The Democratic advocate., 1909-10-15
HIS SILENT PARTNER.

Dedham smiled forlornly at the
friendly little wa1en face which wore
the perpetual smile that doll makers
infict upon their creations Dedham
always had thought Il foolish 10 paint
all dolls with a perpetual smile. but
tonight he was glad that II was 80
Tho house WAS Intensely Etill, and
though quiet. yet a sense Of lone.
liness oyerpowpred him, when be
looked across the desk at the doll aud
yaugely checrcd
II WIS an Easter favor. half rabbit.
half doll, and beloved OF Maudis'a
heart He wondered how the child
had come TO leave II behind. She had
been playing In the study the night
before. all unconscious OF the Inn
pending separation. and she bad left
her treasures on the desk when his
wife had come to carry her on to bed
Toodels. he remembered MAudie
called the little creature and now he
and Toodlos had the study 10 them
selves
II guess you lind II rather lone
some without your little mistress. Z"
be said half aloud. for the sake Of
hearing his own voice break the stiil.
ness. You're faithful little soul.
Toodlcs. and veil get along together
flrst rate You won't come breaking
In on me when I'm trying 10 get the
internal books Strengthened out. will
your
He read an assent IN Toodies' 81
lence and he ran on.
"of course, you won't" he de.
clared.
You'll understand that when q
chap works hard~at the ONCE all day
and then brings the books home 20
work over. that he can't be inter
rupted thousand times an hour.
You won't get mad either and--well,
you won't get mad because you won't
set me going by breaking In on me
1t was absurd Of your little mis-
tress' mother 20 leave me just be-
cause ! Was cross at times. wasn't H.?
or course. ! used lot more language
than there was any use for. but, all
the same, ! guess most men have
times when they are cross old bears.
though perhaps ! was cross more Of
ten than was right Perhaps | was,
Toodles, but all the same"
His voice trailed and broke, He
did not want TO admit even TO his
waxen-faced companion that he was
terribly lonesome.
Its all right. Toodles," he went
on after d moment Il suppose that
II does seem pretty quiet here to-
night with Maude and--and her
mother gone, but we'll soon get used
TO IT, II we don't we can move 10
some hotel. There'll be people
other people--in the house then, and
they Won't come in unless we ask
them 10. Wen get along famously.
little rabbit lady. and / guess you'll
be as glad as | am that Maude forgot
you. It's funny that the kiddie for
got you, though, she was so devoted
TO you"
Dedham nodded again and then took
up the books over which he was ac-
cust0med TO work In the evenings He
knew that II was bad practice to
bring his work home, but he had form
ed the habit In the early days when
he had only an Office boy TO help him
out The old habit clung In spite OF
his wife's remonstrances. Night after
night he pored over the long columns
Of figures that showed an eyer-in-
creasing profit, and ne turned a deaf
ear 10 Ruth's demands that he give a
part of bis evenings 10 her and the
child.
When Maudie had learned TO tod
die about, she had formed the habit
Of making for the library where there
was a rug In front OF the fire and
where she could prattle to her father.
Dedham, ever at a nervous tension,
had exiled her from the room, and
when Ruth had protested, he had
turned on her the yials of his sense
less wrath.
AT last even her patient spirit broke,
and that morning she had left the
home he had built opposite that OF
her parents, and had gone back to
them. She was not to be moved from
her determination and Dedham's be-
lated endeavors to Induce her to
change her decision we're without
avail, Maudie had spent all of her
last evening on the rug before the
open fire and when she had fallen
asleep, Ruth had come silently TO take
her of to bed, and Toodles had been
left on the desk.
Now for half an hour Dedham made