St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-26

a woman to take care of the child,
and the writer's expression of regret
that social customs would not permit
her to visit him and give her assist
cnce.
If the professor had been a vain
man he might have suspected the Wrl-
ter's motives, but he only wondered
at her effrontery.
Letter after letter the professor
Mary.
THAT precious express agent took
good care to spread the news he
reflected.
Then he looked at Mary, or rather
the olive chair, for Mary had disap-
peared
Good gracious!" he exclaimed,
where has she gomez
He called. but she did not answer.
He went into the next room but she
was not there.
He looked into the kitchen, but the
old woman declared that the blessed
little div'P' had not been near her.
Up stairs went the professor in great
haste, loudly calling for Mary. He
tried to reason with himself that he
ought to rejoice at her sudden dlSap-
pearance, and hope that she never,
never, would return, but his argu-
ments could not hold their ground
against that new thrill of anxiety
which had got possession of his heart
He went out Of the house and called
loudly:
Mary"
What you wants?" came the shrill
answer from the other side of the
fence.
There was Mary, comfortably seated
in Mabel Rikers lap, while the girl af-
fectionately patted her tangle of black
curls.
"O-ah-yes-I beg pardon" STAN
| mered the professor; you see-well-
she went away when 1 was not look
ing"
Il quite understand your anxiety,
professor" replied Mabel pretty
flush mounting to her cheeks; Il
should be anxious if 1 were in your
place She's such sweet child"
IT wonder if she's making game of
me- thought the professor. Then he
said: Now, Mary, you must come
home; you mustn't bother Miss Riker."
ooh, but she doesn't" exclaimed Ma
bel.
Wants to stay here said Mary
LET me keep her a little while"
pleaded Mabel. She could have kept
the professors entire world.
"Oh--why-of course, certainly, if
you like
Mary. Let me s'eep in he's bed, and l
kiss i'm
"Ha; hum Good morning." said the
professor, retiring in the utmost con-
fusion.
After that little Mary spent most of
her time with Mabel Riker, and the pro-
fessor's hours of studious retirement
were not greatly abbreviated.
And he was always glad when the
child came trotting in at meal times
with some new story of MabeFs good
ness.
Eyes, Mary" he said emphatically
one day, "she's the best girl in the
world"
Little Mary treasured that astound-
ing declaration, and in the afternoon
remarked to Mabel:
"You'se dood to me; you'se best girl
in de world"
"Oh, Mary said Mabel, that's too
much; you mustn't say that"
Twill say dat You'se best girl in de
world; Uncle Art'ur says you is"
"Oh-h-h," said Mabel in "a low tone,
her eyes softening and her face col
oring.
When little Mary returned to her I'M
Gle she was bursting with eagerness
to repeat Mabels reply. Suddenly,
while the old woman was pouring out
some milk, the child exclaimed:
"Uncle Art'ur, you'se handsome"
Saints alive" cried the woman,
spilling the milk.
"Why-why-Mary CALCULATED the
professor.
'tYou is. Mabel says you isl
The professor said not a word, but
he ate heartily. and after supper
smoked his pipe with uncommon zest.
When Mary went to visit Mary the
next day she carried with her a very
pretty box of .bon-bons for that young
woman; and when she returned she
bore some choice berries plucled in
Mrs. Riker's garden by Mabel's own
fingers.
The last detail caused the professor
to refrain from eating the berries.
He put them away in a secret place,
where they were subsequently found,
a lot of hard, black pellets.
How long this communication of
spirits might have gone on it is i'm
possible to say; but it was interrupted
in way which brought grave anxiety
to the professors heart.
One evening May was much paler
than usual, and she complained of
pain in her head.
you've been playing too hard,''
said the professor, with his newly &C
quired air of paternal wisdom.
So he sent her to bed early-to her
own bed in which she had finally con-
sented to sleep.
But in the silence of the night she
came to his side, crying and COM
planning of the pain. He found her
in a feverish state
The professor was a man Of deci-
sion in most things. He promptly
dressed himself, aroused the old wo-
man, babe her sit by the child and went
for the doctor. That dignified person,
ON arriving, looked wise and said:
81 am afraid she is in for the measles
or the scarlet fever-or else a BIZ
ious fever. 1t is really impossible to
tell at this stage"
He gave explicit directions as to
treatment and promised to call again
in the forenoon. When he did so he
shook his head and said:
Professor, this child needs a wom-
ans care
IL suppose you are right. But
what shall I do? She will not allow
my cook to come near her.
Get a professional nurse
There are only two in town-and-
they are both young-and-well, you
know-I-live here alone
well, sir, you must manage it,
somehow"
The doctor went away, leaving the
professor much disturbed. A few min
utes later the old woman informed
him that Miss Riker was at the kithen