The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13

already to be claiming admittance to his
heart
With quick. accustomed hands he took
from the cupboard two odd cups and
saucers, a milk jug, sugar and plates,
and bread and butter He had learned
how to make his own tea in days when
to go to- outside tea shops was a luxury
beyond his means, and the habit had
chung to him.
There was a gas ring in the room, and
having placed upon it a kettle that had
originally been polished brass, he busted
himself much to the child's amusement,
in preparing the tea.
She insisted upon helping him. and,
removing her heecy cloak. she began to
make herself useful in a manner that
betrayed early developed housewifely in
stincts.
see how much at home she was, to fol-
low the beautifully dressed little figure
as it moved about with dancing eyes and
a gay song on it's lips.
DO you always have tea alone?" she
asked, setting the cups, and ignoring
their cracked and assorted condition.
Always
And aren't you vewy lonely?" She
forgot her occupation and coming
across to him. put her soft childish
hands in his, and looked up with an ex-
preston that was wistful and filed with
an understanding and sympathy be-
yond her years.
Sometimes, little lady" he said, with
short sigh. But you know we dull,
middle aged fogies have our day
dreams like other folks
What are day dreams?'
We'll. for instance. 1 might imagine
one day that I did not live here, but
somewhere quite different. in the cOun-
try. perhaps, and that I had a little girl,
like you to talk to-and love, and work
for, and that she was merry, just as
you are. and made the world seem
bright, even when the sun was not shin
ing. And then, maybe, when I can al
most fancy this to be true I wake and
find it was only a dream
Is that day-dream?" she asked. II
has Them, she went on. reflectively,
"but-but they are different: all about
fairies and gweat, big 'nchanted castles
and forests where there are twees of
real silver and gold, and a good fairy,
and bad fairy who wants to turn a
little girl into nasty toad. Would you
WEAKLY like to have a little girl like
me?" she broke off, abruptly.
A gentleness came over the mans
somewhat stern face, touching it into
psslndliness and softness Yes. little
lady" he said. And now the kettle is
becoming angry with u.s.
She laughed at the fancy, as he turn
ed to the Kissing Kettle, which was in
dlgnantly rafting its lid to call their
attention to its important self.
Turning to the cupboard again, he
saw that it contained nothing to tempt
child's dainty appetite Children liked
sweet. jammy things, he remembered.
and he rang loudly at the bell.
After a lengthy interval the individ-
ual who followed the mysterious Occu-
patton of a laundress made her appear
ance, with husky apologies, and was
dispa tched to the nearest tea shop for a
goodly assortment of sweetmeats.
He then gave his attention to the child
once more, poured out the tea, sugared
it to suit her taste. MIXED it according
to his own Judgment. and looked after
her wants in general. In a very short
while the laundress returned with the
cakes. which might have tempted an
anchOrite.
1t was quite a merry tea table. and
somehow the barrister felt years young
er. The mantle of age which had fallen
prematurely upon him. as it does on
most who have no love to sweeten their
days and keep them youthful. slipped
suddenly away.
1t must be vewy nice to live here all
alone" said the child, during a pause in
her healthy attack upon the cakes. mo
lessons, no horwid governess-"
But I have my lessons. chied." he
said, Whimsically. We all have all our
lessons; those are mine" and he pointed
to a pile of papers.
Are they difficult ones2''
Sometimes he said. thinking Of
ficklish case he ought at that moment
to have enmeshed his intellect in.
She seemed to ponder over this, and
presently she slipped off her chair and
climbed on to the barrister's knee. She
looked into his eyes. They were somber
enough usually, but just now they were
lighted with a smile.
do your lessons ever make you cwy,
like mine do me2"
Not exactly that, my pretty one. Men
don't cry; they mustn't, you know; all
their crying is done inwardly- Do you
understand %
She nodded a solemn head.
That's like what mummy does. She
sits in her chair sometimes so quiet and
looks Just like little girls do when they
want TO cWy and can't. I spect it's COS
daddy's gone to heaven and isn't likely
to come back, nurse says. Have you
ever been to Heaven. and is it far
away?2"
NO: I have never been. dear; and it
is so far away that when one goes there
one never. never comes back again"
4 s'pose it's vewy boful. like fairy
land'' she remarked, thoughtfully.
This reflection seemed to give birth
to a new idea
Tell me a fairy tale" she pleaded. I
am so fond of fairy tales"
The barrister looked at the flushed,
tender face and cudgeled his brains.
The laws grave study does not much
lend itself to the cultivation of the
fancy. and he lacked the gift of fiction
Then there came to him way out Of
the difficulty. He would relate to her
something of his own life in the guise
of fairy tale.
With a preliminary cough he com