The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-02-09
RECONCILIATION


park Charles Leighton let his head
fall YEARLY into his hands and gave
rein to his thoughts. Six years ago
this very day he had welded the pref
ty Miss Marchmont How happy they
had been for few months, and then,
his mother, cold, naughty, proud OF
her son and her fortune, came and re-
preached Kathleen bitterly for ensnar-
ing her husband, who (she said loved
another. Weather girl, and who only
married her kathleen on account OF
her pretty face, but his heart really
belonged to this richer girl.
Kathie Marchmont was young and
impulsive, and without waiting to
hear more she packed her few little
belongings and left him, after writing
a note in which she promised that he
should never be troubled with her
again and that he was now free to
wed 'the other girl"
Suddenly Leighton felt little cold
hand touch his and heard a childish
voice say: 'Have you got headache
too?"
Looking up he beheld the sweetest
little fairy of child clad in soft
white dress with blue ribbons fiutter-
ing in the morning breeze, who stood
inspecting him with serious brown
eyes.
Eyes, 1 have a little one," he said
smiling at the serious little face be-
fore him.
In trice she had climbed upon the
settee and softly, gently drew her IT,
ny hands across his brows. The touch
of fhncn hohu I'M cont a thrill
through him.
"Better?" she asked, looking at him
with those wonderful eyes of hers.
Lawyer Leighton assured her that
he was quite cured, and then asked
where her mamma was.
"MammaP' asked the child in sur
prise. "Why, mamma is writing, of
course. Nurse brought me out, and"
with mischievous twinkle in her eye
and a quaint shrug Of her little Shout
ders, 81 lost her"
you lost herr" asked the lawyer
"Why, yes" continued the child.
'You know, nursey met policeman
and she had so much to say to him
and 1 got tired playing right there,
So" with another shrug, 81 ruined
away"
what is your name, little one" he
asked, looking down at her as she
danced along at his side
Sunshine" came the answer, and
Lawyer Leighton thought it distinctly
appropriate for this golden-haired
sprite.
"Where do you live, Sunshine?' he
asked, but the child only said, "a big
house"
'If you got lost, did not mamma
teach you something to say?" he sug.
gested
"Oh, If 1 got lost" answered the
child, Il must find policeman and
show him this"
This" proved to be little tag sewn
on the inside part of her little dress.
leighton read: Mrs. Marsh,- Dart
mouth street"
Together they started for Dart
Jagged behind, and after a hasty
glance around' Lawyer Leighton took
the pretty bit of humanity in his
strong arms and bore her to her home
There was a frOu-frou of silken
skirts as the door opened, and before
his astonished eyes stood Kathleen
his wife,
Leighton's arms dropped helplessly
to his sides as Kathleen caught the
child to her breast and covered her
litle face with caresses
IHow can l thank you?" she began,
when she recognized the man before
her. The color left her face and her
body grew rigid as she drew her head
up proudly.
For a moment they stood thus; then
with sudden yearning the man
stretched his hand toward her, say
ing, "Kathie"
Her tender mouth twitched a little
and in the glance she flashed him he
saw her eyes were filed with tears.
"Kathie," exclaimed the man, going
to her, show could you believe that
wicked story? There never was but
one girl in this world whom l loved
or could love, and that was you |
have searched for you night and day
since that terrible day when you left
me. Will you not believe me that |
loved you then, and love you now, il
it were possible, more than ever?"
"Oh, Kathleen" pleaded he, with
the child in his arms, Twill you not
cine DICK 10 me anu leI me make up
to Sunshine at least for the wrong EIy
mother did you? Ny mother is dead
and / will devote my life to you and
Sunshine to make up for the injustice
to you. Will you come, darling?"
eyes, do come with nice Mr.. Leigh
ton, mamma. 1 love him so. Don't you
and he brought me back to you"
And Kathleen Leighton came down
the stairs and was drawn to her hus-
bands loving heart while she whis-
pered with the light of n great I'M
quenched love in her eyes, Eyes. l will
come"