The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-09
AT THE CHlLDREN'S HOUR
BY WILLETTE PROVOST

Grossly before. why, Cubbie.' she said,
even if you were away for years and
years and years we'd love each other just
as much as we do now, wouldn't we?'
| That seemed to comfort him. They
were sitting under a favorite tree. He
put ms arm around her. and when
fluifles mother came to lock for her long
after she found that they had fallen asleep
| in each others arms
The girl at the piano was playing q
| lullaby.
well, Cubic went away. and when he
came pack next wear he found that Fluffie
and her mother had wandered away to live
| in some other woods, but no one seemed
| to know where
The music grew faint. almost ceased,
The years passed and Cubic grew to
be great big, rough bear. He often
| thought of little Fuffie and wondered
what she was like and if she remembered
| him.
| The man paused.
go on. Uncle Fred. What did the big
boy bear do?'' said the child.
| well, his papa wanted him to stay at
wealthy little bear, but it was not his
little Fluffie; so he said no.
Then, after long while TO please his
father, who was dying, he promised to
ask the beautiful little bear to be his wife.
You see. he had almost given up hope Of
seeing MS again.
All was silence in the corner by the
window. The girl at the piano was list
ening.
"Fluffie was mean not to have come
back, wasn't she, Uncle Fred?"
Perhaps she couldn't get back. dear"
answered the man. 'She might have got
lost. 1t must have been that way, for
one day she did come back to the old
woods .-r.
"Ah. goodie." exclaimed the child.
| I'm glad aren't you uncle?''
yes, dear. but there was something
about her that Cubic could not UNDER
stand. He finally came to the conclusion
! that she did not care for him any more
| The man was gazing earnestly into the
| fire he spoke: he seemed to have for
gotten the presence Of the child. Then he
looked down and smiled. She had fallen
asleep.
And that's the end, for Uncle Fred's
little grille has gone fast asleep 1 Won
der if auntie will call mother to put her
little girl to bed?"
| In response the girl rose from the piano
and. coming over to the fire. stood be-
hind him for a moment with her hand
resting on the back of his chair.
| II would like to know what this big
rough bear is going to do for pussy may
want to know, when she wakes in the
morning?'' she asked.
20. live and die an old bachelor and
write stories for little ones like Sweet
heart here-stories to put them to Sleep"
But I thought you said the bear was
going to marry some one"
THAT was long ago. The beautiful and
wealthy bear" he added. with a smile.
found out in some way that he had
asked to marry. her only because of his
fathers dying wish. and she positively re-
fused to do So
But supposing Fluffe did not know Ct
this. Supposing she had known he vas
Iengaged, but never heard of the break
ing of the engagement until to-day said
the girl gently. IF she had not known.
would the big bear have forgiven her for
doing as she did?'
light shone in the mans eyes-a light
that revealed a dawning hope.
WAS that the only reason?' he asked
quickly WAS the bea-O. hang the
bears. FIossie, are you not engaged to
some one?'
The girl bent her head and kissed his
forehead.
Il don't know she said. Am ]. DEAR"