Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-10-31

prettfest little woman ever saw bad;
me good evening"
Why, er-er-is-' began, and
Tom, on the square, just couldn't get
any farther. | looked at the woman,
and she stood patiently waiting; just
the faintest trace OF a smile at my EN-
barrassment. Finally, In sheer desper-
alton, l blurted out:
is Mary here2'
"'Oh, this is Mr.. Simmons Come.
right in; III go and get her. was the
answer received. And she knew me-,
old fellow, knew me and called me by
name Well, was in for it then, and
my nerve came back. followed In
after her and when she left me stand
ing in the little parior wondered what
would come next
''You know, old pal, somehow had
sneaking feeling all along that some
of the boys had put up little job ON
me; but when that little woman, with
her sweet smile, said she would go and
get Mary l knew it was me for the Kid
sure. And you ought to have seen me
shiver a moment after she left me,
when the laughter of crowd OF chill
dren at play came dfmly to my ears.
Tom, you are father and i suppose
you know how it sounds; suppose
that for you it has different meaning,
something infinitely sweet and all
that; but for me-your stafd, old bach
elor friend-as stood there in that lit
tie room, well, it just seemed to me
that In about two minutes I'd be the
head Of a ready-made family or I'd
jump through the window and let the
insane commissioners do their worst.
Shortly heard steps in the hall
way and the lisping question Of
child: and TOm-Tom, you know how
1t used to make you feel when your
father came after you with switch
and you stood waiting, wanting to run
and afraid lowell, old man, that's
just the way felt. Then the woman
came In and she brought with her the
sweetest child have ever seen-a pref
ty little girl, seven. years old. 1t was
all up with, me, I had never thought
the child really lived; that it was all
a BLUM; but when confronted by her
living presence wilted. And as the
woman came toward me she said:
"tMr Simmons, we conduct the
Home for Little Wanderers-an or
phanage-an independent institution
that looks to the individual charity of
the people for its support. We thought
that the bachelors in the city, being, of
course, without children themselves,
ought to support at least one child
apiece; so we secured the names Of all
the bachelors and assigned each one
child Mary was assigned to you. Now
you see how I knew your name when
you asked for her.
Now, Mr.. Simmons, you'll see that
Mary receives better treatment, won't
you-youll be sort of foster father to
her? And you're not one bit mad. are
you?
"Tom, what would you have done #
you we're in my place then? That's 1t,
old sport; that's it exactly, and that is
just the very thing did. I was beaten
at new game, ana smiled IN spite OF
myself. 1t was all so simple, so very
simple, that forgot all the worry Of
three days as | laid couple Of tens in
the matron's hand and told her to look
for a check each month for Mary.
"And Tom, would you believe It. that
kid just rushed up to me, threw her
little arms about my neck and kissed
me. You know what 1t is to have little
girls kiss you-you're a father. !
didn't then, and guess must have
showed It, for the least little laugh es7
capped the matron. There was some
thing about it that l had never known
bsfore-just a tinge Of heaven. sup
pose. felt 80. queer; there was, lump
in my throat-ah, we'll, Tom, there's no
use telling you-you know.
CLARA 1ighf another cigar