Evening journal., 1900-02-09
RECONCILIATION

Seating himself upcn n bench IA the
pack Charles Leighton let ls head
idl YEARLY into his hands aud gave
rem 10 his thoughts. Six years ago
this very day he had welded the prer
IS Miss Marchmonr. How happy they
ha1 been for few months, aud then.
bis mother, cold. naughty proud of
der son and her fortune. came and re-
ugOached Kathleen bitterly for ensnar-
~ her husband, who lshe said loved
another, weather. girl, and who ONLY
married hei Kathleen on account OF
her pretty face. but his heart really
belonged 10 this richer girl.
kathie Marchmont was young and
inpulsive, and without waiting To
! Lear more she packed her few little
! belongings and left him. after writing
q note in which she promised that he
should never be troubled with her
1gain and that he was now free 10
wed "the other girl"
Suddenly Leighton felt a little cold
hand touch his and heard a childish
voice say: Have you got n headache
i1OT
Looking up he beheld the sweetest
little fairy Of O child clad In soft
White dress with blue ribbons fiuttcr-
ing in the morning breeze. who stood
Inspecting him with serious brown
/ eyes.
ayes, l have a little one" he said
/ Milling at the serious little face he
Tore him.
In trice she had climbed upon the
! seitee and softly, gently drew her a.
ny hands across his brows. q .c touch
II those baby fingers sent thrill
through him.
"BetterT she asked, looking at him
with those wonderful eyes of hers.
Lawyer Leighton assured her that
lie was quite cured, and then asked
where her mamma was
''MammaY asked the child in sur
prise. why mamma Is writing, OF
course. Nurse brought me out. and"
/ with a mischievous twinkle in her eye
: aud a quaint shrug of her little shout
dcrs. Il lost her.
You lost here" asked the lawyer.
why yes" continued the child.
You know, nursey met q policeman
and she had so much to say to him
and got tired playing right there.
SO" with another shrug, II ruined
way"
"What is your name. little oneT' he
sled, looking down at her as she
danced along at his side
sunshine" came the answer ana
awyer Leighton thought IL distinctly
appropriate for this golden-haired
lrite.
Where do you live. Sunshlneyg he
asked, but the child only said. "A big
house,"
"If you got lost. did not mamma
teach you something 10 say he sug
sested.
oh. n 1 got lost" answered the
child. 81 must find a policeman and
show him this"
This" proved TO be a little tag sewn
on the inside part OF her little dress
! Leighton read: Mrs. Marsh - Dart
mouth street"
Together they started for Dart
mouth street, but Sunshine soon
Jagged behind, and after hasty
! glance around Lawyer Leighton took
The pretty bit OF humanity IN his
I strong arms and bore her 10 her home.
There was a frou-frou Of silken
| skirts as the door opened and before
his astonished eyes stood Kathleen,
bis wife.
Lelghton's arms dropped helplessly
20 his sides as Kathleen caught the
child to her breast and covered her
little face with caresscs.
How can | thank your she began,
! when she recognized the man before
her The color left her face and her
pOdy grew rigid as she drew her head
% proudly.
For a moment they stood thus; then
with sudden yearning the man
tvctched his hand toward her. say
] nr. "Kathie."
Her tender mouth twitchod a little
nd in the glance slse flashed him he
law her eyes were filled with tears.
( "Kathie." exclaimed the man. going
IS her. "how could you believe that
wicked stOry2 There never was bur
one girl in this world whom ! loved
I m could love, and that was YOU. |
have searched for you night and dav
since that terrible day when You LETT
ne VIII you not believe me that
owed you then, and love you now. &c
30 were possible. more than evcr?'
"Oh. Kathleen" pleaded he. with
The child IN his arms. twill you not
rme back TO me and let me make up
% Sunshine nc least for the wrong nly
mother did your My mother is dead
md | win devote my life to you and
sunshine TO make up for the Injustice
10 YOU. VIII you come. darlingg'
Eyes. do come with nice Mr.. Leigh
on. mamma. love him so. Don't you
and he brought me back 10 you"
And Kathleen leighton came down
lhe stairs and was drawn TO her hus-
bands loving heart, while she whis
ppred with the light OF great I'M
qunnched love in her eyes. Yes. I will
come"