The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1906-12-22
Che BosId8T's Discovery


tnehi felectipS upon the nOusekeep-
er. A long experience had made
him distrusiful Of fair outward
seeming; no meant to know the hid
den workings Of this abiding place.
Most women would have resented
it, but this timid little widow was
so anxioys to get the boarder who
would pay in advance that she an
swered bis questions meekly.
"Anq now, madam, are there any
Children in the house?" he con-
cluded.
The little widow hesitated for an
instant and then said ~No, sir"
''Ithink, then, I'll take the ROOM"
Then, unbending little, he added
graciously: at does look homelike
and neat. And / like this quiet
neighborhood. If the breakfasts
suit me I'll be a permanent tenant
The next day he moved into the
room He found the first week that
the breakfasts were going to suit,
and the widow, instead of being talk
alive and inquisitive, was very quiet.
1t seemed almost too good to be true
that after wears of boarding house
life, he should have found a place
that he could call home without be-
ing suspected Of irony.
After the first few weeks of salts
faction and self-congratulation he
began 10 notice little Mrs. Burt.
She was good to look upon and well
worth any mans notice.
''Poor little thingm he said. She
looks worried to death about some
thing. suppose she's in debt. She
looks as if she's afraid of seeing a
creditor if she looks over her shout
der. | wish / knew of some way
of helping her out"
She did not give him her conf
dence, though he made several OPP
portunities for her to do so. At
length one morning at breakfast,
when she looked more pathetic than
usual, he spoke out plainly.
Pardon me for mentioning it,
Mrs. Burt, but you look troubled
about something. Could l do any
thing to help you? Now, if it's
money matters | could make you a
loan, would be glad to dc it."
ooh, no, no. thank YOU, but l
don't need anything" And then
the tears brimmed up in the brown
eyes and ran over. She left the room
hastily, and. Mcdonald muttered
savage curses upon himself for his
awkwardness.
He came home early that night.
He came in the back gate, and
walked slowly through the little
flower garden. The kitchen window
was open, and as he neared it he
heard someone singing gayly. 1t
was Mrs. Burt's voice, and she was
singing merry child's song. He
stood still in amazement. Then
there came a song like a baby's
laugh. He took a quick step for
ward. She saw him and started in 4
surprise.
ooh, Mr.. Mcdonald" she said,
chow you frightened me. / wasn't
expecting You for half an hour
yet"
From where he stood he could see
all of the neat kitchen, and there
was no one in it save Mrs. Burt her.
self.
Coming home one day week later
he saw two children playing under
tree in Mrs. Burt's garden. He
thought they must be trespassers for,
when he opened the gate, the boy
started up with look of terror and
seized the wee sister blythe hand.
"Hello, youngsters" said McDon-
aid, stopping to pat the baby's cllrls.
fHello,7' said the boy. M
f'Does Mrs. Burt let you play
here?" he questioned, for the lad
seemed anxious to be gone.
"Yes, sir, but l must go now,"'
was the answer, and they hurried
away.
The next day he saw the same
children as he was coming through
the little park on his way home. He
sat down on bench beside them,
and put forth all his arts of enter
tainment to interest them. The boy
was a manly little fellow of six, who
took care of the three-year-old baby
in a responsible manner. When the
children started home he walked
with them. When he turned in the