Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-05-24
Blossoms
Little Pal
BY Ethel Darlington
Copyright. 1900. sg E. {. Parrells


| nuity sufficing for cheap lodging and
meals at ncighboring restaurant 1t
was terrible beyond expression to be
blind. to be dragged back to life when
| the fever had so denudcd him. Exist
ence was barren. useless. hopeless. and
| when he prayed it was for death
One day. tripping as he climbed the
stairs. he felt the help of baby hands.
You counted wrong" reproved
childish voice. II did t'uver night in
| the dark
What's your nance" he demanded
shortly
Dora. Who's your
John Blossom"
Pretty name Bend down. Then
whispering IN his ear. Il shall call you
Blossom" she scampcrcd away, sing
ing back mischievously, "Blossom-
| Bic S-s-onl.
1t was week before they met again.
| The mans mood was desperate. You
| is frownin' awful. Blossom" piped the
| sllrill voice. "but you can't frighten
me-.
IF you are not scared come and talk
| to me bill"
"Muver don't low me in dodgers
rooms" BLOSSOM felt the rebuff, and,
reaching the top floor stumbled into
his room and slammed the door Seat
cd on his cot he cIinched his hands in
the agony of his hclpcssness
Come" he cried sharply in answer
to a timid rap. whereat some one en-
tered whom he could not recognize.
what Is IT." he half shouted, his
nerves strained t. the point of frenzy.
Just me. blossom Muycr says you
Is exceptions Then in the silence the
child's eyes roved over the room and
lighted on the table Uttered with pa
pers. "Does YOU write" Tier tone be-
tokened interest Blossom's hands
moved aimlessly Write, write?
That's precisely what can't 90, curse
t.'' There before him lay the work
begun in pride and hope. now shatter-
ed by darkness worse than death. He
was recalled to the present by the
pressure of small arms resting on his
knees as the child looked up into his
despairing face.
Poor dear" she sympathized in an
old fashioned manner.
IFS dark, Dora never any light.
That's why | cannot write" His voice
broke with a half sob.
I'm dreadful sorry. Let me do it
for you. print now, and | learn fast.
See if don't" She tossed the papers
aside and climbed into a chair, sucking
loudly at the pencil to make it black.
What will we write Blossom?" Re-
ceiving no answer, she looked up Her
companions head was pilowed on his
arms. His shoulders heaved. Could
man cry even as she sometimes did?
Dora scrambled to her feet and hur-
ried from the room, to return n few
minutes later flushed and breathless.
Here's Miss Arabella," she cried,
thrusting a doll into the mans hands.
when | get cryin | just hold her
tight. She comforts lots. Muver's call
ing. Hold Arabella close. Blossom"
The doll became the first link in a
strange friendship. which grew with
y
Blossom brought wonderful tales out
of the storehouse of his imagination,
frequently in verse that he strung to-
gether during wakeful hours Of the
night. Dora listened and remembered.
As she had said. she learned fast She
was barely twelve when she recalled
her promise Il write truly now. Tell
me what to write"
Blossom smiled sadly, declaring the
desire dead but she insisted and coax
ed until he yielded. repeating some of
the phrasings that haunted him, and
the dormant passion revived. 1t was
new birth to the man, and the girl be-
came his eyes as the gift that had
been smothered in darkness and uncer-
tainty suddenly developed. and the poet
came into his own. In time "our poet
ry,' as Dora called it, verses with ex-
quisite rhythm. in round childish CHI
Biography found their way into editors
hands and caused comment.
SO the years passed, and Blossom
counted each anniversary as it came.
Fifteen today" he said on one oc-
casion, signing heavily Il wish so
could see you once-just once"
Dora raised her head from COPYING:
II was unusual for Blossom to cnat be-
fore the dictatiou was completed.
How do you look?" continued the
bind man, directing his sightless gaze
toward her.
Whose decision shall renderY'
Dora laughed dellclously. Mother
says big girl Aunt Helen gawly.,
but Tom Insists pretty"
of course Tom is right. Well here
is my remembrance" Fumbljnr in his
pocket, he brought out a little case
disclosing gold locket WIN .Iin,
"oiiu set IN its heart shape.
"oh, Blossom, how lovely! But what
extravaganza. You can't afford IT,"
lou mistake have more money
tlan need, little pal"
Inc girl slipped the slender chain
about her neck and gave the cllsn into
ms hands; then as he clumslIy fitted II
together she threw her arms about his
meek and kissed him His pulses throb.
1ed rioto'lsly at the warm touch of her
HiS' ana ne hardly dared trust himself