The Van Buren press., 1904-10-22


MR. LAWLERcast a casual glance at
W the little cottage down at the corner
the cottage which he owned, and which
his agent had rented two days before TO
a Mrs. Bryan, tall of figure and hard Of
hand. Surely there was a child sitting
on the step. He arose and looked closer
Yes-a lite girl-an exceedingly small
girl though he saw now that her dimin-
utiEe figure appeared smaller because
she was hunchback, A white
cat vas winding and rubbing
around her For the first time
since he had owned the row Of cottages
child held possession in one OF them,
and Mr. Lawler was angry. This was too
careless Of Morton-he would see him
about it at once He would tear that
row Of houses down next year and make
I vineyard there-or something
haps a quiet grove, with high walls
around it, where he could rest in the
evenings
Mr. Lawler had for some years been
able 20 afford himself any little fancy he
pleased, and it was one Of his fancies to
dislike children; to steer clear of them
whenever he could: to ignore them when
he went to the houses OF his friends; to
see that they never intruded on his
grounds, where he held state in the big
lonely house, and to make careful pro-
vision that no family with children
should get into one of his cottages. He
had managed so carefully that this had
been practically a Chlldless neighbor-
hood No boys rolled their hoops along
the sidewalk by those cottages; no little
girls dressed dolls on the steps no baby
Datted its tiny hands on the window
Danes. Perhaps one reason for this was
that there had once been child in the
big house. and after the mothers death
he and the boy had grown further and
further apart-had not understood one
another and had finally come to diyis-
ION so that Mr.. Lawler had told the boy
hat the door was open and he could go
He had not dreamed that David would
AXE him at his word-but there was no
mother to stand between them now, as
Ihe had done all the boys life. so David
went. and now Mr. Lawler, the learned
lawyer the eloquent speaker sat in the
pillared portico Of the big house and
scowled fiercely at little girl on the step
If the cottage at the end Of the row.
The next morning he saw her at closer
range He went past the cottage on his
ray 20 town, and just then she flashed out
Of the door and sat down on the step with
\ sudden plump that attracted his frown-
ng glance She was carrying bowl
and a spoon, and the white cat was fol-
lowing with expectation in every fea-
lure
Now, Sarah Jane" said the little girl,
n high, thin voice, that seemed to
make her more elfsh than before. stand
up an eat an don't you spill a DROP"
He could not help pausng to look
his tall, thin man who disliked children
there was something so weird about
The little girl on the step, She was grave
extending a spoonful Of milk to the
cat. and the cat as graVely sat erect on
It's launches, with both paws graspng
ne sides Of the spoon; and, with eyes
lalf closed and ears bent back, drank the
milk with much rafting Of a red tongue
against the tip Of the spoon, Mr., Law
cr looked on with portentous frown.
Il should think you could find some
ming more important to do than spoil
Ing that sat. he said severely,
The little girl turned her large eyes
upon him
She amt spoiled" she said, In the
sharp little voice. shes an orphan, an
lad to be raised by hand, an that's the
only way she knows how to eat"
That's all nonsense" said Mr. Law
Ter, with deep disgust "You should be
.aught 10 make some good use Of your
lime and help your mother make living
instead Of wasting your life spelling ami
nals-phich are nuisance, under any
circumstances And why should poor
people make their expenses heavier by
teeping worthless animals
Tho little girl dipped up another
ipoonrul Of milk and held II out to Sarah
Jane, who accepted It hungrily
It was week later before he saw the
child again; and then as he leaned bnck
IN his easy chair looking at something
very fat away, beyond the red light OF
Ii, sunset \ sharp little voice arose, al
most from beneath his feet
"Iye brunE my bucket over TO get
copper cents worth Of milk for Sarah
Jane" said the voice; and there before
him was the solemn, elhsh little face
with the big eyes I'VE couldn't get
cone this mornIn' mother was out o
noney-but Sarah Jane II jIst go Wild
i she don't get her milk ever day, 80
broke into my tin bank"
She held out the bucket in one hand
md the copper cent In the other, with
Easy conndencc--thin little hands that
looked like birds claws, The great law
yer and fluent speaker In the easy chair
was very much irrItatcd,
Il don't sell milk" he said, waving
away bucket and coin stop one Of the
milk wagons when you want to buy
milk"
Now you knowyery well they don't sell
, copper cents worth o milk" she re.
torted, plying his ignorance Of affairs
An you've got COW that mother says
must give gallons an gallons DO make
'aste- Sarah Jane is mighty near tearIn