Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-08-04

A~ht h1a fOANCu lilo hOoA
the door close, for then he might have
driven off.
But twas great inside; soft and
warm, the cushions of dark plum, the
seat wide and roomy, church paper,
some notes for the bishops next ser
mon and copy Of Quo Vadis. just
Struggled down, trust me. leaned far
back and lay low. When did peek out
| the window, | saw the man with the
brass buttons and the cap turning to
60 inside again.
Victory! He had lost the scent. Who
would look for Nancy Olden In the
bishops carriage?
Now, you know how early got up
yesterday to catch the train SOS Tom
and | could come in with the people
and be naturally mingling with them?
And you remember the dance the night
before? | hadn't had more than three
hours sleep, and the snug warmth OF
that coach was just nuts TO me, after
the freezing ride into town. ] didn't
dare get out for fear Of some other
man in a cap and buttons somewhere
on the lookout. | knew they couldn't
he on to my hiding place or they'd
have nabbed me before this. After a
bit | didn't want to get out. | was so
warm and comfortable-and elegant.
Oh Tom, you should have seen your
Nance in that coat and in the bishops
carriage!
First thing | knew, was dreaming
you and were being married. and YOU
had brass buttons all over you, and l
had the cloak all right, but 1t was a
wedding dress, and the chinchilla. was
wormy sort of orange blossoms, and
and | walked when the handle of the
door turned and the bishop got in.
Asleep? That's what! I'd actually
been asleep.
And what did lido now?
That's easy--fell asleep again. There
wasn't anything else TO do. Not really
asleep this time, you know; just-just
asleep enough to be wide awake to any
chance there was in 1t.
he horses had started, and the car
riage was halfway across the street be
fore the bishop noticed me.
He was little bishop. not big and fat
and well-kept like the rig. but short
and lean, with a little white beard and
the softest eye--and the softest heart
and the softest head. Just listen:
Lord bless mel" he exclaimed. hur-
riedly putting on his spectacles, and
looking about bewildered.
was slumbering sweetly In the cor
ner, but | could see between my lashes
hat he thought he'd jumped into some
body else's carriage
The sight of his book and papers com.
. orted him, though. and before he could
make a resolution. let the jolting Of The
carriage, as it crossed the car track
brow me gently against him.
Daddy" | murmnred, sleepily. let
ing my head rest On his little, prim
shoulder
That comforted him, too. Hush your
laughing Tom Dorgan; mean calling
him daddy" seemed to Kind OF take the
,uss off the situation.
My child he began, very gently.
"Oh, daddy" exclaimed, smuggling
Town close to him, you kept me waiting
50 long | went to sleep, thought you'd
never come"
He put his arm about my shoulders In
a fatherly way. You know, found out
later the bishop never had had a daugh.
ter. guess he thought he had one now.
| Such simple, dear old soul. Just the
same, Tom Dorgan, il he had beeh my
father, I'd never be doing stunts with
tipsy mems watches for YOU; nor if ia
had any father Nov don't ret mad.
Think OF the bishop with his gentle.
hin old arm about my shoulders. hold
lg me for just second as though was
mis- daughterl My, think of it, And me,
Nance Olden, with that fat mans watch
in my waist and some girls beautiful
long coat and hat on, all covered with
chinchilla!
There's some mistake, my little girl"
ne said, shaking me gently to wake me
up, for Ewas going to sleep again. he
cared. s1'
oh, knew you were kept at the
71l1ce,' Interrupted quickly. 1 pre-
FRED to be farther from the station
!th that girls red coat before got
Ut We've missed our train. anyway
haven't we? After this, daddy dear
cts not take this route. If we'd 90
straight through on the one road we
ouldn't have this. drive across town
every time. was wondsr n be. ore
fell as'eep, what in the world I'd do
n this big city if you didn't come"
He forgot to withdraw his arm. so
o; u led was he by, m predicament
What would YOU do, my child II
sou had-bad missed your-your IA
ther?" %
Wasn't it clumsy of him? He want.
ed to break it to me gently, and this
vas the best he could do.
What would | do?" gasped indie.
aantly. why, daddy, imagine me
alone, and-and without money! Why
why, how can you"
THERE there!" he said, pstting mr.
soothingly on the shoulder.
That baby of a bishop. 1rbe very
1 q