The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-12-22

"HNS AOU hSNA possessed n d
fully four years old She was looking
up at him with dark brown eyes and
was 50 delicious In her almost maternal
solicitude that he smiled irrepressibly.
why. no. thank you" he said. Il
am not hurt Didn't you see the kind
man help me on to the carr
I'm very glad" she said, with dig
nifty. 81 was 'fraid he hurt you" She
turned as she spoke and toddled ilto
the section opposite his, where plain
but kindly faced elderly woman sat.
won't you come over and visit me?"
he asked. 81 am very lonely, and 1
have no one to take care Of me-"
She slid of the seat at once, with
great alacrity.
I'D like to-" she said, "but I must
ask Mana 1 must always ask Mana
now" she added, with dutiful empha-
sis, fore do anything"
She laid her hand on the gloved fin
gers Of the nurse as she spoke, and the
woman opened her eyes, shot quick
glance at the man and nodded. She
had not been asleep. DR.. Van Valken-
berg rose and lifted his visitor to the
seat beside him, where her short legs
stuck out In Incorporating rigidity.
81 can take care Of you" she said
brightly. 'T taxed care of mamma a
great deal, and 1 gave her her med
Gin"
"Very WELL" he said, with the smile
women loved; "if you really are going
to take care OF me must know your
name. You see," he explained, Il
might need you In the night to get me
glass Of water or something. Just
think how disappointing it would be
II should call you by the wrong name
and some other little girl Gamer
you say funny things" she said
contentedly. But there isn't any other
little girl in the car / looked soon as
1 came in. cos / wanted one to play
with. l Ike little girls. l like little
boys, too" she added. with innocent
expansiveness.
Then wei play I'm a little boy.
You'd never believe 1t, but used TO
be. You haven't told me your name"
Hope" she said promptly. "Do you
think it is nice nameT' She made
the inquiry with anxious interest.
81 think Hope is the incest name a
little girl could have except one" he
said. THE incest little girl / ever
knew was named Katharine. She grew
to be nice big girl, too, and has little
girls Of her own now. no doubt" he
added, half TO himself.
Were YOU a little boy when she was
a little girl?" asked his visitor.
ooh. no; was big man. just as I
am now. Her father was my friend.
and she lived in a white house with
an old garden where there were all
kinds Of flowers. She used to play
there when she was a tiny baby. and
would carry her around and hold her
high up so she could pull the apples
and pears OF the trees. When she
grew larger l gave her a horse and
taught her TO ride. She seemed Ike
my very own little girl. but BY and by
she grew up and became a young lady,
and-well, she went away from me.
and never had another little girl"
Did she go TO heavenT' asked the
little girl softly
"Oh. dear, no" answered the doctor.
with brisk cheerfulneSs.
Then why didn't she keep on being
your little girl always
The doctor hesitated a moment He
was making the discovery that after
many years old wounds can reopen
and throb. No one had ever been
brave enough TO breach TO him the sub
ject OF this single love affair which
be was now discussing.
well, you see," be explained, "other
boys liked her too. And when she be-
came young lady other men liked
her. SO finaly-ons Of them took her
away from me-"
He uttered the last words YEARLY.
and the sensitive atom at his side
seemed TO understand why. Her little
hand slipped into his.
why didn't you ask her to please
stay with your she persisted pity
ingly.
L did" he told her. .sBut ron see.