Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-01-28

open her door. A small figure huddled
against ii fell i'm toward her.
"Oh. please. I'm so frightened all
alone. May come in:'
You surely may" said Anna as she
drew the shivering. weeping child into
the room.
She recognized her now. Ii was the
serious faced little girl who had a room
two doors beyond. She had often seen
her on the sand and on the porch with
her nurse Ii did not take Anna very
long TO learn that the child was moth
erless. i'm the care of II young and heed
less aunt and an ignorant nursegirl.
The former was absorbed i'm the social
affairs at the inn and the latter in the
gatherings I'm the servants hall. Little
Grace had been left quite alone in her
room. and a strong draft had blown
out the lamp. so that between the dark
ened up in terror.
That was the beginning of a new hol-
iday for Anna Whelan. The nurse and
young aunt had little TO do from that
time on save TO provide for Grace's
physical wants. Anna was her constant
companion. She seemed determined to
give this shy ten-year-old girl all the
companionship. the sympathy. the sim
pie. unaffected pleasures which had
been denied her own childhood. She
did not dream that I'm the moments
when they were not together Grace in
her stiff. Uniformed writing was send
ing daily chronicle of their compan-
ionship 10 her father. Nor could she
know of the resentment which filled his
soul against the well paid and needless
caretakers of his child and the curiosi-
ty regarding the girl with the gray hair
and pink cheeks who was mothering
his wee BARN. for Grace assured him
In every way that Miss Whelan was
quite as young as Aunt Hattie
When he finally came down to spend
a Sunday with his daughter his first
step was To meet Anna. lie smiled
as his daughter gravely introduced her
as my friend. Miss Whelan" They
were such an absurdly different couple
and yet so very much alike in interests
and pleasures. He found his gaze
travelling constantly over the brown
head of his daughter to the gray head
of his new found friend. and lie hogan
to understand the letters better.
On Monday morning he did not go
back To town. but told his sister Hat
tie that he had only just commenced
to realize how the Office had worn him
down. He needed weeks rest
Three nights later lie was sitting I'm
Miss Whelan when two members of
the elderly porch brigade strolled slow
" by. talking in a high keyed voice
which came sauarely To their secluded
corner
You wouldn't have given her credit
for being so clever. She probably
knew the child's father was worth a
Million
NO: l understand he is not worth
anything of the sort. He is only
corporation lawyer. and l think she
liked Grace for her own sake"
The two women passed out of hear
ing. The pink had fled from Annals
face. leaving it tired and white. She
rose unsteadily. but the man took her
firmly by the arm and drew her back
to her chair
Don't go. please. l know you care
for Grace for her own sake. Do you
think you could care for me for mine?
/ wanted TO ask you this the first
night
Instinctively Annals hand reached
up to her hair.
"Oh. couldn't! I've known you
such short time-people would talk
-and-I'm really too old to have
love affair."
She did not speak bitterly. just sim
ply. as if thought long unspoken
had found utterance The man took
both of her hands In his.
''My dear girl. love never grows old,
and neither will you"