Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-05-02

position e The two. suddenly raised
her eyes from the shock OF brown hair
and said quickly:
Leave the child with me Il short
time She is happy. and -I-need
some one"
There was break in her voice. hut
! She continued with more Self-con,rol
'.Ent | must 80 away for Il doctor.
| Father is very sick and lie needs help
AMI medicine"
! Henry Egerton had been thinking OF
the picture the two made framed in ths
doorway. and he started ut the men
ton az her father. Then. apparently
without thinking. he said: iii 80 for
the doctor If You'll keep Virginia mil
| return I'll be bac!. soon.'
lie strobe away rapidly without
Slancin" again ut the picture. which
somehow had strangely affected him.
and within ten minutes he w3S riding
iicrcely toward oklahoma city. Dur
inc the ten miles he hardly saw an
object on the landscape. and when he
returned IN company with the physl
elan he was quiet and taciturn.
Virginia and Dorothy were not in
the doorway to gree. him on his return.
but unmindful of the feud between the
two families he strobe into the small
shack behind the physician. Then,
while that individual examined his pa.
tent he waited patiently 1T the foot
of the rude bed. furtively watching
two faces which seemed iEscparah!y
associated together.
Jared Wellington was Il long time
in bed and the fever wasted him tc
skeleton Nature had robbed him
of the power and strength TO protect his
shack from the approach OF the enemy.
But before his complete recovery the
dead line" had been obliterated. The
little footsteps of Virginia had Worn
smooth path across it from shack 10
shack. and often Henry Egcrton fol
lowed after his tiny niece ito 20 and
see muZZer" Somehow there was rs
much attraction for him as for tho
innocent child. who had found III
its bereavement another who had
quickly healed the wound.
Then one day Henry Egerton walked
to the old shack with lines drawn
tighter around his mouth. and with
eyes hardened to bear new burden.
The decision of the courts in their re.
spcctive claims had been handed down.
The ownership of the valuable quarter
section was decided forever. Beyond
the hearing of the convalescent man,
who sat in the sun of the doorway.
Egerton told the news to Dorothy.
Under the blunt announcement she
paled and flushed by turns. Then pity
for the drawn face before her made her
cXclaim:
"Oh. I'm sorry for you. Mr.. Egcrton.
/ think YOU should own half
NO. it was all or none. Now the
courts have decided it all belongs to
your father. I'm an in;erlopcr. and
must leave Mt once. You have tho
right to order me off before night
But | won't do it. Mr.. EScrion.
Dorothy replied. with q bright smile.
Won can stay as long as you like.
NO man could do that unless he
hesitated unless You could let me
work the place for you. | could stay
as your hired man until your father
was well again: hut l wont. | would
STAY mt Your bidding -if-if-you would
always be Virgina's mother.
Dorothy held forth y trembling hand
He seized It and covered it with kisses.
hastily Interpreting the acticn rs
nlea 10 STAY. ami Dorothy did not have
the courage TO break his Illusion. Then
from the SHADOW. OF TIE shack small
figure toddlcd for;h and Il naby's voice
exclaimed: "MuZzer. make tncf
Hcn'y stay an play bear with me.
wants him
Dorothy. with happy smil" and
cleaning eyes. licked the child up in
her arms and replied between her
caresses: "iIc will stay Virginia. and
lie shall play bear with You al the
morning. York Times.