Putnam patriot., 1908-12-25

fully faiif NenfA old. She was booking np at him with dark brown eyea and WAS se delicious in her almost maternal solleitnde that he smilca irrepreeshly
 "whs no thank ynne he snid .g am nnt hnrt IiIdn't yau see the kind E man help me an ta the earfs
 sI'm refy els,d ehe said sith BiF nits, T Was ffraid he hurt Von She turned as sbc seoke and to'ldcd into the section opposite hls. where 4 plain but kindly faced elderly woman sai
 "Won't You come over and visit ueis'
 he asked "l am very lonely. aud l have no one te take care of me"
 She slid of thr seat at encc with great niaerity
 "I'd like tas she said. "hnf must
 now. shr added with dniifnl emrha sis. "'fare l do anyting
 She laid her hand on the gloyed iin. gers of the nurse IS she spoke and the
 woman opeRed her eyes, shat n quick
 glance at the mnn and nodded She ' had not been asleep. nr Van Nalken berg rose and lifted his visitor to th" seat beside hIm. where her short legs stuck out in nneomnromising rigldity.
 s'I can tilse care ef you, she said
 brightly "I talked care of mamma q great deaf. and l gave her her med cfn'"
 @verv we'll" he sald. with the smile women loved. -if you really are going
 to take care of me l must know your name. Yau see" ha explained. T
 might need you In the night to ret me gltss of water or something Just , think how disappointlns il would he If should call you tv the wrong name and some other liitie rirl enmes' .You say funny thingS. |" she said eonteuiedls "f,ut there iSn't any other little girl in ihe car | looked seen as I came in, 'eos wanted one to play
 with iihe little girls. l ilke little boys. too. she added. with innocent expanslyeness
 You'd never believe 1t. but used ta he Ton haven't told me yanr name
 Hope" she said promptly Do you think it is uice namef" She made tbe Inquiry withsanxieus interest { .l think Hope k the incest name n little girl could have except one" he ssid. "1'he incest little girl l ever knew was named Katharine. She grew .eo be ' nice big girl. too. and has little glrls of her own now. no doubt" he { added. half to himself
 ssWerc yeu little boy when she was . little girii'' asked his visitor. seOh. no. I was big man. Just as 0m now Her father was my friend. z and she lived In a white house with un old garden where there were all kinds of flowers she used to play sherv when she was q tiny hahy, and | would carry her around md hold her high up so she could pull the apples and peafs ofY The trees. When she grew larger ! gave her horse and taught her fo ride She seemed like my very own little girl. bal ty and by she grew up aud became q young lady, und--weli. she went away from me, , and never had another llstle Slrls
 Did She xo to heaven asked the little girl softly
 sOh. dear. nef answered ths doctor E~ith brisk cheerfulness.
 Then why didn't she keep on oeiss xpur little ksrl aiwayss'
 me dostor hesIt..tS<I a nletaents Hs Inn making the discovery that after 1unpy years old wounds eau reeRcsa
 1d throh. No one Lad ever been
 uV~ enough te broach to him the sub
 wk 1T thls singie love e1fatr which
 1 was nos discussing.
 'Sye'l. you See.s he exp1ainea ~cther
 oys liked her too And wban uhe be- 6nlnc young lady other men liked
 rr. So iinally ons Of them took heF