Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-06-01
WHAT SPHINX SAW.

whispered wired Cunnlnghame to NM
self, as he gazed over the edge of the
parapet at the hardly visible, swirling
waters beneath.
1t was significant of the depths OF de.
spair to which Cunninghame had descend
ed that he should seriously ask himself
this question. 1t was still more signif-
cant that the frigid silence of the river
called to him in voice by no means I'M
seductive. 'What is it like down there %
he had whispered, and in his Utmost soul
he was thinking, perhaps better than
up here, anyway"
A thick yellow fog drifted sluggishly
along the Embankment, dimming lamps
and choking the throat. Hansoms and
motor cars swept east and west in the
roadway behind Cunninghame but he did
not notice them. To him, these evidences
of luxury and wealth were on far-off
planet What had starving failure of
a journalist to do with hansoms and mo-
tor cars? Nothing. His mind was far
more set on the question of how to pay
his landlord for his garnet room, and how
to keep body and soul together on diet
of bread and water
Fortunately" he muttered, ''no one is
IuepenueiC On me.
But at that moment the words, though
he did not guess it, were instantaneously
proved untrue. for close by him, in the
darkness of the parapet, he heard a cry
the thin, quivering cry. of a child
He turned, and CROPPED his way a few
steps through the fog in the direction
whence the voice had come. Black and
somber above him he saw one of the En-
|,
its pedestal at the base of the Cleopatra
Needle, and smiling its inscrutable stone
smile. And beneath the shelter of the
mighty piece of sculpture he found a
small child.
He bent down and peered into the
shadow
Whats wrong?" he queried gently.
A little girl struggled to her feet and
toddled fortha mere baby of or 6,
stability but not thinly clad, and traifng
been wrapped about her shoulders.
"Pse hungry" the little one lisped
looking up in Cunninghame's face.
Frankly" said Cunninghame, with
grim humor, $50 am l."
The child opened wondering eyes,
Il got penny" she said. unclasping a
grimy paw and exhibiting the coin. GA
gentleman gave it me. Could we buy a
bun?"
Could you buy one, you mean," Cum
ninghame corrected her, a lump in his
throat
With Cockney shrewdness, the child
grasped his meaning.
NO" she said sturdily. IF you'se
hungry, We'll eat the bun between us"
THANK YOU" said the journalist grave
ly. but is there no one with you? Are
you quite alone? Where's your mother ??
Never had none," quoth the child, UNI
dramatically, and in one sense, at any
rate, truthfully. "'se lost, and oh"-her
voice trembled, poor mite !-''oh, Use SO
hungry, an so sleepy! Will you take
me?"
The appeal was direct, unmistakable.
Cunninghame casped her hand.
Come along then" he said
Use so tired" she pleaded. "Will you
, put me to bed"-she hesitated, and then
auued swftly-"after we've Gated our
bum"
Cunninghame picked her up in his arms
and marched off towards his lodgings.
, Overhead, in the drifting mists, the
great carven lips of the sphinx still wore
their inscrutable smile.
H.
When Glnninghame lit the gas in his
> attic. the tiny girl, who had slept on his
shoulder all the way from the Embark.
ment. awOke.
', ''Where's the bun?" she asked prompt.
ly.
. Here it is" said Cunninghame, pro.
= ducing it from paper bag You Were
. asleep when l bought it. l got the big
!, gest l could see, though. / thought ii
. would be nicer for you-for us, mean
to call it here, at home. than in the shop
He brought cracked plate from the
cupboard and put the precious bun upon
it. As lac did so, his eye caught a letter
which awaited him on the mantelpiece.
He tore it open, and found within it a
, cheque for a guinea. One of his articles
T. had been printed and paid for
she's brought luck" he whispered. al
most superstitiously, as he gazed at the
, little girl. whose teeth were already bur
led in the luscious bun. Here, wait" he
added aloud. I'm going out to buy some
milk and eggs and things. Don't eat the
bun all at once. Wait till | come back.
and we'll have feast"
He ran downstairs, cashed the cheque
from the landlord, who was only too
pleased to receive an instalment of his
rent, and give few shillings change, and
shortly afterwards had returned to the
garnet. loaded with cheap provisions. On
his little gas stove a pleasant meal of
bread and milk was soon cooking, and he
and Sphinxia-for thus. with rather bit
ter humor. he had christened the found
ling-had a merry meal An hour later.
wee SphinXia was in Clnninghame's bed.
sleeping like a top. while the journalist
made himself comfortable outstretched
on two chairs.
His last thoughts, before slumber
came to him. were; Its queer thing,