Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1906-09-06

ter Of mine something before / got
through with her.
"Old pal, have you ever, "a boy,
been promised that you could go
somewhere-some place that you had
always wanted to go to-and you
could hardly wait until the time had
come to start3 That's just how ! felt
about that kid.
"The street cars didn't seem to be
going fast enough, and | walbed all
the way like q mailman, and when at
last l found the house. Tom, l near
ly lost my nerve. hesitated mo
ment before started toward the door,
uncertain what to do or say, for you
know, wasn't used to talking to ba-
bies.
Tom, you remember when we were
kids. You remember how we used
to sneak up and ring somebody's
door bell, and then run away. Well,
that's Just how l felt as pushed the
electric button; and l actually be-
Ieye | was sliding away when the
door suddenly opened and about the
prettiest little woman I ever saw babe
me good evening"
"Why, er-er-is-' hogan, and
Tom, on the square, just couldn't get
any farther. l looked at the woman,
and she stood patiently waiting; just
the faintest trace of smile at my en-
barrassment. Finally, In sheer desper-
alton, blurted oHt:
els Mary hereT
"'Oh, this Is Mr.. Simmons. Come
right in; I'll 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 1t then, and
my nerve came back. followed in
after her and when she left me stand
ing in the little parlor wondered what
would come next "
"You know, old pal, somehow I had
a 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 I knew it was me for the kid
sure. And you ought to have seen me
SILVER a moment after she left me;
when the laughter OF crowd OF chill
dren at play came dimly to my ears.
Tom, you are father and l suppose
you know how It sounds; suppose
that for you 1t has different meaning,
something infinitely sweet and all
that; but for me--your staid, old bach
elor friend-as stood there in that lit
tie room, we'll, 1t just seemed to me
that in about two minutes I'd be the
head Of ready-made family or ia
Jump through the window and let the
insane commissioners do their worst
Shortly heard steps In the hall
way and the lisping question OF a
child; and Tom-Tom, you know how
1t used to make you feel when your
father came after you with a switch
and ydu stood waiting. wanting to run
and afraid to-well, old man., that's
Just the way l 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. had never thought
the child really lived; that 1t was all
a bluff but when confronted by her
living presence l wilted. And as the
woman came toward me she said:
"'Mr. 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; 80 we secured the names OF all
the bachelors and assigned each one
child. Mary was assigned to you. Now
YOU see how l 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
your
tom, what would you have done II
you were in my place then? That's 1t,
old sport; that's it exactly, and that is
just the very thing did, was beaten
at new game, and smiled in spite OF
myself. 1t was all so simple, so very
simple, that forgot all the worry of
three days as l 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 1t, 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 I guess Laust have
showed 1t, for the least little laugh es-
capped the matron. There was some
thing about 1t that had never known
before@just tinge of heaven, I sup
pose. felt so queer; there was lump
In my tHroat-ah, well, Tom, there's no
use telling you---you know.
Here, light another cigar"
n Professional Secrecy.
The question of medical mans