Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-10-27

touches, you know. MumSey Is away
great lot" she said with little re-
gretful sigh.
."And you are very disappointed to
be done out of your party. old wom-
an?'
"Not very" said Doll stoutly. Next
year mumsey is sure to be at home.
she says so. And she sent me this.
Isn't she darling. sweet mumsey?"
She opened little gold locket at
tached to slender chain round her
neck and showed him the charming,
smiling face of her mother.
He took 1t in his hand and looked
at 1t long and intently. Tomorrow
those gay blue eyes would be clouded
that haughtily poised head abased
with his dishonor. Well. he thought
bitterly, she had had her hand in 1t.
They had never run we'll together
she had gone hertow way and he his.
Once things might have been different
was 1t his fault or hers? He closed
the locket with little snap and let
1t fall again on Dolls breast.
And this is her letter-look darl
ing. I'll read 1t to you: so sorry,
my sweet Doll, to be away on your
birthday-but this is an old engage
ment, you know, and Lady Latouche
would not let me off. Next birthday
indeed, wheI. return-we must make
up for 1t. am sending you some
thing to console you. hope my Doll
is a good little girl and does what
Miss Carter tells her. Take good care
of father"
"And I am. aren't II" Doll broke off
to say.
Eyes, Doll, yes, old woman. You
you would miss me bit if--supposing
that / was lost. now?"
do men ever get lost?"
"Often, DOLL
"Then would die" said Doll. trag.
ically.
Nonsense! Mothers always count
for more, don't they?" he persisted
She pressed round his face and
looked at him critically.
do they-always?" she whispered.
4 Mostly. DOLL"
But sometimes you-they could
love the fathers just wee quarter of
an inch more, couldn't 3they?"
| He considered the question, while
she watched him anxiously
"They might sometimes, Doll"
st wouldn't be wicked?"
mo, of course not
She gave deep sigh Of relief.
He put his arms round the little
warm body, and pressed her close to
him. And as no held her there a
sudden love of life-a remembrance
Of all the best and highest of the life
he had SO basely ill-used-came bacl,
and stirred his pulses with gladness
and pain.
He closed his eyes dizzily, and
leaned against Dolls shoulder. How
near had been Death-and Doll had
come between them! He reviewed the
mad acts of the last few days-the
maddest acts Of his spoiled life. He
had dishonored the name that genera
tions of good-living men had trans
mitted to him. That very afternoon
was 1t only this afternoon or centuries
ago?-his lawyers had begged him tc
pull in, to retrench. They had asked
him to go abroad until they could
settle his submerged affairs. They
had sworn that If he would promise
them to give up his mad gambling
they would be able yet in time tc
save an honored name-an honored
house. And what had his answer
been? Heshad flung away from them
with laugh. Let my name and
place go. My whole existence has
been mistake. / shall go to the
devil my own way"
4 And then in the place of Death and
dishonor had come-Doll. He was
alive, thank God! Thank God!
doll, darling, wise old woman, did
you ever turn over new leaf?"
Lots" said Doll promptly.
well I've turned over one, all the
leaves in my book are stained but this
one, but i am going to keep this
clean. And, Doll, tomorrow you and ]
are going in search of the very love
Hest birthday present that we can find
J in the whole Of London. But have
gisen you one tonight, dear"
!. "What?" asked Doll eagerly and
puzzled.
He stopped down and kissed her, and
she Rugged him gleefully, for she
thought his kiss was the gift, but he
knew 1t was his life.-London opin-
ion.