The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-02-04
CHAPTER VI.

Long before Reuben Culwick had made
up his mind to rise the next morning, tiny
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 Il 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 frofa sleep. 1t was commonplace
incident of poor neigh borhoods. The only
novelty about this affair was the interest
of the man with the beard, who lodged
his protection and said that she should
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
blackboard 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 a 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 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
1t was best to be done, until thinking over
1t became less of a habit and love be-
came a stronger element in Tots favor
and pleaded for her until the day of
which we speak.
For eighteen months had Reuben Cul-
wick been the protector of Tots, and Tots
had lived In world of imaginary uncles
and aunts, and there was never now Il
talk Of her going away. Reuben had ac-
cepted an immense responsibility, and the
weight of it had not oppressed him much.
T.. I.
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 a daughter to him if he lived
and if she lived. He should never marry,
and would be able to take care of Tots
until some respectable young fellow gave
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-
ben Culwick was hardly certain. Once
no had thought that he was cut out for
an author, that publishers would be run
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 a few pounds 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 a 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 dash at his let
ters, after his usual fashion, and in>
parted the general nature Of the con-
tents, and she said at last;
"You are not curious about your cor
respondents to-day"
II can guess all about them"
Il dare say you can" said Lucy, half
dlsdainfully; "one's from woman.
What a change to your life after this
dreary street, and us dreary peoplew
Reuben looked at her intently as be
broke the envelope of his letter. She was
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 a hard life, keeping a house and a
simple-minded brother in order, looking
after lodger and Tots, aud not saving
money. Poor old girl! what had she to
make life bearable eyen2 and why should
he cross her temper, and put her out for
the dayf
"She writes a good hand" said Reu-
ben.
"Whop
''The girl In gray silk"
Il don't know who the girl In gray Filk
is; l have never heard you speak of her
before"
NO" said Reuben, Il suppose not
She was at my fathers house yesterday
morning, and wondered who she was,
and where she had dropped from. A
pretty girl, too. HalO!'
You are asked to return" exclaimed
Lucy; "your fathers heart has softened
toward you, and heaven wills a happier
time for you as l said that it would"
You are very kind, but this is from
my second-cousin Sarah"
"She is pretty, too, l supposer said
Lucy, with twanging voice.
"Ahem!-I don't know dare say she
might be, IL 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
woman, Sarah the First" added Reuben.
thOughtfully, may pass away at any
moment, and | should like to be ready
with home for her.
Reuben Culwick settled down I'm his old
groove the following day; life went on
with him steadily, and there was no
shadow Of discomfort upon the path of his
pursuing. A few evenings later he met
Lucy as he was returning from a walk
with Tots.
What time you have beenw she
said, peevishly; did you not say that
you were coming home early this after
noon2 | wanted you to write a letter
before the five o'clock post went out-the
country post"
THE country post-what fort" asked
Reuben.
Il have found a situation for that
girl"
What girl-Sarah Eastbell?"