The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1901-04-11
"No., said ths child. .Only you.'

she SAID. Win merry lduSH. MdMAA
said you was one"
He caught his breath.
Perhaps" he slowly said. 'you can
even tell me my nameY
eyes, can" replied the child. Its
easy. Your name is Philip. An now
guess what mine is"
Isis it Mary?" he gently asked.
NO" laughed the child. That's
mammals. Mine is most like yours.
It's Philippa."
The old man was silent for mo-
ment.
lis your mother here, child?' he sud
denly asked. 'Is she lurking about
among the trees:"
"Who? Do you mean mammay'
cried the child. ''She isn't here. She
hasn't no time for trees. She's always
too busy. Didn't you know she paints
Yes; she paints lovely little pictures.
Minichoors she calls them. They're
pictures Of people. don't you know,
only much prettier. But sometimes
reople don't pay very quick. an some
times they think mamma charges too
much, an sometimes she doesn't have
any pictures to do. Then, you know,
it's pretty hard to have the landlord
call. guess you know how that is"
And where Is your father?" and the
old mans voice suddenly grew hard.
Hes beaded in Callyforny." said the
child. HE was an actor, you know;
stage actor. don't member him very
well. | was too little whe4l he weSt
away. I've tried to act, too. but Della,
can't act for shucks."
"Good thing" muttered the old man.
"Well, l don't know" said the child.
"You see, l wanted to do somethin to
help mamma. an If l can't act l don't
know what 1 can do. But I s'pose it's
no use. Della said that as a child won
der l was the wust she ever seen, an
Della goes out good deal"
A faint smile crossed the old mans
stern features.
"And what made you think that am
your grandfather" he asked.
"Oh, Marie Kramer told mey' replied
the child. "She knows everybody.
She's lived out more places. She's
Bessie Leighton's nurse now, an just
as soon as she, saw you sittin here one
day she said There's old Colonel Rob-
son. She knew you cause you used
to go to the. Bronsons, where she was
Twin then. An pretty soon she looked
at me an said, why, he's your grand
father, amt hep An l said l didn't
know, an she thought it out an said,
Yes, he Ia, cause your mamma Is his
daughter, an she ran away with play
actor, an the old hunks shut his door
on her forever That's what Marie
said. An when l went home I said to
Della, My grandfather's sittin over
there in the park, an he's the lonesom-
est lookin thing An Della says: If
he's settin In the park. he's either
tramp or a millunaire. If he's tramp,
you must keep away from him, but il
he's mil,unaire you want to rope him
in An when l looked at you again l
saw you didn't look like tramp, an so
l thought I'd take my chances an rope
you in, an that's just what did"
"And your mother knows nothing
about my being hereY the old man
asked.
Eyes, she does" replied the child.
II told her, an she looked so queer, an
her face got red, an she said: 'Philippa,
dear, it may not be your grandfather.
But anyway you mustn't speak to him
unless he speaks to you first An l
made you speak to me first, didn't I?''
The old man leaned back and looked
at the child.
"Philippa," he said slowly. how
would you like to come and live with
me? You would have your own beau
tiful room, and all the playthings you
could want. and somebody to wait on
you, and "a pony to drive, and every
thing that could make a little girl
happy"
IAN would mamma come, too?" the
child asked
The old man shook his head.
I'D like the room,' said the child,
guess I'd be too lonesome without
mamma"
But you'd have me-" urged the old
man.
WED be just two lonesome ones to-
gether," said the child. Then she add
ed, "If you knew mamma. you'd see
how it is"
Perhaps l am beginning to see,"
said the old man softly.
I'm tell you what Wen d." cried the
child. "You can borrow me. How's
that?''
ut sounds WELL" said the old man.
"How must set about it?''
"Oh, it's easy" replied the child.
'You just come to our fat an send up
your card, an then mamma will whis-
tie down an say, Please come up
Then you go up, an I'm there, an say,
Mr.. Grandpapa, this is mamma Then
you bow an say, Pleased to know you,'
an mamma says. Where have l seen
you beforeY an then you say, Can l
borrow your charmin daughter for the
rest of the day? for you've come very
early In the mornin, you know, an
mamma says, Have you any security
for the remit mean for the child?' an
you say, oh, yes; indeed l have an
then you put up silver quarter for
security an take me, an we 60 away
somewhere an nave q splendid time to-
gether an get home when it's real dark,
an mamma Is gettin fdgety. I'd like
to see that house of yours an that room
an those ponies. We ought to get bet
ter acquainted-we ought to, really"
The old man smiled at her enthusi-
asm. Evidently this was delightfully."-
original child.
do you think your mamma would
paint my portrait" he asked.
shed be real pleased to-" said the
child. IAN I'd get the commission, too,
wouldn't I? She told me If / got any
orders I'd get the commission. You're
my order, amt your
'Yes," said the old man as he slowly
arose. ''Come. we will go and seek your
mother. must get that picture before
/ grow any older-and before your
mammals memory quite outgrows the
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