Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-01-19
After Fifteen
Years
By VIRGINIA LEILA WENrz
Copyright. 1915. b. ID. Marshal,

? meath the steps of his l. station. "Lirtl,
. Timber Toes" was the nickname tn,
( boys had given her. She was crippl,
and carried a crutch.
i've missed you. sir. Indeed. yol
stayed away SO long began to thinl
, you weren't coming back at ALL" Lit
tie Timber Toes" laughed at her owl
falsehood. showing all her fine. infau
tile teeth TT once. Mr.. Fawcett nae
spent Sunday with some of his New
Jersey relatives. and this was the greet
ing he received from under the L stair,
on Tuesday morning
so you missed me. did you:" 1t WAS
good to be missed and 1t warmed tine
cookies OF this old bachelors dry hear,
We'll. had a nice time in the country
little one said he
An said the child. leaning slight II
forward on her crutch, 1T must be like
fairyiand i'll the country. Mother used
to live in the country. and she's told
me all about it. And did YOU go in tina
woods-the deep woods: They must
smell so fresh and cool and delicious.
And then the shade." She had Il long
vista of thoughts in her eyes-an entire
Forest. She was TO all appearances a
pretty child of twelve with delicate
features ard mass Of brown hair.
Just now some rays of sunlight slant
ing upon Der head from the platform
above made it sparkle like gold
do you know" she went ON. seeing
that nef customer was in no especial
hurry to catch his train. II often pic
ture the woods to myself-trees grow
| ing up by themselves without being
planted, squirrels running over tine
boughs. birds singing in the branches.
oh, it must be wonderful-'
How would you like to go with me
some Sunday to see the woods?" asked
the man. They are all around the city
here. to be seen for the mere riding to
them in the cars
"Oh, should love it," The big dark
eyes looked disproportionately large
in the pale. tiny face. And think
mother will be sure to let me-" added
she gravely. you see. I've told her
about You SO many times"
Somehow the whole Of July slipped
by and Little Timber Toes" did not
get to- see her dear woods nor the
squirrels nor the birds. To be sure.
there was no immediate hurry about
1t. There was always the facile ex-
cuse. Next week, perhaps-or week
after next"
However, there came morning
when az Mr.. Fawcett stopped to hand
over his coin and take back q paper
he found Little Timber Toes" place
was vacant Evidently she was late
today. On his way home he would stop
again. The place was still unoccupied
in the evening: also the following
morning. y policeman on the corner.
being consulted. thought the child
might be i'll and gave Mr.. Fawcett the
address where she was supposed to
live.
"Of course she's ill.," unused the man
as he set out to find her late that aft
ernoon. Her little face has been un-
commonly white Of late and her eyes
uncoramonly big"
On his way up the narrow stairs in
the miserable tenement in which the
child lived a buxom woman passed
him. 1t turned out to be the janitress.
Yes. she's up there all alone, poor
little kid. I've just been a-takin' her
some Cruel. Holy saints. but it's hot
up in that attic" She mopped her
brow in confirmation Of the statement
Tie door Of the little attic room was
open. but to the man standing there
quietly in the hallway it all seemed
quite dark. The shutters We're bowed
tight, but the August sun threw tiny
shafts Of light through the Stats. As
his eyes became used to the half light
he saw Little Timber Toes" sitting
close against the wall. where she had
been driven by the advancing heat
from the window. For GOODNESS she
had piled her hair on top Of her head.
1t gave certain air Of distinction.
Her exquisite. small face. her shapely
little head resting against the dingy
wall here in this poverty reduced room,
had the antique perfection and grace
Of an old cameo in a defaced and
scratched setting.
He waited for her to move, to look
ny. He imagined she would hear him
breathe. the room was so still. but he
had to knock twice before she seemed
able to discOnnect herself from her list
less reverie. Then
"Oh. oh. IL was wishing you might
come" She reached out her hand for
his and held it tight. do you know"
stroking the hand she claspel with her
free one as il to make sure her words
would not hurt him. II kind Of thought
you'd come. even II you did forget
your promise about the dear woods"
She smiled. one Of her gay. volatile.
capricious smiles. And by that he saw
that she was better.
His conscience smote him somewhat.
He changed the subject abruptly.
Flows mother?" he asked.
Pretty well. thanks. She's In the
tailor trade now"
s~Th0 tailor Is ch~S