Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-10-10
Is If 7 had seen them for the iirst

from the wall the suit OF mems
clothes.
At this my boarder seated herself
upon the top step, put her hands
over her face, and burst into tears.
They're Jim's," she said. They're
Jim's."
Don't, my dear. don't. Do not
agitate yourself so terribly"
She shook all over her spare form
Her voice came muff1ed from between
her fingers. There was no doubt
about her grief being serious. "It
seems as if were suspected and
bounded every step l take. I'm sure
have only good intentions. have
no wish to do anything wrong, but,
dear Mrs. Brathwaite, just remem-
Der that have had no mother. You
know what that means to girl-no
mother! Poor Jim! 1t might not
have happened if she had not died
and left us. Jim's clothes are all
/, That have left of him, and kept
them. I could not bear to give them
away. l have heard of women being
blamed for not giving away their
/ baby's clothes, after they died, to
poor people. feel as if Jim had
been my baby. my dead baby. Jim!
dear, dear Jim!" Her tears were
very honest tears.
came to the top step and gath
cred the girl in my arms. 'There!
don't cry" said I. Don't cry"
stop, dear lady," said she, brush
ing away her tears hurriedly, 81
must hang up poor Jim'sq clothes
again. I didn't think you'd mind. I
hung them there to keep them free
from moths" 1 wanted to take her
in my arms and say Little Amar-
Rnthe, little Amaranthe." She looked
so thin and helpless and woe
begone. She hung the clothes upon
their nail with many sigh and
heave of the breast. Her sor-
row was so real that my heart ached
for her. went back into the room,
and in moment she joined me.
How good you are to me-" she said.
My own eyes were trimming as I
put my hands on her shoulders and
looked into hers, and said it:
Little Amaranthe! little Amaran-
the!"
:What do you mean?" said she sud-
denly, the color flushing her cheeks,
She stared at me like one seeing an
apparition.
"Ah, little Amaranthe, you don't
remember me. You don't remember
Wildly, who used to teach YOU when
you were little tot"
She put her hand to. her head,
"Say that again." said she. 9
"Wibby, Wildly, who used to teach
| YOU"
| Let me think" said she. "Let me
think. seem to see-oh! was it a
great white house? Was there a RI
otously lovely garden? Did we do
lessons out under tree? Was there
great dog, and COW that 1 used
to fondle? Were there two ladies
there, and little one, who always
came with the books"
Yes. yes,' whispered I, as my
tears strea!mrred fast, "It was like
that. What you say is proof enough
for me. I am Sophronia Willoughby
who used to teach you, my deares,
little girl"
$50 you are Wibby?" said she. ..Is
/ it wonder that did not know YOU;
How you have. changeds@ -
Yes" saia I, with a sigh, 81 have
indeed changed. How could I help
| it in 16 years? Do you remember
your aunts?
YES" said she. "They were my
aunts, were they not, those two
| ladies? Then there was mother and
an uncle. Was his name"
David" said l. Don't you re.
member your Uncle David, David
! Darlington"
WAS it David?" she asked; twas
it my Uncle DayidS I knew that my
Mans: WAS Darlington. 1t was the
name we had in Madras. After
father died had to do something
Father died very poor"
but how was that?" asked. "He
was rich man.
II don't like to say things agains,
dear daddy" she laughed sad little
laugh-"but to tell you the truth
Mrs. Brathwaite dear, father was a
confirmed gambler. He died when
was Is years old, and have been sup
porting myself ever since"
with the great hoNs.s standing NJ
there on the HIM. Dried, "and
enohgh and to spare"
fare those my clearinghouse" she
asked In an awe-struck voice. "Are
those my people? cannot believe
it. Oh, to be at home at last! No,
to have to work any more, to be take1
care of" and she burst into hysteri
cal tears.
"And why did you never write?"
II did write after father died, blu,
never received any answer. Their
the consul wrote, but he was un
successful also. thought that they
must all have died. Father had told
me that he had taken all that be
longed to him, and felt that ! hat
no rights, that perhaps they did no.
Want me, would not welcome me-"
:.:Why did you change your name?'
cried-"oh, why?"
"oh, to Dacres? If you had know
my father
You forget, my dear, did know
your father"
Every well, then, you know how HI
hated the idea of one of his famil,
working for living. He had verl
grand ideas, had daddy. He, said Of
ten and often that no one Of tn,