Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-07-17

then went quickly 10 her arm. He
saw the surgeons brace and walking
forward raised his hat and said: Miss
Anderson, believe. am George
Moore. This is my little girl Fran
ces."
The little one held out both hands
to Norah and lifted her face to be
kissed. This writer of stories with
touch of saffron in them felt some
thing of a shock, but she bent over and
kissed the childs red lips.
LET us sit down for a moment, Miss
Anderson, l owe you an explanation.
see you are crippled. My wife, who
died four years ago, was cripple. I
tell you frankly that l loved her, and
the fact that she was dependent on me
because of her crippled state made me
learn the delight that there is in doing
for others. L was selfish man, but 1
learned unselfshness, and it made me
happy. l don't know much Of the
world and l feel that to advertise for
wife may not be considered right,
but say honestly that there was none
near home whom l wished even could
have chosen"
Norah Clevenger felt uncomfortable.
She hardly liked to admit it to herself.
She knew that this man was fair and
above board, and that she had been
doing something that was unwomanly.
She had done unwomanly things before
in the interest Of story, but this
thing cut The little girl had slipped
into her lap by this time, and was
talking to her softly. Moore rose sud-
denly. 81 forgot something" he said.
"Stay with Miss Anderson a minute,
Frances" and then he disappeared in
the direction Of the baggage-room. In
, minute he was back with huge
basket on his arm, and, raising the
cover, he showed 1t to be full Of black
Hamburg grapes. These are for the
Crippled Childrens Home" he said;
Il send fruit in every week because Of
-, my memories. 1 thought 1 would
, bring the grapes myself this time. 1
raise them in my hothouse. I'll give
them to an expressman, and he can get
= them to the hospital, so that the tots
q can have them in the morning"
= Norah Clevenger rose from her seat.
). ''Mr. Moore" she said, II have met
+, you as you asked. / must go now. 1
!. will write you tomorrow" and before
Moore could say word the girl had
4 hurried away.
b "No story in this for us, Mr.. Ran
v kim" she said to the city editor an
hour later, "or If there is l won't write
G it." And Norah Clevenger left the Of
: fee and went home. Next day she
q wrote letter, and sent 1t to George
a Moore, Hoosierville, Ind. Prior to writ
@ ing it she had inquired at the Crippled
!. Children's Home, and found out all
q honesty, though she felt that she need
a ed no character assurance save that
n given her by the memory Of his face
y In the letter she told him the whole
q story. "When 1 wrote you that was
a cripple" she said, 81 thought 1 was
lying, but have found out since that
y l was cripple Of the worst kind, In
- short my conscience was crippled, but
1t certainly is healed now, and 1t is
active enough to smite me-"
y Norah Clevenger still wrote for the
y Blaze, but they had to turn to Other
y reporters when they wanted an orange
y streak in a story. The months passed
~ ~ on, the boys saw many letters lying
~, =, on Norah's desk before she came dowI
"a in the morning, all bearing the Hoo
u sierville, Ind, postmark. They remem
Sc bered Norah's Cripple" assignmen
,e and wondered. One day she treated
~ them to black Hamburg grapes tha
y. were selling at S4 pound at Jung's
VI "Where did you get them, Norah /?
~ asked City Editor Rankin.
IA "They are samples Of goods whicl
shortly shall offer for SALE" sh
'l- said. 81 have been asked to take
er life partnership in the business, an,
ne on Easter Monday / shall become tn
a. junior member of the rm."-Chicag
nc Record-Herald.