River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-11-24
A Bachelors
Undoing 3 3
Copyright, 1904, BY Daily Story Pub. COL

Copyright 1904, by Daily Story Pub Col
TIE PACED up and down the plat
form, glancing impatiently at his
watch every few minutes
"Ah, here you are at last" and the
prettiest girl ne ever saw rushed up
and thrust a heavy bundle into his
arms.
There is only time to say, I'm glad
to see you " as she raised on tiptoe
and gave him feeting kiss, then hur-
ried away.
He stupidity watched her join the
rush for the ferry and she was lost in
the crowd before he came to his senses.
Then he thought of the package and
ran wildly after her, and was just In
time to see the Christopher street boat
glide from the dock.
Amid the crowd on deck, he caught a
glimpse of fiuttering veil and madly
waved the bundle over his head.
He fancied she waved her hand in
response, when there was sudden up
heaval and the bundle came to life. A
kick IN the chest and dig in the eye
notified him that the thing possessed
vigorous legs and arms.
His knees felt weak and he returned
to the waiting room and helplessly sat
down.
Could he be victim to new meth
cd of disposing of guperfuous chill
dren? But of course it is a mistake, .
he thought, land no doubt she will re-
turn by the next boat"
Meanwhile the child, now very wide
awake, was returning his critical stare
with interest. HE seems satisfied.
Or she?" He wondered which.
The roguish eyes and rudy curls
might belong to either and the blue
REFER and Tam O'Shanter cap failed to
enlighten him.
Papa, kiss Fwancis."
"a boy" he decided, as he obeyed
the command, given with the air of a
general, and received very wet kiss
in return.
"Papa bwing Fwancis somesing,"
with an artful side glance and a be-
witching display of dimples, calculated
to beguile him, while two fat little
hands rummaged his pockets.
He could no longer doubt. After five
years abroad in search OF knowledge
he had returned to his native land to
stumble upon a scientific truth.
If coquetry and a tendency for in
vest1gation were not born in woman,
she developed these traits at an early
age
One little kiss from a pretty woman
had turned the head of this sensible,
staid old bachelor. He went off into
sentimental frances from which he was
awakened by plaintive sob.
The last pocket had been emptied.
The childs eyes filed with tears and
her lips tTembled.
"No tandy! No tandy!" she walled
reprOachfulIy.
His heart sank. Plainly 1t was candy
she expected, candy she wanted and
candy she was going to have.
He looked helplessly about. Not
even a candy stand, or the usual boy
with his Bananas, apples, oranges,
candy and chewing gum"
Sobs were audible and tears we're
falling fast. A storm was imminent,
when his eyes fell upon a blessed pen
ny Slot machine.
The first piece of Huyler's chocolate
arrested the sobs, the click of the sec
Ond penny stayed the tears and
brought smiles, and the next, clap of
the hands and a gleeful cry of AN
nuzzer! Annuzzer!"
When the machine had swallowed
the last penny they retreated to the
bench again, the man vowing to him
self that hereafter he should receive
change in pennies with cheerfulness.
Trains and ferries came and went.
He anxiously kept keen watch on all
the people passing, but she orwhom he
waited came not.
The stock Of chocolates was rapidly
diminishing, leaving unmistakable
traces on hands and face, to say moth
ing of the mans coat sleeve. The child
grew restless and he realized that
something must be done.
During the lull between trains, he
sought the ticket agent and explained
the difficulty.
He replied crustily: "It's my bust
ness to dispose of tickets"
He sauntered to the bureau of infor-
nation and proffered a cigar to the
man at the window.
After listening respectfully, he sug-
gested checking the child in the bag
gage room, adding sympathetically.
that women were ever prone to forget
husbands, children and the flight of
time in the joys of the bargain coun-
ter.
Then he waylaid a policeman, who
advised him to go home and wait for
the missus there" He went into de-
tail, explaining how the child had been
thrust upon him.
The officer only winked and laughed.
Pretty good story, that. Ho! no! no!
Why, man, if yez must be told, she's
the living image of yourself"
Chucking the child under the chin.
he went off, grinning good naturally.
In despair, the man went back to his
seat. He had thought nothing of the
child calling him papa" but if she
really looked like him!
He dismissed the plan of going to
the police station for very likely they
h Sc NJ