The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1908-12-24


she kept at 1t day and night Che was
70 sweet. SO brave. yet so desperately
miserable over leaving her little Cir
alone In the world"
DIR. Van Valkenbery sat silent. II
was true, tssIan. This was Katharine q
child. He had not known of the death
Of Armttage nor OF the subsequent
poverty Of bis widow, but be had
known Katharine's baby, be now told
himself. the moment he saw her
Well" the nurse resumed, latter
she died we raised small fund to buy
some clothes for Hope and take her
to Chicago to her new home. Mrs.
Armitage has cousin there who has
agreed to take her In. None of the
relatives came to the funeral There
are not many Of them, and the .Chica-
go people haven't much money, I
fancy"
DR.. Van Valkenberg was hardly sur
prised. Life was full of extraordinary
situations, and his profession had
brought him face to face with many
Of them. Nevertheless a deep solem-
nifty filed him, and a strange peace
settled over him.
Il want her," he said briefly. 'Her
mother and father were old friends of
mine, and this thing looks like fate
| VIII they give her to me-these Chi
cago people-do you think p
Tears filed the woman's eyes.
Indeed they WILL" she said "and
gladly. There was"-she hesitated-
there was even some talk of sending
her 10 an Institution before they finally |
decided to take her. Dear little Hope, I
How happy she will be with you,"
He left her and went back to the /
seat where Hope sat grooming to the
doll. Sitting down, he gathered them |
both up in his arms, and a thrill shot
through him as he looked at the yellow
curls resting against his breast. Her
ehild-her little. helpless baby now
his child to love and care for, He
was not religious man. Nevertheless
prayer rose spontaneously in his
heart.
Hope" he said gently. "once long
ago | asked a little girl to come and
live with me- aud she would not come :
Now l want to ask you to come and |
stay with me alwgys and be my own
little girl and let me take care of you {
and make you happy WIN you Gomez" :
The radiance Of June sunshine broke !
out upon her face and shone in the
brown eyes upturned to his. How wei
ne knew that look Hope did not turn : !
oward Nppa, ard that significant ornis- .
lion touched him deeply. She seemed q
% feel that here was a question she V
Hone must decide She drew long 2
breath as she looked up at him.
Really, trely?" she asked. Then,
IS he nodded without speaking, she E
Jaw something in his face that was :
lew to her 1t was nothing to fright =
N little girl, for it was very sweet :
nd tender, but for one second she r
bought her new friend was going to
ry. She put both arms around his
eek and replied softly, with the ex-
uisite maternal cadences her voice had
aiken on in her first words to him
1hen she entered the car:
9TH be your own little girl, and I'll
ike care of you too. You know, you
aid 1 could"
DR.. Van valkenberg turned to the
urse.
81 shall go with you to her Cousins
ON the train" he announced. I'm
lady to give them all the proofs they a.
led that I'm suitable guardian for
lie child, but" he added with a touch =
the boyishness that had never left
m, Il want this matter settled now"
The long train pounded its way into
e station at Chicago and Dr. Van
llkenberg summoned porter.
Take care Of these things" he said.