Connecticut western news., 1901-04-11
"A Cure For
Loneliness
BY w. R. ROSE

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The air was mild and clear. The
children frolicked merrily among the
trees In the park. The white capped
nurses sat ON the rustic seats here and
there and watched their charges or
played with the smaller children who
nestled In wicker carriages with gay
coiored canopies.
On one of the benches not far from
the entrance sat an elderly man. He
was straight and square shouldered,
with a white mustache and grizzled
hair and strong suggestion Of early
military training. He sat there be-
cause he liked to see the children at
play. They were better company than
his thoughts. Anyway, he had little
else to do. .
On this particular day he had watch
ed the playful elves as they darted in
and out among the trees until he had
grown tired. The warm sun made him
sleepy. His gray head slowly dropped
back, his shoulders found a restful
corner of the high backed seat. and
presently he was soundly sleeping.
4 slight conclusion awakened him.
He opened his eyes with little start
The sun was peeping through the
foliage, and the rays dazzled him. He
tried to raise hand to draw his soft
hat over his eyes and could not. Both
hands were pinionec fast He looked
down. A rope was encircling his body
and holding his arms fast to his sides.
He made an effort to release himself,
but without success. He fancied he
could sympathize with the feelings Of
CULVER when he found the pygmies
had caught and bound him. He was
sure it was one of the playful fairies
whom he had watched so many times
among the trees. He was right. A
child's laughter broke on his ears. His
captor was close behind him.
aha" he said in what was intended
for a very gruff voice, ARE you there?
finland me at once or tremble for the
consequences"
The cord-it was a childs skipping
rope-was -apidly drawn from about
er danced in front of him.
She was little girl of possibly z,
though at times her varying express
sions made her seem much older. Her
hair fioated about her head In careless
waves and tendrils, her eyes were gray
and deep, her mouth was small and
beautifully shaped, and there was a
saucy upward tilt to her short nose.
"Pooh, pooh," she said, with mock
ing courtesy, II amt bit afraid of
your -...
"And why notY' the old man asked.
She was a charming fairy, a natural
little coquette, and her every move
was full of subtle grace. and why
are you not afraid of such a gray old
mustache as amp he asked again as
she pirouetted before him.
Because you are my grandfather"
she carelessly answered.
The old mans face darkened.
What do you mean by that non
p he harshly asked.
"'Tain't nonsense" said the little
| maiden, unless grandfathers Is non
sense. Anyway, you're my grandfa-
| Their" And she started to leave him.
wait" he cried. "Come here. What
did you mean by saying | am your
| grandfather? Do you call every old
man you see grandfather
NO." said the child. only YOU"
He studied her face sharply.
"Come a little closer" he said in
coaxing tones. She marched boldly uI
| to him. Her little hand flew up and
| touched the front Of her cap.
That's the way to salute soldier,
she said, with merry laugh. "Mamms
said you was one"
He caught his breath.
Perhaps" he slowly said, 'you car
even tell me my Manner
| Yes, / cam" replied the child. "Iti
easy. Your name is Philip. An nov
guess what mine Is"
isis it Mary?" he gently asked.
NO." laughed the child. ''That''
mammals. Mine Is most like yours
It's Philippa."
The old man was silent for a mo
ment
us your mother here, child" he sud
denly asked. us she lurking abou
among the trees?"
"Who? Do you mean mamma 2
cried the child. "She isn't here. Sh
hasn't no time for trees. She's Away
too busy. Didn't you know she paints
Yes; she paints lovely little pictures
Minichoors she calls them. They'r
pictures of people. don't you know
only much prettier. But sometime
people don't pay very quick, an some
times they think mamma charges to,
much, an sometimes she doesn't hav
any pictures to do. Then, you know
it's pretty hard to have the landlor'
call l guess you know how that is"
And where is your fatherY and tn
old mans voice suddenly grew hard.
Hes beaded in Callyforny," said tn
child HE was an actor, you know;
stage actor. don't member him yer.
well. was too little when he wen
away. I've tried to act, too, but Della
that's the janitors wife, she says
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