Mower County transcript., 1902-12-24


offered to take charge. 81 the funds
and help Kirk or some one to see that
they were properly placed, and Kirk !.
started to go out. The ladies had
crowded around the baby, caressing
him as he never had been caressed be-
fore in all his meager, pitiful life. II +,
It was at this moment that Kirk saw
Francis Raleigh. He had come out Of
the music room, and the minute he saw
Kirk he came to him and held out his
hand. :.
"Mr. Kirk. isn't it? heard you at
Hermon a few weeks ago, at COM
mencement. You remember me? We
have met once or twice. Raleigh is my
name." ~
Eyes, I remember" said Kirk. He
had met Raleigh at some receptions.
Excuse me for not shaking hands.
Mine are full just now" q,
EXCUSE me, I see they are" said
Raleigh, laughing. "You did that very
WELL. He, spoke very kindly, but in a
tone that he did not mean to be patron
izing. It was only the Raleigh man.
ner. It belonged to the family. He
might have spoken differently If he
had known that in the upper vest
pocket of the homely figure before him;
was the lovely face Of Dorothy Gilbert.
But there was this fact about the stu
ation-Kirk knew that Raleigh was In
love with Dorothy. Raleigh did not
know that Kirk loved her or that he
had ever thought of such possibility.
II am glad for the baby's sake" re-;
piled Kirk soberly. He ignored the
compliment and finally succeeded In
getting down to the lower deck again.
The intermediate cabin was excited
over the result. Nearly $500 had been
contributed, and the concert would
bring a hundred more. In fact, when
the concert was over and all of the
first cabin had been solicited nearly
$500 was given for the baby's start in
life.
When the vessel reached Liverpool,
Kirk. with the help Of the surgeon and
one of the cabin passengers, secured
| nurse for the baby and arranged with
| one of the women who had cared for
the mother in the intermediate to 60
down to London and see the baby safe
in it's home there. Kirk himself had.
the sad pleasure of meeting the sister,
| and while he was in London doing his
special work of study in the east end
he secured lodging near by and often
went to see the family. He grew won
derfully attached to the child, and
when he was obliged to leave and pur-
sue his studies on the continent he
parted from the baby with genuine sor-
row. He supposed at the time that this
little chapter in his life was closed and
completed. 1t was one Of the future
events that no man can foresee that
opened to him afterward continue
tion Of that human affection. For he
was unable to return to London again,
and when he said goodby he had no
dream Of ever seeing that part Of his
life return.
! It was two weeks after the steamer
reached Liverpool and while Kirk was
working hard in the east end slums
that Dorothy Gilbert received letter
from Francis Raleigh, dated from Lon
don, Gordon square, near the British
museum. She had not encouraged him
when he pleaded the privilege of an
occasional letter; but, on the other
hand. she had not refused him, and he
was too careful Of his future to risk
the mistake of writing too cften or in a
tone Of sentiment. He wrote a very in
teresting letter. Dorothy enjoyed read
ing it, while she felt a little disturbed
to think she must answer. She did not
want to encourage him too much. At
the same time his un doubted love for
her and his great talents as an artist
appealed to her strongly. The only
reason she had not accepted his affec-
tion was lack Of feeling on her own
part. She was fearful of herself. She
wanted to be absolutely sure Of her
own heart. She had known him since
they were both children. 1t was not as
if they were in any way comparative
strangers. She also knew well enough
that her father favored Raleigh's suit.
There was one passage in the letter
that intensely interested her. 1t might
not have pleased Francis Raleigh if he
had known all the reasons for her in
terest. 1t was passage describing a
scene on the vessel during his recent
voyage across.
''You may remember" the letter
went on after description Of some
famous paintings in the National gal.
lery, "a theological student Of the
name Of Malcolm Kir!A who graduated
this year. Had an unusually goo6
voice for theologue and received thu
German scholarship at graduation. Yor
would remember him if for no othel
reason on account Of his almost phe
nomenal awkwardness. Well, he wa'
on the Cephalonia coming across, ani
fell in with him and had several in
teresting talks with him." Doroth.
| 1ooEo6. I'm from ho,. roo dino on6 <hI