The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-14

as especially lurid scene the night before
in which he had allowed himself to be
unconscious from smoke for six hours
and Mary had cried over him and told
him she loved him more than anyone else
in the wrole world--he wasn't so I'M
conscious but he could hear her-well, as
! said, the next morning when he went
TO the store as usual little Mary was a
demure and quiet and her Good morn
ing was so absently said that poor Tom
felt all his castles-in-the-s air tumbling
about his ears.
All! Tom If you might have seen
through those ''stained-glass windows"
into that little girls heart!
She was thinking about you then, II
you had only known H. She is wonder
ing what you would think OF her if you
knew about her mother-and all.
Every noon hour Tom made Mary
share his apple with him-for her own
little lunch basket was uninvting enough.
on pay day he invaria bly, invested in
fifteen cents worth of candy, which was
as far as his income would allow him to
treat the little cash-girl. But after the
reward notices" were posted he had
many visions of ice cream and the circus
These notices announced that any en-
ploye in the store who might catch any
one stealing or shop-lifting would be paid
five dollars. Now, a good many small ar
ticles disappeared from day to day, and
of course it was quite certain that there
were several five dollar bills to be earned
If one were only lucky. Tom did not al
together like the idea of playing spy or
profting at another's expense; still, he
reasoned that anyone wicked enough to
take what did not belong 40 them deserv-
ed to be caught and punished.
One afternoon Tom was carrying a
couple of stray parcels up to the lost
and found desk and as he passed the
glove counter he glanced to the left just
in time TO see a shabbily dressed woman
sweep some gloves off the counter and
into the folds of her big umbrella.
"Jimnez Crickets" muttered Tom.
That five dollars is as good as mine, al
ready and he glanced about to see II
anyone had taken note of the clever theft.
Apparently no one had, and the woman
still stood a I the counter, and presently
Tom heard her ask the price of some
gloves in a harsh strident voice. Tom
turned about 10 see Mary standing beside
him.
Say Nary" he whispered excitedly
II m going to have five dollars in about
three minutes, and then, l say, won't we
have a bang-up time Would yer rather
go to the circus or go for an excursion in
a steamboat? Why, Mary, aren't you lis
TENN to wot I'm sayin?" he added deep
ly hurt that the girl seemed to take nc
notice or interest in what he was telling
| her
Then Tom saw that she was staring
with all her eyes at the woman with the
| big umbrella. Her breath was coming IL
| quick, short gasps and she was trembling
| all over
"Say!" whispered Tom, that there wo
man wot you're starin' at"
| Mary looked up quickly at the boy.
Yes" she said in queer, quiet little
voice; yes, what has she been doing2"
Doing" muttered Tom. why, sh,
hasn't been doing a thing but filling VI
her umbrella with gloves. You just SCI
| what happens now when I run over to tn,
tioorwalker and put him onto hertz and
Tom started off. Then he stopped, TO
Mary had clutched one of his hands will
both of hers.
Don't, Tom" she said. TT would xii
me If you did. She's my mother!
| The boy gasped and involuntarily drew
| back a step.
You're not goin' back on me- now
! Tom, are your" said the girl, piteously
" Cos l can't help her bein'-like-lik,
that!
She's tried and tried to get me to picl
up things and bring them home" thu
| girl went on, land she's treated me orfu
COS | wouldn't. An now she's come anC
taken things herself Tom is it wicked
TO wish you was dead?'
| 'Ain't that little hard on me?" aske,
| Tom, reproachfully.
The girls lips quivered and the tear
came for the first time.
You're right, Tom" she said softly
Il was forgetting you jes' then. 1 TAX,
that back; don't really wish 1 was dead
| If you'll Jes go on bein good and kline
like you've always been, why, maybe
can grow up to be good woman SOM
day"
Then suddenly she put her arms arounC
| his neck and kissed him. When Ton
| with very red face and song in hi
| heart recovered from the shock the cir
had fled to the cloak room.
Then the boy marched up to the wo
man, who was still wandering up anC
down, and touched her on the arm
| Excuse me, ma am" he said in voic,
| loud enough for the clerks to hear, "bu
| l think l saw a couple of pairs of glove,
| fall into your umbrella off the counter.
The woman gave him one venomou
| glance, then she dove into the folds anC
fished out the pilfered articles.
! Dear me!' she exclaimed, with well
feigned surprise, Il declare if l haven
come near to walkin' off with some things
as don't belong to me-
So vanished Toms dream of a gloriou.
s. treat. But that kiss had been NJ
| dreami