The suburban citizen., 1900-03-31

fever. There were a few anguished
moments of delirium also, in which
she heard from the parched throat
broken bits such as
"Mr. Boslet-the Candy Lady
Pleath-Sophy--Mr. Bosley."
AT ten o'clock Sophy called a doctor
who was staying at the hotel. He as
sured her that Dots only danger was
frsm her highly nervous makeup and
neglected condition. All the child
needed was nurture and care. Sophy
sat wide awake all that night, hearing
the fragmentary moans of the child
and the rustic of the summer wind in
the trees beside the window. She
felt, somehow, strangely satisfied and
calm.
1t was in the first days OF Septem'
ber. Dot was out of bed for the third
morning in three weeks. She was
taking a sun bath in the rocker at the
window, which looked out on the
valley. Sophy's plain but refined face
seemed worn and pale from watching.
Yet there was a glow in her eyes that
betokened a new interest in life.
Now she knitted stockings for Dot,
aud read nothing but "Jack the Giant
Killer" "The Three Bears" and
"Mother Goose"
She had taken an extra week Of va
cation, for which she must pay. Some.
how the thought of going back to the
store to work for nothing but the
privilege of living in a lonely fat re-
PEELED her. She felt she would like
to remain always thus with Dot, knit.
ting little stockings and reading
"Mother Goose" She had grown to
chaff Dot, and say that she meant to
take her to New York and keep her
always. Dot would reply, "Bullyl
only what's to become of Mr.. Bosley?
You know he always gives ine crack
ers."
Then Sophy would see the impossi-
bility of Keeping Dot all alone in a
fat while she was At work. She could
not afford servant, and still it
seemed almost duty to snatch the
child from her preearious way of liv.
ing, and yet it was plainly impossible,
and yet Here the skein of her
thinking always got in tangle.
A knock sounded on the door, and
Mr.. Bosley walked in softly, as he
had come every day for three weeks,
no matter in what weather.
"Well, it's come at last, Sophy"- 90
Dot had insisted that he call Sophy
by her first name. He held out q
telegram. "They want mo back day
after tomorrow.
He sat down, sad and reticent.
"Why don't you ask me how am
this morn'ng?" cried Dot.
Chow are you, Dot?" Mr.. Bosley
asked spiritlessly, "Tve brought you
a new picture book"
"Oh, you're a daisyW she shrilled
aud in two minutes she was deaf and
dumb to everybody in the glories OF
her new book.
"Sophy-er, Miss" but Sophy
had noted his cauti GUS air and caught
his summons before he could correct
himself She went quite close to him IL.
ord like" he whispered, "to leave
you-er-er "a check for Dots ex-
penses."
"Why, Mr.. BosleyP"
"Please allow me-" he broke in,
and suddenly seized her hand
"We've been here together, foster
parents to her. You've done the part
of the woman; let me do that of the
man. We've thrown aside convention
alities, perhaps, but we've cleared tho
way little for Dot. I've called you
Sophy-"
"And I've called you Mr.. -"
"Call me jim, will you? It's for
Dots sake you know"
"Jim"-and Sophy's face famed;
her hand was as ice in his and her
whole formed swayed SO that he
stretched forth his arm to stay her.
"Jim-it's for Dots sake" she
murmured.
Dot looked round unnoticed and
silent as stone.
you've been very good, Jim, and I'd
like to let you do what would make you
happy, but 1 can't. You see it would
be like taking it myself. I've got to
go home next week and leave her. /
want to take her, but. can't. Let
me have my way the little while I am
still here"
"Sophy," he faltered, trembling
now as much as she, "I want to take
her, too. Let's take her together"
"Oh, Jim, JimP
"Say you will, for Dots sake"
Sophy's headssank upon his shoul.
der, his lips turned to meet hers.
"For Dots sake" she sobbed.
"Hooray" shrilled Dot from the
other end OF the room. "Mr. Bos.
ley's coming with us, amt he,
SophVp"