The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-05-18
Mr.. Charlton took Doris small

Mr.. Charlton took Doris small
gloved hand in his and welcomed her
kindly. She looked a nice child, he
thought, listlessly, in her neat serge
frock and bolero jacket, her fair hair
falling over her shoulders. and an ex
preston Of innocent pity in her blue
eyes. Pity! yes, for Doris already
pitied this old man, who had such a
lovely house to live in, yet who looked
so sad-so sad.
He asked her to spend the day with
him, saying that there were many
pretty things about the house she
might like to see; and her father
agreed to leave her until the afternoon,
when he would cali for her on his way
home. Doris was not afraid of being
left now, for Mr.. Charlton seemed SO
kind and gentle. He showed her lot
Of curious things, and some beautiful
pictures, and, though 1t seemed to cost
him an effort at first, the child's pratt.
tie found the way to his heart, and
he frightened up as he had not done
for months. They had luncheon to-
gether, and Doris told such funny
story, as it seemed to her, that she had
heard from nurse, over which she
laughed so heartily that he was
amused also, and actually found he
had managed to finish his soup with
out being aware that he was taking
it. After luncheon he sent his little
tcik a thu hnr1cn
and grounds, from which she returned
an hour later, with her hands full of
choice flowers.
Aren't they lovely?" .she asked.
your gardener gave them to me. May
I put them in this nice china vase?
You have no flowers in the ROOM"
No; there had been no flowers about
the room since his darling boy left
him. He had loved them, so the old
man had felt since his loss that he
could not bear to look upon the frail.
scented things that reminded him OF
Wilfred. But he did not like to hurt
the feelings of his little guest by tell
ing her to remove them, and present
ly he found himself watching her ar
range them with feeling that was
not all pain.
I'm tired now" sighed Doris, when
she had finished; and she drew a low
stool to his side and seated herself
upon it. This has been such very
busy day. think seeing a lot of
strange things makes one feel tired"
"And how do you like my house. my
dear" asked Mr.. Charlton. "Will you
come to see me againT
"Oh, 1 shall be very glad. thank you.
think it's a beautiful house, only
just little lonely, don't you think"
Every lonely"
His tone was full of sadness, and
Doris remembered about the lost
grandchId, and felt she had made a
mistake.
"May 1 sing you little song" she
asked, timidly. Papa likes me to,
sometimes, when we're alone"
do, my DEAR"
So Doris sang-simple words. sung
in a child's clear treble; but they
sounded sweetly in that quiet room,
and the old man rested his head upon
his hand, and the slow tears trickled
through his fingers-tears that had
been pent up since he had taken his
last look at the face of his dead boy
tears that had melted the ice that had
been gathering shout his heart.
"She has done me world of good"
he whispered to the child's father
when he cane to take her home.
"Send her to me sometimes, won't
your
So once more child's footsteps were
heard about the corridors of Charlton
Hall; and after bit Doris coaxed her
new old friend out into the sunshine,
and BY degrees he began to take an
interest again In the world and in the
poor around him. He grew to call her
his little physician, and It was with
glow of delight that Doris one day
overheard him say to her father:
"She has brought a ray Of sunshine
into my darkened life. God bless her
my little DR.. Doris. New York Week
ly.