The San Francisco call., 1904-12-04
CALLS t5oee AWEEk pplEE SYoN No

self. once he grOaned and placed his
hand over his heart. Then the rocker
ceased it's vibrations. the candle sput-
tered. fiared u and sank away into a
minute blue flame and died out All
Las silent.
But OF Little Bell What a time OF
rejoicing when the committee reached
the presidents house Mrs. Thompson
cried over her at first. for she did but
remind her of the dear one gone. They
petted and fOndled Little Bell and load
ed her with presents-One, a great wax
doll. but through il all Little Bell look
ed on WOnderingly, never once letting
go of the rag doll. whose arms and legs
"Pappee'' had filled with sawdust. Once
or twice she pursed her lips as though
she would cry, and 10 their words of
affection only answered, Me wants
pappee, me wants pappee.
The great house. the bright lights
and the pictures awed her and filed
her with a mute wonder. BY and by
her eyelids became heavy and her head
dropped wearily Then they came and
caressed her again and Mrs. Thompson
bore her away to a little white bed. in
which she tucked her. There were
tears in the good lady's eyes. as she
gaZed at the curls on the pillow; there
were tears in Little Bells eyes, too as
she murmuNod under her breath, Pap
pee"
The house became Still, but Little
Bell was awake now. Once she heard
footsteps and she raised herself TO lis
ten "Pappeei" she whispered, but
there was no answer and the footsteps
died away. A wild desire came into
Little Bells mind: she would go hons
to pappee. Slipping from her coy bed
and grasping her rag doll. which she
had kept near her, she stole toward the
door. some instinct telling her to go
gently. who were these people and
why did not Pappee come for herr"
she thought. The door was aiar and
noiselessly she passed out into the
large room. There she paused. looking
around her in the darkness. Cautions
ly she felt her way toward a faint
light that seemed far ahead. Out of the
large room and into a smaller she
passed. where the air felt warmer and
the OdOr Of the red apples she had seen
filled the air. The light before her now
was near. It was from the glass door
that led Out-Out where Pappee was.
She could just reach the knob with her
little fat hands by standing on tiptoe.
Time and again she rested, breathing
hard At last open II came, and she
hardly stified a cry as she grasped the
doll and ran out into the night For a
moment she glanced around. Family
in the starlight cleaned the pathway
down the hill; she knew II we'll Once
she turned her eyes heavenWard, but
the tWinkling multitudes confused her
Down the hill she hurried, falling sew
eral times, and her white gown, with
its beautiful laces. became black with
dust, but never once did she loose her
grasp upon the rag doll. As she reach
ed the highway the moon topped the
distant peaks and all became bright
Now, again, she paused; which wav
would she turn? To the left was the
main street Of the town-sureIy she
would be seen. for although late, there
were still lOungers around the omen
cafes; to the right was POtter's cabin
nearly half a mile away beside the
road She turned toward Potter's. The
hoot OF an owl far away in the hills
made her gasp and hurry onward. then
a rabbit ran along before her In the
dust but she laughed at that. for had
not she and Pappee watched them pIav>
near the cabinl At last she saw the
dark foliage Of the pear trees that sur
rounded the cabin She shouted with
glee as she crawled beneath the gate
and wearily dragged herself to the
door. "Pappee!" she called but no an
swer came from within.
'Pappee! pappeel It's Little Bell rs
come hOmel"
But only the gentle rustling OF the
leaves overhead answered her. Round
ihe dark room she felt her way call
ing ever and again endearing words to
pappee, till she felt his silent form
sitting in the great chair.
Pappee's alseepl" she cried. "a she
crawled hastily into his lap. caressing
and fondling him. She nestled down
In his lap, the weary eyelids drooped
she slept
Thanksgiving day dawned upon F4d-
dletown- All the shops were cIosedt
1t was a day of rest and good cheer
Mr.. Dillon rose early. George" said
his wife. as she placed the turkey in
the oven, appoint you a committee
OF one to go to Amos Potter and bring
him home to dinner, he's Ionesome-
know He can stay all day. You say
ne did you many kindness when YOU
were young"
Mr.. Dillon knew nothing as vet OF
the committees action on the day pre-
yious. Some way Mrs. Dillon had NOT
the courage to tell him The measures
adopted had left pang-but pshaVl
the men could talk 1t over. They would
understand
Mr. Dillon walked quickly through
tne village Few were astir. yet he
knew old Amos would be up and about
AS he passed the Thompson hone ba
glanced up the lane leading to II. Sew
eral persons were running hfther and
thither, and for moment he paused
to watch them. Some game" ha
nused, as he hurried on As he neara6
Of breath behind him.
Have you seen herr" he gasped
Seen who2" asked Mr. Dillon.
Why, Little Bell-she got away
Little Bell-got away" repeated
Mr.. Dillon, dazed like.
They had taken her to Thompson's
and She
But Mr.. Dillon waited to hear M
more He turned and ran up the WALK
to the house The door was open and
ne ran In, calling: "Arnosi Amosi'8
Then he paused. A great fear seI1.1
his heart at what he saw.
There sat the old man. one hand ON
the wooden rocker. the other pressed
over his heart Nestled In his Ian law
Little Bel. clasping the rag doll. Her
little bosom rose and felI IN ,1aa,-ss,1
sleep On the old mans face a ouasr
smile mingled with the death naiior-.
1t was as II he knew Little ReII Ma
come back to him. LEN low t,''-