The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-03
An UItimatum.

4
say you were just obliged to?'
Teddie nodded, and his blue eyes wer
wistful. Just obliged 10. You see, May
sic, We are poor. 1t is because my pap;
died, mamma says, and that is why VI
have to do without great many things
that We want Mamma was so sick thi
summer that DR.. James said she mus
come 10 the seashore to get wen. And 81
we came. and now we haven't any mor'
money. and so we are just obliged TO e.
back"
Maysie tossed up her head. ''Well,
just wouldn't. Why don't you stamp YOU
feet and scream? That's the way l d.
when 1 want something, and Sally nearly
always lets me have it,"
There was little silence. Teddy sigh
ed wistfully, and Maysie sat with hei
chin in her little brown hand and her darl
eyes fixed thoughtfully on the sea- She
was thinking hard. Suddenly she sat
upright and her cheeks famed exctedly
I'm just tell you what. Teddie," she
cried. I've thought of a splendid plan
| You haven't any papa and / haven't any
mamma Now, my pape is rich. you
know-ever 50 rich-and he can do any
thing he likes. III just ask him 10 adopt
you and your mamma. Then you will be
my brother, you know, and we will each
have mamma and a papa"
Here Maysie was struck by possible
flaw in her splendid plan. Are mammas
nice?" she asked. dolefully.
But Teddie dispelled her fears instantly.
Deed they are" he cried enthusiast
/ cally They are just as nice as nice!
/ Why, Maysie. you would just love my
! mamma. She is so pretty and she can
/ sing as soft and sweet as birds, and she
can tell such beautiful stories all about
fairies and things"
can she?'' Maysie's eyes sparkled.
! ''Why. that is splendid. And then We can
| stay here and finish our beautiful castle"
II Will not have 10 go home, then. said
Teddie. ''Maysie, you do think of splen-
did things. You thought OF the castle,
and the sand cave and everything"
Teddie gazed at her admiringly.
20, that's nothing" she said with fine
! indifference. Il always think of things.
Now I'll go and ask papa"
IAN right" said Teddie. And 1 won't
tell mamma until you come, 50 we can
s'prise her. I'll go home now. Good-by,
Maysie.'
"Good-by.'"
Maysie sped across the sands. and said
to herself a la Sally. My lucky stars"
when she saw her papa coming towadr
her along the shore, a big, brown-bearded
man, with merry eyes
Hello, Puss, what is the news? You
look important" ne said, tumDling her
curls ever her head.
"Well, 1 guess it is important said
Maysie. Il have just settled about having
a brother and a mamma Such nice
boy, and 1 know his mamma is nice, too
You won't mind having a little boy, Will
you papa?"
you see,' went on Maysie, 1.-The little
boys name is Teddie, and I've played
with him every day since we've came.
We are building a beautiful castle now,
such a grand one, with rooms and rooms,
but if Teddie goes away We can't ever
finish it. They are so poor, you know,
papa, that they can't stay here any long
er. And so 1 told him that / would ask
you to adopt him and his mamma. We
are rich, aren't We papa? And there Is
lots of room in our house. And you know
papa, you often say If only l had moth
er to manage me. And sometimes / get
so lonely without any one to play with.
Teddie is lonely, too, and when he goes
home he won't have anything to eat but
bread-just only bread, papa
Dear me!' said her papa Where did
you pick up this little ragamuffin, May
sie?"
why, papa" cried Maysie, Indignantly
He isn't ragamuffin at all! Sally says
he is more ladylike than I am. But I can
run faster than he can and he was afraid
of the water at frst!" Maysie shifted
contemptuously, and her papa laughed
outright. Maysie considered this a good
sign and she took his hand coaxingly.
Papa, how would you like to sleep in d
bed with the rain all leaking down on it,
and only bread to eat? Teddie's mamma
cries about it. And you don't want your
little girl to be lonesome, do you?"
cir sfrf1 Qrfld a.
ratured father. But would nothing less
than adoption suit your highness? 1t
would give me a great deal of trouble, you
know, even with my limtless wealth.
Now suppose you and buy Teddy some
thing nice and see what we can do for
mis- mamma. Won't that do?'
20, no, no, that won't do at all. I want
them to live with US and stay with US al
ways. Now. papa, do say yes
But, my dear little girl, that cannot be
done. Don't you know that it is as much
as 1 can do to manage you, without hav-
ing another youngster on my hands?
However. we will go and see them, and
then decide what is TO be done"
Wise little Maysie said no more She
felt sure that when her papa saw Teddie's
soft, fair curls and Teddie's pretty man.
ma he would succumb at once.
When they reached the tiny cottage he
was a little surprised, and thinking that
Teddie's mother was perhaps a servant,
was about 70 go TO the side door. But
Maysie declared that they lived here, and
knocked calmly at the front door. 1t was
opened by Teddie himself at sight OF
whom-for the little boy bowed with the
prettiest manner in the world-Mr. Gar
land was stu more astonished.
This is Teddie, papa" said Maysie.
And this is Teddy's mamma" Upon
which the little people withdrew 20 the
front doorstep 10 discuss matters Of i'm
portance. including the rapidly progress
ing castle and the latest news from the
bedside of a sick kitten. Maysie had de-
cided that they could safely leave their
parents to get acquainted
A fair-haired little woman. gownsd in
black, rose TO meet Mr.. Garland, and for
a moment both gazed at each other IN
mute wonder. Then ne took step for
ward.
Kathleen he cried.
she held out her hand then and smiled |
sadly Yes. Il is l. Have I changed 50 /
much. You have not changed at all, /
Jack You look Just the same"
You have changed. But TO find you 1
here, You have been III! Kathleen, what 4
is this I hear about your troubles
The childish voice seemed to ring IN his 4
ears again. s~Teddie's mamma cries about /
L." and suddenly ne bent over her and 4
took his hand in her strong tender grasp. /
This brave little woman had battled I
with the world in silence. but now a. the 4
frst touch OF sympathy she gave way; .
sob rose in her throat. two tears rOolsd (
down her pale cheeks. and IN a moment
her head VAS on his arm
Kathleen, my Kathleen" he whispered
Let Us fo- get our foolish
quarrel. ! know Sou loved ne IN tie cd
DAYS. and 1 have loved you always Let
rs begin over again. We are older ard
wiser: We wsil not let our youthful folly