Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-09-20

MR. MORTON GREETED HER.
Morton rose in the other room 10 go,
she heard him exchanging farewells
with the Wards and promising 10 come
down again before long. He went out
into the hall, and after a pause Bar
bara heard him say: 81 don't find my
hat. Possibly Miss Clark hung it up
somewhere"
There appeared to be a search going
on for the missing hat. and Barbara's
face turned very red as she took some
dishes out into the kitchen and on
turning 10 come back saw the missing
hat on a chair at the end of the table,
where she had overwhelmingly car
red il on Mr.. Morton arrival.
She recovered herself in moment,
and, taking up the hat, brought il into
the hall, saying as she confronted Tie
minister: II plead guilty TO absent
mindedneSs, Mr.. Morton. | carried
your hat out into the kitchen"
They all had a good laugh at Bar
bara's expense, in which she joined,
and Mr.. Morton removed the last Of
Barbara's confusion by speaking of
his own absent-minded moments.
The last time | had a lesson that
ought TO cure me" he said, smiling at
Barbara frankly IL left my sermon
all neatly written on my desk in my
room at the hotel and brought with
me into the pulpit several pages Of
blank foolscap paper that had been
lying on the desk close by my sermon.
hadn't time TO go or send back for
the sermon, and was obliged to preach
without notes except the few | could
make at the time"
20, well, Observation-Disclosures is one
If the marks Of genius" Mr. Ward re
marked. laughing.
I'VE will comfort ourselves with
that hope. then, won't we. Miss Clarkf
Good-by. Have enjoyed my visit very
much"
Barbara went back 10 her work,
blushing again over the little incident
as she entered the kitchen, but CRATE
full to the young man for the kindly,
off-hand, but thoroughly gentlemanly
manner in which he had treated it. 1t
was a very little event, so little that il
hardly seems worthy of mention, yet
Barbara found her mind recurring to
il several times during the day. Dur
ing some baking in the afternoon, Carl
was an interested spectator and final
ly prevailed on Barbara 10 make him
gingerbread man. When she had cut
ii out and put some white dough on il
for eyes, nose and mouth, and coat
buttons, she suddenly remarked aloud,
after Carl and she had both been silent
some time: He is a perfect gentle
man, and that is more than can be
said of some college-bred men"
us this college-bred man, Bar
bara?" asked Carl. the terrible. Il
thought it was a gingerbread man.
You said you would make me ginger
bread man. ! don't want a college
bred man"
This is gingerbread man." re-
piled Barbara, hastily, as she turned
TO the oven and opened the door.
Then who is the other man?" per-
sisted Carl.
80, never mind; l was thinking out
loud"
at isn't nice to do" remarked Carl.
reflectively.
Il don't think it is, either" Barbara
admitted.
Then what makes you do it?" in
sisted Carl.
81 won't any more when you are
Ground" promised Barbara with much
Iositiveness. The child seemed salts
sd with this statement; but, when
barbara at last took the gingerbread
man out Of the oven, Carl suddenly
said. Lets name him. Barbara"
"All right" said Barbara, pleas
an:ly.
you give a name" Carl suggested:
wei, how about Carlo
40, / don't like that Let's call a,n
lets call him Mr.. Morton"
very well" replied Barbara, hur-
r,edly. Run right along with It,
Your mamma is calling you, and /
must finish my baking
Don't you think he looks like him ?"
Carl insisted as he grasped the figure
by the feet, which in the process of
baking had become ridiculously short
and stubby, merginginto the coat tails.
NO, l don't think it's q striking re-
semblance," said Barbara, laughing.
SWELL, i do. l think he looks just
like him, ] like Mr.. Morton. don't