The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-05-06

my name," he replied soberly, sis
David Leonard, and that's fathers
name, too. My mothers gone to Heav-.
en-" he continued, feeling with child's
quick instinct that he had sympa-
thetic listener. 49,
''Maggie's only the servant. She
slaps us sometimes, but don't tell ia
! thcr, cause it would make him feel
bad, and don't mind much, only when
she hurts Sylvia" =.
David told his new friend many other
things which made her heart ache for
the two neglected children.
At length they went away, promis-
| ing to come again soon. -
They kept their promise, and nearly
| every afternoon was spent with Olive,
who told them fairy stories or taught
Sylvia to make dolls clothes.
Almira Powers grew much attached
to the quiet, respectful boy, who helped
her shell peas or pick beans, and who
| often filled her woodbox.
But Olives heart went out to merry,
willful Sylvia. ...,
The seedlings on the other side of
the fence grew more frequent, and
sometimes lasted from morning till
night with little cessation.
One day the children were playing in
their own yard when suddenly Maggie
rushed out of the house, and, Selling
Sylvia by the arm, gave her slap in
| the face.
David came valiantly to his sisters
| rescue. but received blow which made
| him cry out in pain.
Then suddenly a tall, gaunt figure
jumped the fence, and, swooping down
like an enraged eagle, encircled both
| children in her arms.
It was Almira Powers, who had from
her window witnessed Maggie's attack
or the children and had rushed to their
! rescue.
"You tech them children agin, if you
dare" she cried, her very hair standing
out straight in her wrath.
you miser'ble sneakin' critter, can
hardly keep my hands off of you'll"
''Come, David!" she continued, talk
ing Sylvia in her arms, ''come ri ht over
to our house an stay till yer pa
comes, an then We'll tell him few
things he don't KNOW
Maggie hurled a few expletives after
them, of which Alnira took no notice
| whatever.
Olive took the trembling, sobbing
child in her lap and rocked her gently
to sleep, while Almira- gave David II
piece of maple sugar large enough to
wreck the health of any ordinary child.
The mother feeling awoke in Olives
heart and filled her with bitter yearn-
| ing as she looked down into the tear
! stained little face. The child's gentle
breathing was now and then broken by
heavy sigh.
/ Olive held the child until the father
came, dreaming many tender dreams
as she clasped the tiny form to her
bosom.
When Mr.. Leonard came home he
sought his children, and listened sadly
to the story his neighbor. told him.
''Of course Maggie mustgo,' he said,
decidedly. "Why did the children
never tell me?' -
Tears filled his eyes when Olive told
him what David had said.
'Poor little fellow" he said. II can
never thank you enough for your inter-
est in my little ones, you and Miss Pow
ers." .a.@ %s
:''Well,' said Almira, II amt a
heather, an couldn't see them young
ones abused by that critter.''
| A few days later Mr.. Leonard went
over at sunset to@tell the two women
that he had secured a kindly, middle
aged servant to take care Of his house
and children. r.. ! ~ T s...,z =.
He was a painfully shy man, SO Olive
talked the more to set him at his ease,
and they soon became quite friendly.
! When NE went away he presented a box
OF Strawberries very awkwardly.
speaking again of their kindness to the
children. liz. es-5 as.
So it came about quite naturally for
Mr.. Leonard to spend the evening fire.
quently with his two neighbors, or
sometimes with Olive alone. She was
so frank and self forgetful that he felt
more at ease with her than he had ever
felt with any woman before.
i
Sometimes on Sunday evenings Mr..
Leonard brought the children, and they
all sang while Olive played the sera-
phine as Of yore. But Mr.. SLeonard's
voice was q deep barton
One night, as they sat alone on the
little porch in the moon light, he told
Olive his sad story.
Years before, he had fallen in love
with q pretty working girl, who. he
believed, also loved him. He found too
late that she cared nothing for him,
and had only married him for his
money. She did not seem TO care for
her children, either, but found them d
burden.
Mr.. Leonard tried yainly to win her
love. She grew more and more dis
Econtented, I'LL one day, when David
Twas two years Old and Sylvia y baby
sa l||alsl I