Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-03
CHAPTER ".
RALEIGH SKETCHES MALcoM AND THE

CHAPTER ".
RALEIGH SKETCHES MALcoM AND THE
BABY.
A smile crossed nearly every face as
Kirk entered. AS he began to speak
the emile passed of, and another look
crept over the faces of the rich, re-
fined, leisurely people gathered in that
steamer. The first cabin drew very
near the intermediate for few mo-
ments at least. Kirk told the baby's
story very well. How could he help
It when he saw in his Imagination
the face of that wornout mother lying
nearly beneath where he stood, still
and cold? The baby looked out from
his shawls with curious, inquisitive
look on its face and kept perfectly
quiet as long as Kirk was speaking.
It seems to me- Kirk concluded,
"that we might help the baby to start
In life. understand that the mother
left only a few dollars, and the sister
In London is a shopkeeper in poor cir
-anstances. II was in church,
think would say, We will now wor-
ship the Lord with our Offering"
He said it In such tone that it was
irresistible. A portly. dignifed old
gentleman sitting in the middle Of the
dining room rose and in husky voice
which betrayed his feeling said, "I'll
be one Of 25 gentlemen to give $40"
Instantly more than a dozen men
arose, followed in moment by dozen
more. Some one in the music room be-
gan to pass hat. Money was thrown
into 1t until 1t was half full. Under
the Inspiration of the moment one of
the young ladies suggested concert
and literary entertainment to be Civ
en- the next night, and the suggestion
was taken up at once. One of the men
offered to take charge of the funds
and help Kirk or some one to see that
they were properly placed, and Kirk
started to go out. The ladies had
crowded around the baby, caressing
him as he never had been caressed be-
fore In all his meager, pitiful life.
1t was ut this moment that Kirk saw
Francis Raleigh. He had come out of
the music room, and the minute he saw
Kirk he came to him and held out his
hand.
"Mr. Kirk, isn't it? 1 heard you at
Hermon few weeks ago, at COM
mencement. You remember me? We.
have met once or twice. Raleigh is, my
name"
Eyes, remember" said Kirk. He.
had met Raleigh at some receptions.
Excuse me- for not shaking hands.
Mine are full just now"
Excuse me, see they are" said
Raleigh, laughing. "You did that very
we'll" He spoke very kindly, but in a
tone that he did not mean to be patron.
ling. 1t was only the Raleigh man
ner. 1t belonged to the family. He
might have spoken differently If he
had known that In the upper vest
pocket of the homely figure before him
was the lovely face Of Dorothy Gilbert.
But there was this fact about the stu
ation-Kirk knew that Raleigh was in
love with Dorothy. Raleigh did not
know that Kirk loved her or that ne
had ever thought of such possibility.
Il am glad for the baby's sake" re-
Piled Kirk soberly. He ignored the
compliment and finally succeeded in
getting down to the lower deck again.
The intermediate cabin was excited
over the result. Nearly $500 had been
contributed, and the concert would
bring hundred more. In fact, when
the concert was over and all Of the
first cabin had been solicited nearly
$500 was given for the baby's start in
life.
When the vessel reached Liverpool,
Kirk, with the help of the surgeon and
one Of the cabin passengers, secured
nurse for the baby and arranged with
one Of the women who had cared for
the mother in the intermediate to go
down to London and see the baby safe
in its home there. Kirk himself had
the sad pleasure of meeting the sister,
and while he was in LONDON doing his
special work of study in the east end
he secured lodging near by and often
went to see the family. He grew won