Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-02-05
CHAPTER vi.

knuckles had raped significantly and
persistently at his bedroom door. Reuben
did not answer, although he smiled in his
half-sleep, and knew that Tots was astir,
anxious to see him, to hear his voice, to
know all about the big doll that he had
told her last night was coming home with
his luggage. At the fifth or sixth sum-
mons Reuben Culwick condescended to
inform the young lady on the other side
of the door that he should be in his room
in ten minutes, and that he requested the
favor of Tots company to breakfast.
Tots. a ragged. unkempt, fair-haired,
blue-eyed child, had been found on the
steps of the Prince Regent public house
after twelve o'clock had struck, and the
drinkers had been turned into the road
way. No one knew anything about her,
and she knew very little concerning her
self. She said something about mother
and father in an inarticulate fashion
common to her eighteen months of exist
ence, and she cried for mother for five
minutes after the policeman had shaken
her from sleep. 1t was a commonplace
incident of poor neighborhoods. The only
novelty about this affair was the interest
of the man with the beard, who lodged
at the firework shop. He took her under
stay at the house in Hope street and be
cared for till the morning.
No inquiries were ever made concern
ing Tots, though Reuben advertised and
the police stations put up bill on their
black board along with their Found
Deads," "Burglaries" and Murders"
Tots was never passed over to the parish.
When Tots was scrubbed and combed by
Lucy Jennings she was q bright-enough
specimen of babyhood, and in twenty-four
hours she had forgotten father and moth
er and taken so desperately to Reuben
Culwick that the strong man never found
it in his heart to set her from his charity
again. 1t was a wild idea, the Jenningses
thought, but they came to terms with
the lodger for the extra trouble involved
by the care of the child while he thought
it was best to he done, until thinking over
it became less of a habit and love he
came a stronger element in Tots favor
and pleaded for her until the day of
which we speak.
For eighteen months had Reuben Gull
wick been the protector of Tots, and Tots
had lived in a world of imaginary uncles
and aunts, and there was never now a
talk of her going away. Reuben had ac-
cepted an immense responsibility, and the
weight of it had not oppressed him much.
He had been a harder and sterner man
before the child's affection for him had
changed his character a little.
Sitting at the table watching her that
day, with his life far clearer before him
than it had been. he thought Tots would
be like daughter to him if he lived
and if she lived. He should never marry,
and would be able to take care of Tots
oh foll
her home and a name, and he was left
alone to fight out the rest of his battle.
What that battle was to be like, Reu-
Den Culwick was hardly certain. Once
hc had thought that he was cut out for
an author, that publishers would he rum
ming after him. and the critical press
singing his praise and glory; but he was
almost certain-not quite-that he had
found his level on the Penny Trumpet,
and that q few pounds a week would be
the maximum sum which his abilities,
such as they were, might be able to pro-
cure him.
Tots and he were having breakfast to-
gether, and Tots was asking hundred
questions. when the first post brought
him bulky packet and two letters. Lucy
made some little show of dusting the fur
niture with the corners of her apron, and
then went reluctantly toward the door.
Reuben had not made a dash at his let
rers, after his usual fashion, and i'm
parted the general nature of the con-
tents, and she said at last:
You are not curious about your cor
respondents to-day"
~ can guess all about them"
al dare say you can," said Lucy, half
disdainfully; zones from woman.
What a change tc your life after this
dreary street, and us dreary people!
Reuben looked at her intently as he
broke the envelope of his letter. She " as
out of sorts still; he had not remarked
it SO much before, but she was certainly
a disagreeable kind of old-young woman,
and particularly plain and thin. Hers
was hard life. keeping house and a
simple minded brother in order. looking
after a lodger and Tots, and not saving
money Poor old girl! what had she to
make life bearable even? and why should
he cross her temper, and put her out for
the day?
"She writes a good hand" said Reu-
ben.
"Who|
1.-THE girl in gray silk"
81 don't know who the girl in gray silk
Is; | have never heard you speak OF her
before"
NO" said Reuben. 81 suppose not
She was at my fathers house yesterday
morning. and 1 wondered who she was,
and where she had dropped from. A
pretty girl. too. Hallo"
You are asked to return" exclaimed
Lucy: your fathers heart has softened
toward you. and heaven wills a happier
time for you, as 1 said that it would"
"You are very kind. but this is from
my second-cousin Sarah"
''She is pretty. too, l supposeT said
Lucy, with a twanging voice.
"Ahem!-I don't know dare say she
might be, if highly got up for the occa-
sion BY the way, you might. with your
extensive chapel connection, hear of
something for Sarah. That poor old
Sarah tho First - added Reuh.an