The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1903-08-26

, 81 don't know-I-never thought of it."
She fluttered with the quiet agitation
Of her weight. age and experience.
Hem! Well, Tll--it won't make any
difference. I'll try the boy first"
1t was month later. He sat with
his knees wide spread and his elbows
resting on their bony knobs. His heels !
were hooked in the rung Of his chair,
and his careworn old face rested in the
palms Of his uPturned hands. in front
of him, on another chair, was the
youngster, Robbie, crying.
"What is the matter with him
nOw?" the old man, asked himself
YEARLY. The child yelled. The fos-
ter father clawed his ears with his
wrinkled hands and hoped, in "a de-
spairing fashion, that Mrs. Halstead
would come to the rescue. Then he
dreaded her look of disapproval at the
mess around the child. Toys of
every neutrality-suspicious. and picture
books, his watch, fancy bottle stop
pers, about everything not nailed-was
there. Still the imp cried: Mamma
Yell. Yell! Yell!
The little spinster dressmaker who
lived in the hall room passed the door
just as Robbie achieved a brilliant
chef dpuvre of yells. She skipped by
in scared manner, hurriedly inserted
the key in her door and vanished.
Peters and she had never exchanged a
nj ha hoI tod ;rl
room ten years and she had been in
hers a year before. He was preju-
diced against her in those early days
because she ran sewing machine
sometimes at night The cause had
ceased to exist, but the prejudice still
chung to him, although he never pro-
tested against her. She on her part
had grown to regard him as gruff old
ogre-past whose door she always
fastened
This afternoon he actually yearned
for her or Mrs. Halstead or any wom-
an to soothe the youngster. He sat
there wondering if she knew anything !
about children. He hesitated. Robbie
began to take in air for another out
knocked timidly at her door.
A few minutes later the child was
sobbing on her breast, pouring out his |
tale of woe in indistinguishable sylla
bles while the distrusted Peters |
walked the floor. eying the imp ap-
prehensively. Miss Robinson held the
child tenderly, absorbed in her office. |
fn
the picture. The little woman loved |
children dearly.
Mr.. Peters read the letter and heayed
q sigh of relief. 1t was from his niece
and contained an invitation to make
his home with her. He had never
seen his niece until the executor Of
the estate introduced her at a meeting
of the heirs /
Mrs. Halstead came in person to !
make his bed. The signs displayed at
the breakfast table had actually made
her blush and the bOarders stare. Such
looks! Such smiles.
Mrs. Halstead," he began briskly. |
Her pOrtly form was bent with tuck
ing in the clothes. II am thinking of
making change in my life-a great
change" He paused for encoura ge-
ment.
YES" sweetly.
Now you see = Robbie and this ]
woman next door-Miss Robinson-she |
i supposed women have-hem-great |
ways with children" Warclouds gath |
cred on the Widows face And r.
Not Miss Robinsong' exclaimed the |
landlady.
BLESS me, yes!' He looked at her
In establishment.
well. l declare!' Out Of the door
she tiounced. with blood in her eye.
Now, what is the matter with herY'
he asked himself, rubbing his glasses4
and peering down the hall What
strange creatures women are!''
He had intended telling her that from
the way Robbie took to the spinster 1t |
seemed best to provide female care for
him in the person of his niece.
Papa" called Robbie. The old man
started. The boy had kicked the COW
ers from his cot. Mr.. Peters looked
gravely down at him.
The boy grinned back, tossed his
bare fat legs and chuckled.
"You = you little imp" commented
Peters, with a smile. do you know"
His niece went out of the room with
her nose held high In air. He shook
his fist with latent rage at her vanish
Ing form. The idea! Send the boy
back because. forsooth. she didn't like
children!