The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-27
IHIIE MASONIC
IEMlIBH-. IEMl


Blake regarded his whimsically.
He is a comical-looking little chap,
he said. Then suddenly an interested,
excited expression came over his Tea
lures. The child's ragged coat had
fallen away and pinned to the coarse
common shirt, Blake beheld a Masonic
pin.
Now Fenton Blake was a prominent
member in the Masonic order and Ma
sorry was one of the few things in life
that still held his interest. He eagerly
took the pin from the ehild's shirt
Bud thought he had no friends! He'll
find he has d WOrldful," he exclaimed
as he rose and FASTENED into the other
coaches.
Presently he came back jubilant, his
arms full of boys clothing
There were plenty of Masons on
board" he said. and / told them of
4 Bud and showed them this little pin.
They shelled out literally and the
mother of four small boys donated this
| toggery."
How providential,'' exclaimed the
/ beautiful woman. IF you win carry
/ Bud into the state room 1 will put him
/ to bed
The Masonic emblem had aroused
/ Blake sympathy and interest, and as
| he felt the soft weight of the sleeping
child against his shoulder. a sudden
( impulse came TO him. He laid the
child down in the berth and returned
to his section, where he remained bur-
/ led in deep thought until the beauti-
full woman rejoined him.
/ DO you know what l am going TO
do?' exclaimed Blake impetuously, Il
am going to adopt Bud. I am like him
in some respects. My relashuns is all
dead. and 1 hain't got no friends that
is no near ones"
To his surprise there were evidences
of visible disappointment in the coun-
tenance of the beautiful woman.
do you know she said slowly, II
had made up my mind to adopt him
Since my boy died three years ago. it
has given me pain even to look at a
child, but tonight, when 1 held poor,
little Bud, 1 lost that feeling. Of
course, you have the first right-yOu
saved his life"
THAT isn't why I am going to adopt
him. he hastily interrupted, but be-
cause of that little pin. the emblem Of
that great brotherhood"
Your home is in Denver, isn't it?''
she asked after a pause.
Yes" he said in surprise. LAS the
guardian of our mutual friend, may 1
introduce myself? My name is Fenton
BIake.''
Yes, I know" she said quietly. MY
husband once pointed you out to me
at the opera, think"
He showed the evidences of another
pang at the mention of these two
words.
You live in Denver. also?" he asked.
Yes" she replied
Opening her purse she handed him a
card with name and address engraved
thereon.
The name revived hope. Mrs. Ma
rian Vernon
''She must be a widow" he thought.
Il am sure" she said anXiously. you
will say that it is best 1 should take
Bud TO my home and care for him until
! he is convalescent-
II will be so grateful to you if you
will My bachelor apartments are not
arranged comfortably for d sick child
Blake was quick to perceive the ad-
) Vantages derived from this arrange
ment, which would afford opportuni-
| ties of continuing and strengthening
formally opened.
When they had reached Denver Bud
: temperature had risen alarmingly
Blake drove to Mrs. Vernon's home
with her, carrying the child in his
arms. Soon after their arrival the
family physician of the Vernon house
: hold called. He didn't prophesy long
or severe illness for the lad. so Blake
{ sought his apartments in a most bliss
full frame of mind.
l To his lawyer on the following day
r he confided his plan Of adopting tho
little waif.
He is at present at the home of Mrs
e Vernon. She was on the same train
e with US"
; "Yernor?" What Vernon is that
4 Where does she live?"
i Blake told him the street and mum
Der.
T Yes, Max Vernor's widow"
Biake's heart gave leap Of JOY a
u this confirmation of his hopes.
He was her guardian" continued
the reminiscent lawyer, land married
e her as soon as she was out of school
He was a negative, uninteresting scr
of man-died about four years ago, AM
l don't think his loss was mourned L
a any great extent. but the death of ne
child, a year later, LETT MIS- Nerno
inconsolable.
Blake's calls upon his little charg
were as frequent as those Of the doc
Il tor.
Bud improved quickly under TIL
skilled care he received. There 500
IT came a day when. white, weak an
y thin, he SAT propped up in bed by sof
= pillows. gazing with admiring eye
IF upon the numerous toys and pictur
t books Blake had lavished upon him.
l. when you are we'll enough TO EMO
it. Bud. Mr.. Blake is going to give yo
q pony" said the beautiful woman VIII
IN sat at his bedside He is going TO adop
you and take you home with him whe
n you are quite strong"
But amt l gOin' TO stay. with you
too?'' he asked in alarm.
I'd only until you are we'll" she re
piled with sigh.
Wat does he want me fur?" b
asked curiously.
It Because, Bud, you are the son of
Mason"
to Nope. Dad warn't no mason Il
er digged cellars"
In She explained to him as well as 81
could the meaning of the term tt
difficulty of conveying to his limite
or intelligence a definition of MasOnI
Il was somewhat lessened by the fa'
or that Me and some other kids had
rs secret society onct,
n, Mr. Blake is a Mason. and he fee
that you belong TO him because yo'
or father was one Also
ng How does he know dad was one
by means of the little pin he four
or in your shirt" she replied
ne Bud closed his eyes and lay quiet
a long that Mrs. Vernon thought he M
" gone to sleep. She arose from the be-
ne side, but a compelling little haI
elutched at her skirts.
l Then he GIN me all these thing
and is going TO GIN NE more, becau
ne thought that was dads PIN
Yes. Bud"
he And was that why you brung
e. here and took care of me-