Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-05-10

up TO his mental, who 0aS iaDorin
diligently at the w00dpile.
Drew" he said, sharply. 4 n
afraid we must part"
J Anthony struck his ~ on . los An
faced around.
IAN right, deacon" he returned
coolly. 1--WE done my best, but 20
haven't fecmed satisfied lately. In
ready to 60"
I've no faut to hnd with you
work, Drew, but q change Ia neces
sary. We wish q man on the prem
ises who-ah--who takes q natura
interest In children. The fact Is. Mrs
Emmons and / have decided to keel
the little girl. and-ahem YOU
He stopped at sight OF the mans
face. 1t was like stone, colorles,
and rigid. Drew was drawing grea'
shuddering breaths, holding himself
in tn clenched. quivering fists.
ny good fellow" whispered ths
deacon, alarmed. II didn't mean t.
hurt your feelings. I'm sorry"
Thank Cod" burst from the mar
with terrible effort at self-control
ali unavaiiing, for he bowed his heat
on his arm. rocking and sobbing
Penny, My little Penny! My owl
little girl! I've placed you. Tu
placed you!"
Gomez" said the deacon gently
and led him to the barn.
al hn
hay that he Gained and told hii
story. ....
I'm a minstrel" he said. "a niggei
minstrel, II you like; Lot star, but
good all-round man. make money
was away out In Wisconsin with
troupe. when they wired me my wife
was dying. got to her In time fol
her last words. Tony, put the bah.
with the best people you can find
Promise me, Tony And on my knee,
l swore 1t, and, God be thanked, I've
done 1t. A dying mothers prayer
deacon. You'll care for Penny ten
derby, ! know"
Yes" murmured the old man, "a,
II she were my own. Go on.'
When Penelope died, sir, there !
was, with a wandering profession
and a baby eight months old
She's nearly four years old now |
didn't know thing about babies |
except that they had to be nursed |
Finally, chap / knew in the show |
business told me Of a Norwegian |
family. nice people and kind. Hs
could talk their language, AMI
through him I put her with them !
They were glad, too. for / paid EN-
well, and they didn't have much. Nci
word OF English did they speak to
gether, but that was nothing to Pen |
ny, nor to me.
"All the time was thinking what
to do, and last fall the Norwegian out
fit informed me that they were goina
to Dakota In the spring. OF course
I couldn't let Penny 60 with them;
1t &as time she changed, anyway.
"A month after this news, the
troupe l was travelling with gave a
performance at Hurryburg. 1t was
on a Saturday night, and freight
wreck blocking the trains, we stayed
over Sunday morning-ah! 1t was q |
fine day. hired rig ana drove
into the country. Coming through |
Fayyille, refined up In front Of this
house and jumped out.
Its the very place for Penny ]
kept thinking, not knowing for an
instant what could do about It
Walking up the path I spied a long
lank. red-headed gawk sitting on the
horse block chewing a twig."
"Peter!" calculated the deacon
He should have been at church"
Yes, sir, 1t was Peter. ap
preached him and opened up. He
told me all about you and Mrs. EN-
mons, and in ten minutes was ready
to die II could get my child In
such a home. 1t was what I'd
dreamed of. My mind makes W
quick. Says l: My friend, I'd like
your Job. What's 1t worth?
"Then l told him my story as mar
to man. He slid of his perch, grab
bling my hand. III do It fer the leetle
GAL says he. i loves leetle gals and
We fixed 1t up. Peters been in my
pay ever since he left"
The deacon's mild blue orbs were
staring through his spectacles.
what next?" he inquired. with
rather an injured infection.
Deacon Emmons, I've done youl
work all right. haven't II"
What's that to do with IT."
"Just this. All last winter / 10
bored to learn how, threw up my
contract, went into livery stable
then was with florist. half froze
on q farm learning to milk. asked
questions and studied, chopped wood
did everything could think of, and
when the time came was fit for the
Job, with recommendations. Peter
got out. got In.
"You must forgive the deception
sir. II you could know the agony OF
these days and nights, when ! have
feared that, after all, you might feel
1t was best to put her somewhere
else. have worked so hard for It;
1t was like a madness with me.
have been through a hard strain
deacon"
you renounce all claim, then
Drew"
Except to help provide for her ani
see her sometimes"
+Very well. It shall be a lega,
His tone was suddenly
brisk and business-like.
It's what want. Thank you, sir!
Thank you, forever. A man will BIT
here tonight to take my place. Good.
BY, deacon"
Tie deacon met the clasp with one