Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-12-31

Ben, with a face as red as a peony
tried to exolain, but the men shouted
in derision.
"'Top your laughin', bad men!" the
child ordered, shaking her tiny fist;
Use Rhena, papa Ben's Rhena, an |
finded him in the woad, an now |
wants my supper"
The men laughed the heartier at her
spunk, and crowded around for look.
One tried to lift her from the seat, bur
she threw her arms around Ben's
neck and Rugged him SO tightly, that
he could hardly speak. Besides, he
was growing angry, for the mems
jokes were not exactly pleasant to
bear, but the abgurdity of the situa-
ton came over him, and he joined in
the laugh.
"And she'r a better lookin' kid than
any of you roundheads have, I'll bet,
he called to the Swedes, "and If she
wants me for a dad / don't know as
it's anybody's business but ours
And he is my own dood papa Ben"
the child affirmed from her perch on
his shoulder, as Ben carried her
| through the crowd of men into the
long eating room where the table was
laid for supper.
What on earth, Bradley, have you
! got there?" both the cook and fore
. man asked IN surprise. Thought you
told us when you came here, that you
wasn't married"
so did, said Ben stoically.
And | know that you hain't got
married these last six months either"
said the cook.
That's So" repeated Ben.
"Yet whose child is that?" demanded
che foreman.
Mine"
yours p
Eyes, ask the kid"
Hes my papa. | finded him, an
wants my supper. Has you dot any
mix for Rhena?" and sha turned
towards the cook
Not drop, you blessed baby, we
don't have mix In the Camps, but J.
fix you up something good in a min
ute" and he vanished into the feanto
of the shanty, which was the kitchen.
Ben put the child down by the table,
and when the men stopped joking he
told all he knew about her appearance.
Each and every one had a different
theory, few believing that she was
Ben's, and her mother had taken that
means of sending her to her father,
!, and quite theory was formed about
, his deserving his wife and child.
: But that version of the childs ap-
pearance amused Ben nightly. He
had always been such hater of
} women, that he had never spoken to
one except when obliged to since his
earliest manhood. Children he had
never noticed at ALL but the striking
} beauty and helplessness of this little
1 one, as well as her adoption of him.
! had aroused feeling of affection, and
by bedtime he had made up his mind
to keep her until her parents should
be found.
. She'll have to sleep with you.
e Ben" said the foreman. "for she won't
. go to anyone else. Can you undress
' herr"
t Ben looked at her helplessly. She
] was drowsy little heap in his arms.
II wouldn't know how to unbutton her
q shoes" he answered
The foreman had investigated the
valise, and held out a dainty little
night robe. This child belongs to
q well off people. | know enough about
chidren's clothes for that; and be-
sides. she is of good blood, no common
breed about her. See how delicate she
is, like fine piece OF china, my wife
would say. Bradley. I'll tell you what
p I'll do, for I'm sure my wife win be
willing. Well take her home, and In
! case her folks are not found, adopt
J. her, for she's just the age of the little
girl we lost. you know"
Ben felt a sudden Tightening of his
o heart strings. II thank you kindly,
e Mr.. Brown, but-but-well you see it's
: this way. | never had a home l was
a sent to children's home, and stayed
l. there until big enough to work, with
S nobody. no woman or child to care for
: and nobody to care for me, and now
e I'm 26 years old. and this little thing
d is the first one who ever said she
5 loved me. and you heard her say that
). tonight. And so I've kind of made up
d my mind that IL nobody claims her,
and | hope they won't. I'll keep her
e myself. The old lady that boards me
S will look out foor her too, guess, for
Q the sake of the cash"
e You're a queer one, Bradley. Not
9 many young fellows would adopt n
n kid like that. Hear the wind risei II
+ tomorrow does not bring whooping
blizzard then I'm no weather prophet
"And II to-day had not been spring
;. instead of winter this kid would have
I died left as she was Curse that Belle.
4 Brown, If you ever come across her, do