Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-14
BOBBY ELAN.
BY Margaret Kenna.

Marvel had been disappointed in
love. He had laid his worship at the
feet Of a girl who was about to be
married. Sometimes such an affair +
like a soft white cocoon. whence an
exquisite butterfly goes forth to the
sun. Sometimes it is quit otherwise
Dorothy Clemence had been married
more than a year, and Marvel had
grown quite used to meeting her
Across a crowded room he frequently
recognized the rosebuds in her bonnet
He smiled to think that there could
be distinguishing roSebuds; but when
he made his way to them. Mrs. Cher
ringtOn was always there. and Mrs
Cherrington's placid mouth always
broke into a smile of welcome. HIS
heart no longer f1uttered TO his lips,
n he had even been brave enough
to dine twice with the Cherringtons.
Those who loved him least said al
the club that Marvel's career had fin
ished with the unreQuited tenderness
for d. rOthy Clemence. Those nearest
his heantt said that this had been but
the beginning of his life.
'Mr. Marvel needs a little rest and
adventure. don't you think?' Dorothy
had asked her husband, as the gentle
man in question stood at their carriage
one afternoon.
II think that it is only that he is
standing under a bar of strong yellow
sunlight" Cherrington gently replied
Il am about to have a little adven-
ture," said Marvel. ''There is a prom
ising little boy out ait Greenbr:er, ard
l ann thinking of bringing him here
to Washington. He lis one of the
Cranberry twins, Mrs. Cherrington. If
anything happens to me, Will you and
your husband look after him?"
'We will indeed-ioyfully." promised
Dorothy, as her carriage swept AWAY
SO one day in springtime, Marvel
and Bobby Flax padded over the
Greenbrier river to take the express
to Washington. Marvel lit his pipe
and smoked lit, watching the oars
swing in BObby's small hands. He
thought the boys jeans fitted him
rather sparingly, but he also thought
BObby'S mother must be 4 very deX.
ferrous young woman to turn out such
neat homespun.
When they got into the train, Mar
wells prOtege took off his hat and
crossed his feet. Taking off his hat
was a dramatic performance with
Bobby, for he had a superb young
head with AN ethereal lot of curls
twisted Overwhelmingly about it. They
We're the soft, flaxen curls which the
French dolls have in the windows on
Broadway, and they were strange upon
this brown boy, They gave Marvel
tWfnges of reprVach, too: Bobby's
mother had the same curls.
"Do you think YOU will like it, Bob
by" he asked.
yes" he murmured, and a smile
wrinkled his shy mouth.
Marvel reflected that hitherto the
lines had not fallen in happy places
for Robin Cranberry. That was his
real name; "Bobby Flax had come
with his curls. His father was a dis
consolidate farmer. Misfortune trailed
after him everywhere. The browning
disaster had come one might when the
house burned to the earth and left
him and his wife and children a
naked group at the mercy of the
winds. Bobby's mother had caught
cold that night. She was a very young
mother and Bobby was the first in a
homo fiiO{ht of Stans
From the time he was able to toddle
he had sold baskets, which his mother
made. to the ladies in the hotel. Mar.
vel first saw the boy when his father
leased a farm near the springs, which
was part of the Marvel property. The
young man liked his fine brown face
and his pathetic little energies, and
resolved to give him q career. He
wrote to Washington and succeeded il
getting him a place as page in the
senate. 1t had been a keen and de
licate affair, kidnapping Bobby, but
Marvel's diplomacy was equal to the
occasion, and at last they were or
their way to Washington together.
"It's very pretty in here. isn't it."
he said.
yes" Bobby rejoined. I've otter
sold baskets for mother in these trains
but I never sat down in one before
You can see yourself in the looking
glass, too. I wish mother could see
herself in a looking glass" he added
radiantly.
your mother is a beautiful woman
Marvel said softly, II know only two
women whose faces compare with hers
One is a dear friend of mime. a Mrs
Earle, and the other a Mrs. Cnerrfng
tom
"WilI I see them?" Bobby breathed
Perhaps" Marvel said. 81 have
adopted You. Bobby, and if anything
should happen to me Mrs. Cherringtor
has promised TO take care Of you"
He bought a lot of illustrated papers
for the boy, and then strolled int
the other car to smoke. The vivi(
figures in Life and Truth We're quite
old friends to Bobby. The dining room
at the farm was papered with them
He looked at them all, and then curlet
UP on the velvet seat and went t
sleep.
The journey was soon OVe WheT
they stepped off the car in Washing
ton deep fushes ose in Bobby: