The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-21


does"
Jack Pinsent took desperate fancy to
Granville from the first day he saw him
and hung on him like a limpet when
ever he got a chance, which was often
for he had a way Of darting over to his
mother, kissing her. and then darling
back to Granville and kissing him. The
last person kissed found this very charm
ing, and if ever he caught himself gloat-
ing over the memory Of it he called him
self names that We're not exactly compli-
mentary to his intellect
So things went on until the leaves had
turned yellow, and one afternoon Jack
and his best loved friend were having q
long and confidential talk before the
drawing room fire in old Brab's house.
Belle was out somewhere in the town,
but she had left word that, if Granville
called, he was to wait until she came in.
Jack was doing most of the talking. He
had been to the seaside for few days,
for the first time in his life, and had
much to say about it.
AS long as he confined himself to tell
ing lies about the size of the sand cas-
ties he had built, and the weight of the
fish he had caught, Granville let him
ramble on and drifted off into a sweet
warking dream in which he, Jack, and
Jacks mother
Mother says" said Jack, suddenly.
changing the subject Of his conversation,
as small boys will, "that a black man
killed my father, and that you tried to
stop the black man, but you couldn't.
she says it's quite true. Is it?'
1T is said Granville, in some alarm.
quite true.
Then said Jack, gravely. you ought
to get me another father"
'Oh, nOi-er-b0w could IL ~,
stammered Granville, nervously. The
boy, 8 eyes were so like Bellies.
Ihe entrance of his mother and. the fen
tray diverted Jacks thoughts for about
ten minutes. Granville breathed more
freely, and talked to Belle with all his
soul In his honest doglike eyes. He
hadn't the faintest idea that he looked
at her in different way to that in which
ne looked at old Brab and his landlady.
But sne noticed that he did. And so did
JACK. who. for his age, was most Won
oerIuiIy ooservant young man.
"a pen Ganville.' he announced.
gravely, between bites of cake, you So
veliy fond of my mother"
Granv1lle's jaw dropped "I-er-." he
began.
III tell you how Use know. Youse
eyes goes twinkly- winkly when YOU looks
at her-like hers goes when hers looking
at me-"
Granville gazed at Belle despairingIy.
She was enthusiastically smiling. Jack
naturally look her smile for approval,
ana continued his monologue, delightedly.
Use never" he said, with firm couyic-
ton. seen anyone I'd like better for a
mother than mother. an Use never seen
anyone that I'd like better for a father
than you
Granville looked about him In a help,
less way. Would Belle check that dear
little chatterer? She showed no sign of
doing so-he felt he must.
"Er-I say, you know" he began But,
quite without meaning to do so, he looked
towards Belle instead Of at Jack. All the
awful sensations of long ago came back
and paralyZed his tongue.
NURSE says" resumed the childish
voice, that you couldn't be my father
unless you marry my mother. VIII You
marry my mother? 1 would like you for
father so dreadful much.
little warm hand coaxed itself into
Granville'S, and two soft baby lips
touched his cheek; but he only stared
down at the carpet and answered never
word.
"P 'raps." said Jack, III what was in
tended to be whisper, but was perfect
ly audible at the other side OF the fire
WHERE HIS InOlner SAT. + rapS you Sc too
shy to ask her to. Sometimes when /
want something dreadful bad Use too Shy
to ask. so 1 get someone else to--Gran-
daddy, or Nursie. Shall 1 ask her for
you?"
He stopped down and peered into Gran
Vllle'S down bent face Sometime. he
saw there seemed to him to give consent.
He planted himself, a sturdy quaint lit
tie figure, on the hearthrug between the
silent man and the woman, who smiled
at him with tears in her eyes,
Mother" he said, just a little timidIy.
for he felt, though he didn't know WHY,
that something very unusual and wonder
1ul was taking place, mother, will YOU
marry Cap'en CAMILLE? 1 wants YOU to.
dreadful much"
And Belle, her sweet voice trembling a
little answered him, bravely. Eyes, dear
If Capt. Granville wants me to, will !"
The spell was broken, and Granville's
tongue was loosed. He held out his
hands to her and echoed Jacks words,
i do want you to, dreadful much"
And their clasped hands rested for a
moment on Jacks soft hair like bene-
diction. And Granville said: '"Thank
God"
Pinsent had parted them for awhile
Finsent's boy had united them for ever,
Some years later, the night before Jack
went to Sandhurst, Granville was giving
him little fatherly advice.
you must do your best, Jack, for your
mothers sake he said you have the
best mother in the world
and" said Jack, ''the best old dad in
the world
You are too fond of praising me.
Jack"
q picked you out for myself was the
laughing answer. ''You surely don't ex-
pect me to run down my own choice, dc
you?" Then, becoming serious, he put
his arm round Granvilles neck. 81 mean
it, governor, every word of it. I mean
it, too, when 1 say that I'm proud of
you" He pointed to where the v. G..
hung-Belle had placed it there with her
own hands.
Don't" answered Granville, turning
| his back on it. 'I1l tell you. Jack, what
I have told no one else. 1 did not dc
y hat won me that because l was brave
1 only did it because 1 loved your mother
and wanted to save her from sorrow.
! am no hero. / am a perfect fraud
"Then, said Jack, with a laugh, draw
| ing his arm a little tighter. may I be
| just such another. that's ALL.