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

1--WE no faust to find with 70,
work, Drew, but q change Is nece
sary. We wish man on the prer
ises who--ah--who takes q natur'
interest In children. The fact Is. Mr.
Emmons and / have decided to kee
the little girl. and-ahem!-you--"
He stopped at sight Of the man
face. 1t was like stone, colorles
and rigid. Drew was drawing gref
shudderlng breaths. holding himse
in +, tn clenched, quivering fists
Thy good fellow" whispered tn
deacon, alarmed. II didn't mean t
hurt your feelings. I'm sorry"
THANK God!" burst from the ma
with terrible effort at self.contro
all unavailing, for he bowed his hea
on his arm, rocking and sobbins
Penny! My little Penny! My owI
little girl! I've placed you. Nv
placed you'll"
"Come!" said the deacon gently
and led him to the barn.
There 1t was, sitting on the new
hay that he Gained and told hi
story.
I'm Minstrel" he said, "a nigge
minstrel, II you like; hot a star, blu
good all-round man. make money
l was away out in Wisconsin with ,
troupe, when they wired me my wifi,
was dying. got to her in time fol
her last words, Tony, put the BABY
with the best people you can find
Promise me, Tony And on my knee,
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 wandering profession
and 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. H,
could talk their language, AMI
through him put her with them
They were glad, too, for paid EN-
well. and they didn't have much. Net
word of English did they speak to
gether, but that was nothing to Pen
ny, nor to me.
"All the time l 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
couldn't let Penny 60 with them;
1t VAS time she changed, anyway.
"A month after this news, the
troupe was travelling with gave a
performance at Hurryburg. 1t was
on Saturday night, and a freight
wreck blocking the trains, we stayed
over Sunday morning-ah! 1t was a
fine day hired rig ana drove
into the country. Coming through
Fayville, refined up in front of this
house and jumped out.
"Tt's the very place for Penny
kept thinking, not knowing for an
instant what l 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."
Eyes, sir, 1t was Peter. l ap
preached him and opened up. He
told me all about you and Mrs EN-
mons, and in ten minutes was ready
to die IL I could get my child In
such a home. It was what I'd
dreamed Of. My mind makes vi
quick. Says l: My friend, I'd like
your Job. What's 1t WORTH
Then I 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 it 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 your
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 farm learning to milk. l 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
it was best to put her somewhere
else. I have worked so hard for It;
1t was like madness with me. II
have been through a hard strain
deacon"
You renounce all claim, then
Drew"
Except to help provide for her and
see her sometimes"
''Very well. 1t shall be lega,
adoption" HIS tone was suddenly
brisk and business.like.
Its what want. Thank you, sir
Thank you, forever. A man will bs
here tonight to take my place. Good.
BY, deacon"
4 Tie deacon met the clasp with one
as warm, and blinked.
tGood-by." he said. who is the
man you spoke of"
Il call him Pete" Drew's mouth
twitched. "You know him as Peter"
The deacon laughed then, quite
loudly, but he wiped his spectacles
~ he walked back to the house to tell
Serena.