Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-07-03
HIS OWN GIRL.
- EnALD FANCoURT aung him

Ing some society function.
He had kindly face, and, as he
walked rapidly along. he seemed to in
hale the cool air of the night with a
sense of delightful relief. He pursued
his way on the Green park side of Pic
adiHy.
As he passed beneath the fare of a
vivid lamp his eye was attracted by an
OBJECT Insignificant In size, but great
in pathos-a female child in poor rags
and with naked feet. The child's hair
was tangIed and not too clean; her face
pfHched and white, but her eyes We're
large and brilliant and stared out with
an expression of bewilderment sad to
behold.
Gerald bent down to her and said
gently, Little one, what are you do
fnE hereY'
The child looked at him much as a
very tame cat regards a stranger-not
frightened, but doubtful.
81 dunno" she replied, after a pause.
Where do you liver
"T dunno"
have you no mOtherE
Ees. Mudder far away"
Are you hungry"
f'Ees.o
~Will you come with meY
A long pause-then a little sigh.
Use so tired"
Without another word Gerald lifted
the child in his arms and carried her
into a small restaurant off King street.
There The ordered for her little warm
soup and an egg pudding. She took
them greedily. Her hunger being ap-
peased, Gerald again lifted her in his
arnis and bore her to his chambers
I'm q fashionable hotel. She fell asleep
ON the way. Indoors he laid her on a
soft couch and then sat down to con-
template this find of his over a CT
gar.
The thoughts of what he should do
with this waif of humanity which fate
Tad thrown in his path, gradually
shaped themselves into vision of pro-
phetic fancy. Sanguine temperaments
are prone to castle building. Gerald
thought he would claim this bit OF fem
fninity for his own.
Ee was rich. He would have her ed
ucated. He would make of her all that
money and care could make Of her. If
the total result pleased him he would
make her his sister; If it more than sat
Isficd him he would make her his wife.
The waif, under the name of Carrie
- wa m ri ~ L.
and finishing academies. Fancourt
stuck to his scheme; he never saw her.
He signed checks; he answered school
principals letters; he gave permission
for his ward to visit her school fellows
at their homes, and he provided her
with pocket money to keep up her po-
sitiOn as a lady; that was all.
The browning pleasure and reward
for ali his care and expenditure was to
come at the end of ten years, when
she would be 10 years old, and he
would see her in the glory of her bud
ding womanhood.
The period of ten years was nearly
closed. The night before the final day
when Carrie was to appear before her
protector and guardian, Gerald invited
one or two choice chums to dine with
him.
They were laconic men of the world.
he had told them the tale of his fancy
and its approaching completion.
''I have taken a little house for her"
he concluded. ''and tomorrow she en-
ters into possession"
els she prettyy'
How do l know? She promised to
he so ten years ago"
"The whole thing seems Quixotic and
r.sEy."
Tomorrow will decide whether she
Is TO be my wife or not"
mot WISE" replied the more taciturn
or the two friends.
Next morning Gerald entered the
drawing room of Carries newly fur
uished house. The maid informed him
that the young lady had arrived late
the night before; she had breakfasted
IN bed, but would be down in few min
utcs 70 receive him.
what would she be like?" he kent
asking himself.
After about five minutes he heard
the soft rustic of skirts coming down
the stairs. The door was gently open
ed and sweet-faced young girl step
ped into the room, dressed sill in flow
ing morning robe of white 1t seemed
60 Gerald afterwards as If Ii were en-
broidery and lace. with soft drapery
a. though covered with an ethereal an
gel S-ebbiag. AS II was. the girl came
slowly down the room with one hand
outsuetched timidly, yet with sweet
determination Of manner.
Gerald had time 10 notice that she
was tall and slender. quite fair. with
mass Of red gold hair and the prettIest
pink cheeks he had ever seen. a pink
ana white prettiness," be thought TO
himself, but In that one glance he had
80 acknowledge that there was a depth
behind the pink and white softness
which spoke of earnest thought.
4 am so very glad 10 see you" said
she, hesitating for her words; so very.
very glad. cannot tell you how often
1 have thought OF this moment"
Gerald took her hand In his. Il sup
pose l should call you my daughter"
said be. smiling. but l shall do moth
ing OF The sort"
Please de-" said she. 81 would like
80 much TO have you, for l feel as IL
you were my father-the only father /
have ever had"
Gerald took a seat and the girl sat
down by the side OF him. 100 you
knew" said she. Il have been afraid
TO meet you. / utmost wished. some
times, that had seen you and had II
over. so dreaded It; and then there
wexe other things 1 wanted TO tell
You
Gerald sat spellbound. Such pref
Is girl he had never seen. What q
sweet voice; what glorious color; how
p7ettlly she spoke. So she had been
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