Smyrna times., 1906-07-18

1 should be glad TO teach her." said
the girl simply.
Very well. You may commence TO-
morrow, if agreeable, and give her two
lessons a week"
Shes sweet little girl" thought
John Walker as he pursued his wav
from the kindergarten. "She must he
Iom Wordcn's daughter. Poor fellow
Ills failure took all he had. She's a
trump to take hold and help in this
way"
The first day that John called for Tot
lie so cordially seconded the child's in
vltatiOn to her teacher to come home
with them TO luncheon that she was
forced to comply.
Madge'S music hour was from $40 to
., and she would not practice properlv
unless her teacher would consent to
stay to dinner. The children all claim
eel her as Il kindred spirit and called
her "Bess.' for which they were stern
" and Intellectually reprimanded by
thelr parent, who finally followed their
example and called her by that name
himself.
In the month of July the Walkers
went TO their summer cottage on Il lake
some twenty miles from the city.
on need vacation more than any
one,' said John Walker abruDtlv to
Bess one day. You must go with us"
THANK you very much" said the girl
gratefully. Its kind in you to ask me.
but of course l can't accept"
"Why nOt?" he demanded. "Your
father is going west OH an extended
business trip, and he won't need YOU"
The girl hlushed, hesitated and then
said frankly:
why. you see, of course it would
really be all right. but then YOU know
people would talk-they wouldn't ap-
prove"
She began to founder in her expIana-
ton. and John suddenly comprehended.
i Sce,' he laughed. noIding. But
you see you have come to seem to me
like one of my Own-my eighth girl.
call you-but l suppose you are grown
up enough for chaperon"
Il am twenty years old" she said
with dignity.
Indeed! A great age. Well, l have
second cousin, a meek, elderly wild
ow, whom the children rule firmly. I
presume she would like a month or SO
at the cottage"
SO it was finally arranged.
From that time on John Walker sud.
denly regarded his children's teacher in
a new light
Il wonder if a beautiful young girl
like Bess could come to care for an old
duffer like me-" he pondered. Il had
supposed that she considered me an Old
man.
thrill stirred within him as he
looked up at the fair young face gazing
happily over the waters Of the lake on
the first night of their arrival.
'BeSS, he said suddenly.
But the children had also called
"Bess," and she was away for romp
on the beach.
''She is only a child, after all" he
thought. with n sigh.
In the Walker bOathouse was a canoe
which the children were forbidden to
use, but Bess one Sunday morning ven
tured forth alone in it. She managed
1t very skillfully, but on her return a
sudden wind came up and made the
lake choppy. She had all she could do
to keep her little craft right side up.
John Walker, coming out on the We
randa of the cottage, saw her danger
and rushed to the boathOuse. intending
to row out after her Another emotion
besides anxiety surged within him. and
he knew now that he loved this play
mate of his children.
She was making great progress with
her tiny canoe, and as he rowed out
from the boathOuse she was landing al
the pier.
1t was a very merry, winSOme face.
alight with the excitement and danger.
that was lifted to his.
In the reaction from his fright he
was beginning to censure her when he
was interrupted by Madge. who had
appeared upon the scene and who in
stantly resented her fathers lecture.
You shall not scOld her." she cried
hotly. 81 wanted fer for our STEP
mother, but I'll give her up if you
aren't going to be nice to her"
Bess turned red and pale by turns.
"I'll race you to the house, Madge."
she cried, and they were away.
'Bess," said John softly when he had
succeeded in getting an interview, "as
1 said, I had thought of you as my
eighth girl. don't want to think of
you as q stepmother, but I do Yant
YOU to be my wife and companion to
the girls because I love you. VIII you
try and care for fneF'
The verdict Of the World was that
John Walker had eight girls now and
needed woman in his house more
than ever.