience OF the morning, ending
with:
What do you think"
Why, that it was grand and noble in
you, MIR. Bowdoin!"
do you think 30, Miss Charles-do
you, honest?"
Il do, indeed! And whatever sins the
temptations Of your life may have led
you to commit, this one act is, in my
eyes, enough to atone for them ali.
oh, Miss Charles, with an earnest
ness that sent panG through the heart
of his listener, do you really mean
that?"
Il do, really"
Then, that's all I want. I don't care
now what the whole world may say, for
it's through your eyes that want to see
everything. I'm goin' to devote my
life to this little one, but I want you to
tell me what to do. She's got your
name and want her to be like you; I
want her to drink into her little heart
some O the goodness that's in yours;
want her 10 have soul like yours.
Then seeing that his earnestness had
rather frightened her, he treasured her
by bringing his plea 10 close.
Miss Charles, will you take care Of
her for mei"
With all my heart"
And she knelt upon the floor, folded
her arms about the little waif, kissed
her tenGerly, and took her into her
woman's heart forever. Ther- turning
to Jack, with Icok upon her lace that
that seemed to him the very light Of
heaven itself, she said:
Mr.. BowdoiD, will you pray with me?"
What, me! A man like me pray"
A man like YOU need have no fear
God will listen 70 you.
sAs I said just now, Miss Charles,
want 10 see everything through your
eyes. It's GO
So they knelt together, there in the
organ loft-the Christian, the waif, and
the gambler. Helen prayed for divine
assistance in the new obligation she had