Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-01-02

thought mo Utopian foolishnesa
about him."
4 MiIdred's reflections az she walked
along the crowded thoroughfares were
very different. "Just think" she medi.
tated. that I never realized before that
had any personal obligation towards
such people. I've given money, but
that isn't much. / wish / had found
that child sooner, and perhaps / would
II I hadn't been SO selfishly happy
Now suppose the good gift for that
woman would be to have her baby walk
like other peoples babies. Well, we
must do something right away. Fred
will help, know"
But when she saw that clear-hea
young gentleman he was not as enthu-
siastic as she was; In fact, his cool,
matter-of-fact, half-bored air gave her
a queer feeling of disappointment that
she had never imagined 1t possible to
feel towards the heir of an English
title.
"My dear Miss Mildred" he said,
''thOse beastly poor people in the
slums are impostOrs. most Of them,
and nuisances. too. The more you do
for them the more you may do Like
as not the woman took the child from
somebody else Just to carry her around
and excite sympathy from sweet-faced
angels like you"
The compliment passed unheeded.
"I'll give you substantial check,
Miss Mildred" he went on, ''but / must
insist-and there was proprietary air
in his manner now that she could not
endure-"that you give it to some
charitable society to look into the case
for you. and that you will not think of
being seen yourself in that low neigh
borhOod of thieves, thugs and levee
rats"
"Thank you. Mr.. Dalgrave," she
said. IF I need ii I will ask for it,"
and she turned the conversation to 9TH
er themes.
That same evening Mr.. Edgar Wilton
dropped i'm with the familiarity Of an
old friend Just about sunset, as Mil
dred and Mrs. Gresham sat talking
over the incident Of the morning.
Tell Ted about It," suggested Mrs
Gresham. But II needed some per-
suasion to induce Mildred to do so. At
last. however, she did, but in half
timid way, as If she expected cold
water to be thrown on her sympathetic
plans and was lodging the shock.
Ted" after Thoughtful silence, re-
lieved her mind by looking ut the mat
ter i'm different way from her English
friend.
You see. Mildred" he said. "there
is Il possibility that the woman may
have deceived you. but that cuts no
figure. There is the child. who, at all
odds, needs food. warmth and doc
tor, too, who may relieve her some if
not cure her. I will go with you and
Eleanor If you want to look her up.
1t is Il miserable neighborhood. but /
believe that in charity as we'll ms i'm
other business. If you want your work
done do it yourself is first class max
i'm. Your fathers influence will easily
get the child into a hospital; that you
can count on. Mildred"
"Oh, yes" she said, and then looking
up in shame-faced way mt Mr.. VIII
ton: DO YOU know. Ted. this is the
first time i'm my happy life ever tried
to do anything for anybody? Every
thing has come to me. mean to make
that child better and her mother happy
just for my Christmas present to my
self"
There was such an eager, determined
expression in her eyes that her sister
felt her heart sink with the dread of
disappointment for her.
THE doctor may not be able to do
all you hope. Milly." she said.
"You think everything is too late"
petulantly replied the girl do you
suppose God would grudge one happy
Christmas to that poor woman?"
While Mr.. Edgar Wilton cast a
look of unutterable reproach at the
older woman. who had dared to hint
that any wish of Mildreds might go
astray, it was self-evident that Miss
Chesney was spoilt young lady, and
1t was also easily discoveIable that she
had Mr.. Ted's heart in her possession.
Mrs. Wilkinson and little Nellie were
found in Thatcher's tenement-house,
and to Mildred's great relief were no
impOsters. In two days the little girl
was transported to n hospital ward i'm
n private hospital and home found for |
the mother. But the doctor shook his |
head as he passed his hand over Mel |
lies shrunken, lifeless limbs, and noted |
her bright eyes and the scarlet spot |
on her thin cheeks.
II see that Miss Mildred has set her
heart on this" he said to Mrs. Gresham,
when they were alone; "but you had
better tell her that my skill would be
of no avail. Starvation, cold and living
around from one place to another have
done their work. 1t is only a question
of Il little time now. AS to the paraly-
sis, ! might have bettered her condi-
ton some with chair and some other
appliances. but Miss Chesney found the
child just little too late to save her
life"
When this was told her, Mildred
grieved bitterly, and gave up her
Christmas work to visit the hospital
daily, where an accomplishing child
Rugged her first doll to her heart day
and night. and the child's mother,
through Mr. Chesney's influence, how
cred near, with patient, sorrowful eyes.
like burdened creature that had
learned the futility of a struggle.