The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-07-25
She called herself '.Tottie" and now
ass<acl

AlSuG a1OuSS DOEd ClIiuleu Her against
her bosom -and in the morning the first i
thing she did was to reach across the
child and say well, mamma "
All that Mrs. Leslie answered was:
Dora, last night I thought you a
perfect idiot-to-day I only add, ] am
one also. Unless some one comes to
claim the child we will keep it as long
as we can feed it,
And so Tottie became one Of the 4
household.
OF course the neighbors all thought
the widow and her daughter out of
their minds to take more care upon
their shoulders. And if course there
was more care; but the child was so
sweet and lovable that she amply re-
paid them for all they did for her.
They soon felt sure that, tiny as she
was, she was older than they had
thought her. She talked great deal,
in 1.ll her broken way. But one thing was
strange-she said papa constantly,
first. she would stand at the window.
pressing her face against the glass and
saying: Papa toming" every now and
then. After awhile, however. she
seemed to forget the past, and the
widow and her daughter grew to feel
that she belonged to them, and would
not have parted with her fol her weight
in gold. Even when those trying times
arrived when Dora lost her place, and
Mrs. I4eslies sewing machine work Was
cut down to half it's usual amount, they
never regretted. the charge they had
taken upon themselves.
Il guess you are sorry you took in
oxler folks children now" said Mrs.
McLinn, stopping at the door of the
fiat one day to say it. Working folks
don't often have more'n enough for
themselves, as you'll find out.
"Whi1e we have enough for ourselves,
there'll be enough for our little streak
of sunshine, Mrs. AIcIinn," said Dora,
catching Tottie in her arms. "a house
without q child isn't home at all
She looked up as she spoke, but Mrs.
N1cLinn had gone. In place Of her ill
natured, greenish eyes, she met a pair
of great, black, melancholy orbs, set
under straight brows, and a pure white
forehead, over which clustering curls
fell abundantly. The handsomest man
she had ever seen stood in the doorway
looking at her,
His business was soon told.
Mrs. Leslie had advertised for sewing,
and his mother had sent her card, ask
ing that she would call at once, as she
had a great deal to do, and needed
all the time the advertisers could give
her. -
This message given, the gentleman
crossed the room and knelt down be-
side the rocking chair, where Tottie
sat swinging her feet and staring at
him. So. III II IL. = L.. -. E<: RI
.ss' II heard your remark as Iscame in, e.
he said to Dora. How often have q
uttered the same words of late. Tt
is not long since I lost a little daughter
my only child-whose mother died
when she was only a few days old
This little one is very much like her.
AS he spoke, Tottie uttered a shriu
shrek Of pleasure. ,.
my papa toner she screamed '"Tiss
TOtty, papa
Great heaven cried the gentleman,
ut is my child! It is my Tottie, unless
I have gone mad
Explanations followed. Six months
before, the child, who lived with her
grandmother, had been taken. out to
walk by a servant, who, shortly after,
was brought home in strong Mysteries,
screaming that Tottie was drowned.
It seemed that the girl had taken
her charge out upon a dock, and left her
perched up over, the water, while she
engaged in filtration with some
stranger.
Suddenly she heard splash, and
turned to look. The child was gone
The great crowd that gathered at
the spot could do nothing but stare,
and the little body was never found.
The day was the day on which Dora
had brought. the child home. The
clothes which she had Worn proved her
identity. The little one had called her.
self by her pet name.
It was plain that instead of falling
into the water, she had simply walked
away into the street and that the poor.
woman who died upon the doorstep
had found her and was endeavoring to
take her to that refuge Of lost children,
the station-house. a,
When the father at last carried the
child away, neither Mrs Leslie nor
Dora could restrain their tears. The
loss Of Tottie was very great grief
to them The little home seemed DESC
late without her presence.
It was some comfort when Tottie's
grandmother arrived and engaged them
both to work for her for month. She
told them more Of her sons grief than
he had told himself.
'.'I am sure he. would have died Of it
before long, she said.
TT is like a miracle to see that little
darling playing about the house again
And you have taken such good care Of
her!'' '
e The rich old lady desired to make.
some recompense, but as this was, Of
course, refused by Dora and her moth
er, she contented herself with paying
literally for the work she had to give .
them.
Oh, what q month that was to Dora
How the days few by as she sat, busy
as a bee, with Tottie playing about the !
sewing room! And, of course, Wher-
ever Tottie was, papa must be also.
And 50 Dora and he became great
friends.
He was very handsome; he was very
rich; he owned his country place, his
houses, his yacht. Tottie's prospects
were like those of a little princess. and
it seemed to Dora that Tottie's father
was like a king-the king of men in
person and in manner. But only when
that delig tful month was over, and she