The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04

| OF him, on another char, was the
youngster, Robbie. crying.
what is the matter with him
nowY the old man asked himself
wearlly. The child yelled. The fos-
ter father clawed his ears with his
wrinkled hands and hoped In a de-
spairing fashion, that Mrs. Halstead
would come TO the rescue. Then he
dreaded her look of disapproval at the
mess around the child. Toys OF
every description-pictures and picture
books, his watch, fancy bottle stop
pers, about everything not nailed-was
there. Still the imp cried Mamma! !!
Mamma! YObble wants mammal
Yell! Yell! Yell!
The little spinster dressmaker who
lived I'm the hall room passed the door
just as Robbie achieved brilliant
chef d'euvre Of yells. She skipped by
In scared manner, hurriedly inserted
the key I'm her door and vanished.
Peters and she had never exchanged n
word, although he had occupied his
room ten years and she had been in
hers II year before. He was preju-
diced against her in those early days
because she ran sewing machine
sometimes &C night The cause had
ceased to exist but the prejudice still
clung TO him. although he never pro-
tested against her. She on her part
had grown to regard him as gruff old
ogre-past whose door she always
hastened
This afternoon he actually yearned
for her or Mrs. Halstead or any wom-
an to sOothe the youngster. lie sat
there wondering II she knew anything
about children. lie hesitated. Robbie
began TO take i'm air for another out.
burst. Peters darted into the hall and
knocked tlmidly at her door.
A few minutes later the child was
s0bbing on her breast, pouring out his
tale OF woe In indistlnguishable sylla.
bles, while the dlstrusted Peters
walked the floor, eying the imp ap.
prehensively. Miss Robinson held the
child tenderly absorbed in her Office. |
The foster father was entirely out of
the picture. The little woman loved
children dearly.
Mr.. Peters read the letter and heaved
a Sigh OF relief II was from his niece
and contained an invitation To make
his home with her. He had never
seen his niece until the executor OF |
the estate introduced her at a meeting |
of the heirs.
Mrs Halstead came In person 10
make his bed. The signs displayed at
the breakfast table had actually made |
her blush and the boarders stare. Such |
looks! Such smiles.
Mrs. Halstead," he began brislxly. |
Her pOrtly form was bent with tuck. |
ing I'm the clothes. Il am thinking OF |
making a change In my life-a great
change" He paused for encoura ge-
ment.
"Yes." sweetly.
Now - you see - Robbie and this /
woman next door-,Miss Roblnson-she
i supposed women haye-hem-great |
ways with children" Warclouds gath
cred ON the Widows face "And r.
mot Miss RoblnsonY' exclaimed the
landlady.
Bless me. yes" He looked at her
In astonishment.
"Well. l declared Out OF the door
she bounced, with blood In her eye.
Now, what is the matter with herY
he asked himself, rubbing mis- glasses
and peerlng down the hall. "What
strange creatures women are!"
He had intended telling her that from
the way Robbie took 10 the spinster 1t
seemed best TO provide female care for
him in the person OF his niece.
Papa" called Robbie. The old man
started. The boy had kicked the COW
ers from his cot. Mr.. Peters looked
gravely down at him.
The boy grinned back, tossed his
bare fat legs and chuckled.
you - you little imp" commented
Peters, with smile. do you know
His niece went out OF the room with
her nose held high in air. He shook
his INST with latent rage at her vanish
ing form. The idea. Send the boy
back because, forsooth, she didn't like
childrenl
The muftied sound OF sObs came to
his ears from Miss RObinsOn's room. J
He felt the hush OF ''the great idea"
II = Mrs. Halstead ad-Ordered me-t0