The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-19
AN INNOCENT STRATEGIST
By sT1LLETTA PEYToN BURKE

out? Els -draggin' on de flo lax mon
keys tall
The little girl laughed gleefully at the
picture Hepzy had successfully turned
the drift of conversation, which, as sne
declared to Marin Smith that afternoon
with numerous fat ciluckles. she felt
=" 'bleeged 10 do; de Dressed chile was
gittin' too pussondl.''
49,.
Mama and Alice Dorothy had been
swinging to and fro in the big rocker for
long time that evening. When the little
girl, nesting closer, had asked in her
sweet, lisping fashion if they couldn't have
wedding some time like Miss Edits, an
did she fink that Mister Donar would
come. too, cause Hepzy said there
couldn't be none 'thout a bwidegoom.
mamma had kissed her quickly on the
| mouth and told her never, never to say
anything like that again. -
| And lnamas little girl must be very
quiet, too, when-anybody calls, because
with half sigh-'marna' afraid that
Mr.. Donald doesn't like little girls"
| The front doorbell rang sharply. A
messenger had come to say that Mrs.
Nelson had just received word that her
son had been killed and would Mrs
Cranston come over for awhile until her
| sister could get there
| Alice Dorothy had tiny scheme tucked
pleased when mama had turned on the
| lights and told her she might sit up
| awhile in the big rocker.
| 1t was very still in the house after
mama had gone, and the small eyelids
dropped heavily. Then the bell rang
again, and the half closed eyes few wide
open as their owner gave a. quick little
| breath.
|. Yes she was sure he would come: There
| he stood looking down at the round, friz-
ely head He was saying something about
| finding her alone He was big and broad
shouldered, and his eyes were smiling at
| her.
The child gazed at him very seriously
and very critically for a moment, and then
the dinples broke. IL
=" fought p'raps you'd come" she said,
looking up at him ecstatically.
you were looking for me- then?
Eyes. 1 wanted t. ask if you'd be TIL
bwidegoom at our wedding an stan by
the cuttings wifi tn bu'ful bwide?''
Whose wedding, Alice Dorothy?
Yours?' There was note of eager
curiosity in the questioning voice.
Yes mine an manla's. Hepzy says we
mus have a bwidegoom like Miss Edit
had. an 1 fought p'raps you'd be it,
He lifted the child in his arms and sat
: down in the roomy rocker.
Alice Dorothy nestled close to him con-
fldingly. He was not smiling now, but the
child's quick instinct told her that he
could be relied upon. She liked Mr.. Don
aid very much.
can my mama she fought we could
never have a buful wedding cause praps
you don't like little gulls. an it made her
sorry to fink bout that
Did she say that. little one?''
mo, she didn't say it, she on'y Wis.,
pered.''
!. Mr.. Donald sat up very straight: He
there.
=, 1t was very uncomfortable sitting like
S that. And what did he mean when ne
kissed her hair SO suddenly and called her
a little ''angel of light and said that he
.. understood now-it was quite clear-and
he hoped they would all be very happy
yet.
, And now he was holding her tight in his
n arms, his brown cheek close to her sof,
, pink one, rocking slowly to and fro. In
spite Of everything the drowsy eyelids
would drop over the happy. sleepy eyes.
n AN it will-be-th' mos bufuest wed.
y ding-an' Mr.. Donal'-you do like-little
gulls-'splain' Toto mama: please, so she
W. o-o on be-sorry-an' -, -
The man and the child were very quie,
r now. One had slipped away into dream
d land and the other was fashioning fine
dream of his own.
y When Alice Dorothy awoke she was il
e her own little bed. and mama was bend
S ing over her. her face hidden in the child :.
silky curls
e 1.-The bwidegoom taxed care of me. ma
= ma, an-an' -sleepily-"did he splaiE
Y t. you-bout-little- guls?'
= Eyes, darling; he has explained. and
Alice Dorothy did not hear the rest
e Mama voice was too soft or too fal
e away: but two months later. lacking one
e day, she had wedding of her very own.