The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-08-24


presided the tall slip Of damsel with
whom poor Ned had parted so mourn
fully when he went away in February.
Ada's was the only face III all the lner-
ry party that seemed to have known q
trace Of sorrow. Her big, dark, mourn
full eyes and shaggy hair, her sallow
face and shabby frock, twice let down
and still "skimpy," told pathetic
story. Thirteen years Of age, the child
had already seen much of anxiety and
trouble, much indeed beyond the ken of
many an elder, and the week going by
brought hour after hour of nervous wear
and tear, the cause of which only one
woman knew and strove in vain to
Danish. Ada shrank with actual dread
and repulsion from the thought of hay
ing to meet the man who had come to
take her loved fathers place.
Thrice had Barclay spoken to Mrs.
Blythe Of desire to see the children of
Colonel Lawrence; now he felt confident
that he knew the cause Of her evasion
and pressed no more. But all through
dinner, even while speaking in the low,
somewhat measured tones habitual to
him, he lost no talk in which the chill
dren were mentioned, and at Blythes
they were never forgotten. 1t was not
long before he discovered that the
Blythes and Lawrences-the young peo-
ple-were at the doctors, Ada presid-
ing. Indeed, with much gusto, almost
as soon as soup was served, Collabone
began telling of her matronly, mother
ly ways. Half an hour later messen-
ger came to the door and asked if DR..
Collabone would please step over and
see Mrs. De Lancy a moment. "Tell
her Ill be there in just one hour said
the doctor, looking at his watch. Then
he added for the benefit Of the party
present, "There's nothing in the world
the matter with Mrs. De Lancy, and by
that time she'll have forgotten she sent
for me- Ten minutes later came an
other call. 1t was the Collabones' do
nestle this time. Little Jimmy's cut
his hand, and Miss Ada can't stop the
bleeding.'' "Say I'll come Instantly"
said he, springing from the table and
making his excuses to the lady of the
house.
Barclays face shone with instant
sympathy and interest. Dessert was
nearly over. He turned to the motherly
woman, whose own gentle face betrayed
her anxiety.
twill you think me very rude?'' he
said. "You know I do not smoke and
I do want SO much to meet those chill
dren. 1 feel that Ada purposely shuns
me, and this is al opportunity not to
be lost. May I be excused? I will soon
RETURN Mrs. Blythe's eyes were elo-
quent as she babe him go.
Three minutes later he softly entered
the doctors sitting room. There in a
big easy chair sat tall, sallow faced,
tumble haired girl, holding in her arms
a burly little fellow whose frightened
sobbings she had at last controlled, and
who, with only an occasional whimper,
was now submitting to the doctors ex-
animation and deriving much comfort
from his professional and reassuring
manner.
"Why, this is no cut at all, Jimmy,
my boy. The reason you bled so much
is that you are SO uncommonly healthy
and full Of blood. This won't keep you
out Of mischief six hours. Hold the ba-
sin steady, Pur]ina. Kick all you want
to, Jimmy. Don't you dare to laugh,
Kittie Blythe. Well, if here isn't Cap
tain Barclay, too, come in to see you.
Here is the little wounded soldier, cap
tain. You had your arm in sling six
months, didn't you? The Sioux did that
for him, Jimmy, and you've only got
to be done up in a bandage till tomor-
row night. Let Captain Barclay hold
you? Indeed I won't. He doesn't know
how to hold little boys-ike Ada. He's
got no little boys nor big Ada either
Bet your boots he wishes he had, jim
N.Y. Thus tho doctor chatted as he
bathed and bandaged the pudgy little
fist, while Jimmy lay, half relieved at
the rapid termination to his woes, half
resentful they should be declared so tri-
fling, and, with eyes much swollen with
weeping, critically studied the new cap
tain's appearance and gave token of mod
flied approval. But Ada's white lids
and long dark lashes were never once
uplifted.
Presently Collabone pronounced ev
erything doing finely and said he'd go
and see Mrs. De Lancy. "You tell
them there's nothing much the NATTER
will you?' he said to Barclay.
II will-when I get there" was the
smiling reply, "but I'm going to tell
this little fellow story first about a
Sioux baby boy knew in Wyoming
and his playmate, baby BEAR" and
with wondering, wide open eyes upon
him Barclay seated himself close to
Ada's chair, while the doctor stole ST.
lently away.
Half an hour later when he returned
circle Of absorbed listeners was gazing
into Barclay face. Ada only sat apart
and little Jimmy's curly head was pill
lowed on the story teller's breast.
CHAPTER vi.
Ten days passed. Barclay had become
~ institution at Fort Worth, yet opin-
ions were as divided and talk of him as
constant as before he came. First and
foremost, he had met Mrs. VIM, and
HSr Ia ~