The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07

you will allow me, 1 would like to take
Little Saint Sunshine and yourself and our
young friend 10 breakfast with me. There
would have been no other reason for tell
ing IT. but happen to be the vice-president
of the road. and perhaps 1 could make it
a little more pleasant for you on that ac-
count"
The kind lady looked pleased and the
young girl loked awed. but they accepted
his invitation. for there could be no doubt
from his face and his love for Dolly what
kind of a man he was.
Little Saint Sunshine's wishes were not
even consulted.
We'll, come then, let US be going" said
Mr.. Vice President, and. taking Dolly up
in his arms, he led the way.
1t was much the grandest sight that Dolly
had ever seen. but one glance embraced it
all. and she wove it skillfully into her
scheme of existence with a single mental
effort Nothing was too wonderful to hap
pen in this wonderful world II the train
had suddenly taken wings and flown away to
the moon; if the moon had come into the
and offered TO pour Dolly a cup of tea:
If the sun had said, II will be your rub
Der ball and you can bound me on the floor
of the universe" it would not have startled
her for more than a single instant.
AS it was with the breakfast. so it was
with everything else which the kind friends
did for the little traveller. She accepted
all, and enjoyed all, and repaid all-repaid
1t by her perfect enjoyment of 1t all.
The child supplied the stimulus and charm
which only children give to life. For what
good would life be II all of us were born
twenty-five years old?
"You don't know what have dot in my
thatchel,'' Dolly said to the old gentleman
soon after breakfast, shaking a dimpled
finger at the great vice president as If he
were neighbor's little boy.
mo, my dear, what is it?" he asked, with
more interest than he would have felt if
some one had told him that the stock OF
the T. & p. had gone up ten points.
18th a dolly! A real live dolly! The can
thyut her eyeth and open them!'
"Oh. bless my soul!'
1.-THE hath the longetht, lovelietht, golden
etht hair. and can comb it. And the hath
blue eyeth and little teeth and thockings
and thlipperth.'
MY gracious! Can she talk?''
1.-THE can thqueakr'
Let me see her. / can't wait another
minute. Shall we let the kind lady find
her?" he asked. reaching for the satchel-
His delight was not assumed. He did not
feign pleasure. Sitting beside that fount Of
childish happiness was like sitting at the
side Of spring in desert.
When Dolly took her nap in the afternoon,
the old gentleman, who was not really so
very old, said to his two companions: IT
wonder IL 1t isn't about time for us to be
making each others acquaintance now that
we have got to know our mutual friend so
well. My name is Cathcart."
"And mine Is Simmons, and this is my
daughter. She has not been well, and I
am taking her to California for the win
ter" the kind lady said.
"And your homer"
'Is in Auburn, New York"
Auburn? 1 grew up there"
ct have been thinking so''
At this remark he started and inquired:
You have? And why?"
81. too, spent my childhood there
What was your maiden name?'
BY this time he had fixed his piercing,
black eyes intently on her face.
Bronson"
Mluule bTONSOn!
Yes, Minnie Bronson, and you are Tom
Cathcart. 1 began to suspect it several
hours ago."
God bless my SOUL" exclaimed the vice
president. his eyes opening to their full
| width.
He grasped her hand warmly and said
with feeling that did his kind heart cred.
| It.: "And so you are Minnie Bronson. ]
| see you, now. How could that face have
concealed itself so long and be revealed
| suddenly? What a pleasure this is
How long is 1t since We have seen each
other?"
Nearly thirty years, / think
"For thirty years! Why, bless my soul
| you don't look a DAY older than when we
used to go skating on Owasco lake. And Sc
this young lady is your daughter? o.
course she is. She is your image. She i.
your very self"
ct am afraid you are contradicting your
SELF" said Mrs. Simmons, with smile.
| "Not L. said the gallant old vice presi
dent, ''for you don't look a day older thar
your daughter. Oh. yes. 1 see the gra,
hairs. But they don't count. 1 have a few
myself, and / am not a day older thar
| when / boy.
| but the wrinkles!"
| "Yes and the wrinkles see those too
but they are only skin deep! And besides
I admire them; they are. the hieroglyphic
of life; by them 1 can read your life his
| tory. You have suffered. Those few lines
| are burrows caused by the most subtle in
strument of time. And that serene expires
| sion of resignation and peace is lovelie
than even the radiant one of hope use,
| used to know well. 1 wonder I did no
recognize you in your daughter. She 4
yourself reproduced
"Yes. 1 am living my life again in her.
And so Dolly had reunited two old friends
For her and these friends, the days spe,
swiftly. The childless millionaire had los
his heart to the little orphan. and those VIII
travelled with them to Los Angeles af
firmed that he-but the issues of tina
chance meeting do not belong to the stor.
of Little Saint Sunshine's life
If all the good she did and all the heart
she brought together were to be told an
described, the covers of this book woul
not hold the record.
After three happy days, the train ap
preached the station where Little Sain
Sunshine was to leave them, and ever