The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-08

tie thing, no bigger than our Min WaSs
She's exactly like Min-the same hair
and eyes-I almost thought when / first
saw her II was our little Min come back
10 me-"
His voice quavered into silence, and
he turned his face from her. She re-
sumed her sewing with fresh energy,
and perhaps it was only some trick OF
the lamplight made her harsh features
seem strangely softened.
ut would be cruel 10 send her TO the
workhouse." he spoke again presently.
"why-why couldn't We have her
here?"
why. indeed,y Mrs. FAINT laughed
scornfully. ''At the rate you go ON We
don't have enough for two. How we
should manage. 10 live at all with
three"
Look here. Clara" he interrupted
eagerly. 1--WE been better for months
past than used To be. haven't l?'
"You good need 10 be-
81 know did. But, look here'-l was
all right till our little Min went, wasn't
Il? Ii was that that sent me all wrong.
/ didn't care, ana 1 was niseraoie'
AN wasn't II"
"You was as fond OF her as / was, but
you were a good woman, Clara, an 1
was a poor fool. 1t Knocked me all 10
pieces. IL she could come back, IL uu
pull me around an j could be myseli
agen. An this little 'un'-he swai-
lowed a lump that rose In MS throat
"she's our little Min over agen-eNac,,
Iy. If she was here with US III Wouiu
seem Clara Think. II IL was our
little Min an they were sending her 10
the workbouse! We can't let her go
there IL you'll have her here, CARA
I'll make you a promise
AN forget 1t tomorrow" she said
coldly.
n n mn
ing day. She'll help me--if she counts
It'll be all as IL our little. Min had
never died I'll do what that parsons
been worrying me 10 do. Ill sign ms
pledge for him and take that job he OF
fered an get right away from the
chaps i booze with--I Will
Mrs. FAINT made no response.
Clara" ne pleaded, Just the Same
age an so like. Come with me ana
see for yourself. an IL you don't feel
it's our little Min came back 10 us
win you, Clara?
II can't come till I've finished tack
ing this lining in" she cried, irritably,
$50 just leave me alone
He said no more.
He waited patiently while she COM
pleted her tacking without undue haste
and when she got up, grumbling vague
ly and tied her bonnet on, he rose and
went with her.
They walked back by the way he had
come. i'm under the arch, and SO up ana
into the presence of the little 'un her.
self.
She ran 10 Mr.. FAINT at once, but he
was shrewd and polite; as soon as Mrs.
FAINT had accepted the invitation OF the
woman who tenanted the room and sat
down, he pleaced the child in her lap.
She passed a wandering hand over
the tangled golden curls, and looked
lntently into her dimpled face and
baby eyes that opened wistfully on her
own worn features; then suddenly
folded the little 'un to her breast and
began TO cry without apparent reason.
The otherv woman was unreasonable
enough TO cry with her. and soon there
was not q dry eye in the room. except
Mr.. Fant's. and his would not have
been dry either If he hadn't kept wiping
them on his sleeve. He found the little
'un's bonnet and Jacket, such an infin-
itesimal jacket that he could hardly
take hold of it with both hands at
once,--he helped 10 put them on her.
and attempted TO pick her up for the
purpose of conveying her home. But
Mrs FAINT pushed him aside.
Leave the child alone" she said
brusquelv. ",'ou'll only be, dropping 1t,
or something"
And she carried the little one home
ward I'm her own arms.-Good Words.