The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1902-09-04

m party, she q little widow
In black with the bluest Of
eyes and fluffy childish
RW golden hair. Afterward
W@ there had been drives and
iuncheons and she was
dined. wined and feted to
her hearts desire during
her brief visit to friends Of his In the
city.
After that she knew that he loved
her. although no words Of love had
ever been spoken between them. A
few days after her departure he sent
her box OF roses and book; she had
written her thanke ON q great square OF
black-bordered paper: then he wrote to
her, and all the summer they had ex-
changed Internationally, chatty sort
OF eplstles. When she sent him . pic
ture OF herself, he threw hesitancy to
the winds. packed his luggAge and
boarded train for her home. resolving
to forget the shadow of the dead hus-
hand. and ask her to be his wife. He re-
membered she had spoken Of her child.
boy. and she wrote of him often in her
letters. but Lucius Stillman was young
and strong and he loved her and he
would love her child.
He found the house easily. Such q
dear little summer cottage, with lawn
a. smooth and clean rs velvet, and his
heart trembled with love and Joy as he
walked lightly up the glistening white
pavement
The piazza was screened BY a net
work Of vines and little wicker table
with q litter of papers and magazines
and a gay array Of pillows made all look
very homelike.
Il was all 70 like her: Just what he
might have expected her home to be;
but HIS spirits fell when he saw the oc-
cupant Of the red hammock which
swung from post to post. II was boy
But such boyl A nondescriptive sort
OF q ch6p, veritable rag-bag, with
dirty legs and mop OF unkempt hair.
docs Mrs. Graham live here?" he
asked Of the bundle Of rags.
"Yas." said the boy. as he took an
other huge bite out Of his apple.
"Are-are you her boyf"
A nod was his answer. Poor Still
man. he felt like turning and fleeing
| away-away anywhere. His face flush
was Il possible that q woman 20 sweet
and dainty"-but his love mastered hip
disappointment and he boldly rang the
bell.
Aneat colorcd maid admitted him,
took his card and left him to get his
breath. Il was very cool and quiet in
the charming little room. The curtains
were crisp and white. There were
quantities Of pillows and rugs and pic
lures and books. The plano was open
and piece Of music was on the rack--a
piece he had sent her: II love you, It's
all that can say" Ugh. he could not
forget that atrocity out there In the
hammock!
There was a bowl OF roses on tab
orette-a little pile OF notes lay on the
writing desk. (He shuddered-Oh, II
he only had not seen that boy-her
boy!'D
| She came in presently, blue eyes, fair
hair and all. with q dainty white gown
and bunch of heliotrope at her belt.
"Mr. Stillman! So glad could
scarcely believe my eyes when the maid
brought mo yoer card. How good Of
you to come all this long way TO see
me-"
| He never knew how he got through
Il; he knew that he tried tn smile and To
talk pleasantly. but his heart ached and
his brain reeled. He had been 20 hap
py: he had meant to tell her how he
l'had grown to love her. to ask her to be
bis wife. and to let him be . father to
her little child: but now II wss like q
hideous nightmare after q sweet. sweet
dream. Not the ghostly shadow of a
dead husband stood between. but the
living presence OF dirty little urchin
who looked like a vagabond, q stray
cur. and who. alas! was her child.
He rose to go with some common
| MA artw hs.k o1.< uNn nA
"Oh, Just q moment, Mr.. Stlllman--
you must see my boy" and she yam
, ished behind the DO. there's.
: Great Scott! he had seen her boy. and
he wished him q thousand miles away.
He loved her-and yet. oh. that child OF
hers!
+, There was a quick little step in the
outer room and a vision dashed pell-
NELL into hts arms. A little figure In
the whitest Of white pique with her
! eyes and her hair and her smile. His
J little cap came on In twinkling and
he presented his hand.
MRS. Graham-Edith-is this your
boyi"
happy mother.
StiiIman almost shouted in his 10Y
Then who II the boy in the ham
mockr
why, that's q friend OF mine." said
} he OF the white piQue. HE hasn't any
. home. 20 told him mamma would take
! his for hers. won't you. mammal" and
. he re,sed his two blue sys to his moth
I er's face.
. Well. the bunch OF rass In the haM
mock found good homo and blue eye
has Q very young and handsome step
! father, who often laughs with his wifi
ever what was almost . tragedy"
I1EZaN