Morris tribune., 1901-03-30

times they shirlk 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"
FAnd where is your fatler?p and the
old mans voice suddenly grew hard.
Hes beaded in Cally forny, "tsaid the
child. HE was an actor, you know; a
stage actor. don't member him very
well. | was too little when he went
away. I've tried to act, too, but Della,
that's the janitor's wife, she says I
can't act for shucks."
"Good thing" muttered the old man.
"Well, don't know" said the child.
ls'You see, | wanted to do somethin to
help mamma, an If can't act 1 don't
know what can do. But I s'pose it's
no use. Della said that as child won.
der 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 mel" 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 said I didn't
know, an she thought it out an said,
Yes, he is, 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 went home 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 OF a millunaire. If.he's tramp,
you must keep away from him, but if
he's millunaire you want to rope him
in An when / looked at you again I
saw you didn't look like a tramp, an so
/ thought I'd take my chances an rope
you in, an that's just what l did"
"And your mother knows nothing
about my being here? the old man
asked.
''Yes, 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
made you speak to me first, didn't II"
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 yon
could want, and somebody to wait on
you, and pony to drive, and every
thing that could make a little girl
happy"
An would mamma come, too?" the
child asked.
The old man shook his head.
I'D like the room,'' said the child,
ian the pony an all the rest, but I
guess I'd be too lonesome without
But you'd have me-" urged the old
man.
WED be just two lonesome ones TO-
yether," said the child. Then she, add
ID, IF you knew mamma, you'd see
now it isl
Perhaps / am beginning to see,"
aid the old man softly.
"I'll tell you what we'll do" cried the
.hild. you can borrow me. How,s
hat?''
1T sounds well,' said the old man.
How must set about it?''
'sOh, it's easy" replied the child.
You just come to our fat an send up
our card, an then mamma will whis-
lie down an say. Please come up
9hen you go up, an IN there, an say,
Mr.. Grandpapa, this is mamma Then
on bow an say, Pleased to know you,
n mamma says, Where have seen
on before?' an then you say, Can
orrow your charmin daughter for the
est of the dayg for you've come very
arly in the mornin, you know, an
lamma says, Have you any security
Dr. the remit mean for the child? an
on say, oh, yes; indeed have, an
hen you put up a silver quarter for
curity an take me, an we go away
omewhere an have a splendid time to-
ether an get home when it's real dark,
n mamma is gettin fidgety. I'd like
, see that house Of yours an that room
q those ponies We ought to get bet
II acquainted we ought to, really
The old man smiled at her enthusi-
SIN. Evidently this was delightfully."-
,iginal child.
Do you think your mamma would
Amt my portrait?" he asked.
Shed be real pleased to- said the
lid. IAN I'd get the commission, too,
ouldn't 1? She told me if l got any
'ders I'd get the commission. You're
y order, amt your
Yes said the old man as he slowly
'ose. Come, we will go and seek your
other. | must get that picture before
grow any older and before your
amma's memory quite outgrows the