The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-05-27
Angels Fad.
By ANNA MUNS0N.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated :
Literary Press.

Michael Angelo Moultrie was his
name. and the diminutive of angel"
bestowed upon him by doting moth
er, was well applied. At least this WAS
the opinion of other tenants in the big
Burlington apartment house.
Angel was eight years old but he
scarcely looked six, with his long gold
en- eurls and ethereal beauty. In his
velvet suits he suggested some child of
the Little Lord Fauntleroy period held
over into an age of Buster Browns.
Mrs. Moultrie was possessed of
theory that ms the child is named SO
the tastes Incline, and she had set her
heart upon his being painter.
Angels splotehy water colors were
carefully preserved In a huge portfolio
against the day they should become
the priceless mementos of world
famous painters youth.
The only child OF a widowed mother.
Angel was about AS badly spoiled as a
boy could he and yet escape the reform
school, but his seraphlc countenance
and his big. innocent eyes had enabled
him to successfully lie out of compile
ity In many juvenile crimes. Though
the small boys of the block invariably
explained that Angel was the instiga-
tor OF all the mischief. even their own
| fond mothers believed them to be In Il
conspiracy to destroy the fair fame OF
the model child
Angel was quick to perceive his pop
ularty, and with unerring instinct he
| found his way to those apartments
| where candy and cake We're to be had
He seemed To- know when callers with
offerings Of candy had visited the diff
| ferent young women, and his own calls
| We're scheduled for the following day.
His one exception was Mamie Dim
mick. NannIo seldom entertained call
ers of the sort Angel most approved,
| No five pound boxes of sweets lay
| upon her table, and no great masses of
| flowers scented the room, yet Angel
liked best of all TO visit nj the Dim
mick apartment, for there was n GER
tain tenderness In Mamie Dmmlcks
manner of which Angel approved most
highly.
cry" lie had told his mother In an en-
deayor to discuss the girls peculiar
charm "She looks like she's going to
| cry, but she doesn't. She Just holds
you tight IN her arms, aud you feel
| glad and sorry ali ut once"
| Clearly this blending of emotions APP
| pealed to Angel for he was Il regular
visitor to the Dimmick apartment, and
the girl found odd comfort In his pratt
lie
Mamie sorely needed comfort for
the lock OF sadness In her eyes deepen
ed as the weeks sped by with no word
from Arthur Ryder. When he had
come 10 her with his face aflame with
happiness to tell her that he had found
Ills chance Mt last, that the firm had
decided to send him ON a tour of the
| duce their wares, ii had seemed that
fate, with kindly hands, had swept
barriers from their path.
at will be the making of me-" Ar
thur had explained. Il start Mt Cape
Town and work up the east coast of
| Africa, then cross to Asia and 80 up
10 China. It viii take about eighteen
| months, but If / make u success
| shall be taken into the firm and we
| can he married, dear"
| Mrs. Dlmmick had refused to listen
to an engagement Time enough for
| that when Arthur came back, she had
told them. An engagement of year
| and half would be worse than use
| less.
| II would deprive Mamie of many
| pleasures. and no formal engagement
was really necessary. If they both
were of the same mind when Arthur
should return there would he no oppo-
sltion 10 short engagement aud an
| early marriage.
Aud SO Arthur had gone on his long
| journey with gladness In his heart, for
| Mamie had assured him that It did
not need the Formally Of ring and an
nouncemcnt to ratify the promptings
of her heart.
| First had come glowing letters from
| London and from Cape Town, letters
| that breathed OF hope and love, then
| blank silence. For more than year
| not Il letter In the familiar handwrit-
| ing had been received, though an In
| qulry at the office of the firm elected
the information that Mr.. Ryder was
not only alive, but exceedingly well,
according TO his reports 10 the home
| office.
| Mrs. Dlmmlck had stormed ut what
she had termed his discourtesy, but
| Mamie would not listen TO her moth
ers urglngs that she go more into so
ciety and forget the alfront
I'm spite of everything she stlll loved
| Ryder, though pride forbade her to con
TESS that fact even to herself, and she
had no heart for the hustle and stir of
soclnl events. She preferred to stay
at home and tell Angel the fairy stories
in which he delighted.
She was telling for the hundredtlI
time one Of his fayorte tales When
| Mrs. Dimmieb came Into the room with
an envelope.
"a eabiegram for you" she announced
coldly.
With trembling hands Mamie opened
the blue and white envelope and drew
out the slip. Her expression changed
~ she read
ut IL from Arthur" she said quietly.
HE Is sailing from Japan"
much good may 1t do him." was the
unsympathetlc reply. This Is Il nice
time to hear from him. It's more than
year since he stopped writing. | sup
pose that you will let him give you
some flimsy excuse and ne as crazy
about him as ever"
ct will take a very excellent excuse
to explain his long silence" said Nam
ME duly. Unless he has some legiti-
mate reason to offer | shall refuse to
see him"
Gently she put Angel from her lap
and slipped Off to her room. Angel
munehed the last of the little cakes
brought In for his refreshment and
took his departure.