La Junta tribune., 1905-02-25

w. ~ ~
The snownakes were falling like
silent tears upon the white face of the
earth as Hugh Grantley parted the
heavy curtains and looked out
With his hands thrusi-iR the pock-
cts OF the disreputable old house coat.
the last OF the Grantleys turned back
into the room. and sinking into big
chair stared thoughtfully into the nre.
From the wall above him the portrait
OF q fair. sweet woman looked down
with a lifelike intelliGence-as II she
could still feel the loneliness OF her
only soa-
He was a man OF 2s. with a rugged
face. a head OF unruly hair and an in
quiring mind. which had carried him
fsr-and left him still vaguely restless
and unsatisfed.
A tap at the door interrupted his
meditatsons, and In response To his
Come" Peter, the bent and feeble old
butler, who had served the family for
years. entered the room. bearing an
obiong hamper OF some size.
Crantley gazed at the hamper some
what wonderingly.
Sure it's for me. Peter?" he In
quired with q puzzled air.
Peter held up the tag attached to
the basket on which the name OF
"Hugh Grantlcy" appeared In the
vertical handwriting which II = guar
antse against all doubt.
Grantley rose and stood looixinc
down At the basket with frank curios-
tty. Realizing that the only solution
OF the ,hatetr vas to open II. he nj
last undid the fastenings and laid
back the cover.
The exclamation thst fell from his
lips showed that he was amazed be-
yond the powers OF expression.
Lying In the basket before him was
something that he at first took to be
doll Of extraordinary size and beauty
"A doll With soft rings OF yellowtsh
hair and q mouth at once SO brief and
sweet that II was like kiss made OF
nesh and blood.
Great heavens." he gasped breath
iessiy. ~ II cawned upon him that the
round cheeks were too soft and vel
vety to BE- OF wax. Its actually
| alive"
' Then ~ his wits rallied he rang
the bell violently three times In sue
cession.
Send Mary to me. Peter" he d.
rected briefly, and. moved BY some I'm
pulse that he could not explain he
reached out and drew of one of the
absurd little bags that served the In
FAINT for nIttens.
A the tiny pink and white hand.
with its fingers eurled under. lay In
his great brown one. a.strangc thrill
Travelled along his spine. He had never
dreamed OF . touch so utterly appeal
iAg. His intention OF sending for the
outhorittes 70 come and remove the
eAill melted like Snow before the san.
a very wonderful tAias had happened
Hsgh Crantley had fallen in love for
The 1rst time IN his .lifc--not with .
.vo0an. bat with . helpless. ptnk asd
white nssssl q huDanity. +
"Please. stf. ! an here said the
voice a The housekeepsr. CrantIsy
dropped IL .bahy's hanA . is he had
suddenly S0uaa Il l1ve coal.
Take Il to your room, Nary. and
see II you caa End any mark on its
eIosAsng-aay clsw to its identity.
In an Incredibly short time she re-
tukmE0v w. - ochOGS sue n8Q deter
1iDed 10 keep the boy at all hazards.
= eoal1 And n0fAins. sir-no mark
! e any Kind" she sajd. laying the child
heck In tie ha0pes. -fAs eSsthes are
Ane. bot very plain, and thers's 70
mark a ssS ssst 49, Thea
Why doesnt Ne wake up?- de-
, nanded 0rsntIey abrupely, struck by
the fact that through an q this con-
motion TIE child had continuea TO
sleep
4 tAisk it's been druesed, sir. But
sasb beautiful child. SIR. She
, .sAe." vas 0rantley's borTia<d
.sjneulaeios- -Yos don't neaa - zen
- Ne Z eiri,-
~ whole fabric a ais dseans 49,
shn1nessd IN . ncnenf One cuugdr.
- 0DvelIAg about Tie wursd with a
GsF1. o. cssBlnJ hune and ash ap:
FsDs3e U1sA . grill O6vtously, sence
tks eAD1 80 . eirf \ uuuld hse &c
- eurDe1 over - tbe autAositIes.
- - ssU1er - - sunrAea ehas
esne9u1oso ~ . sssu0nGso e fpaone
- ss8 - - - - - -
01eDs eso<A . - -. sssessaf !