The Morris County chronicle., 1909-10-05
He's Silent Partner.

friendly little waxen face which wore
the perpetual smile that doll makers
infiict upon their creations Dedham
always had thought it foolish to paint
all dolls with perpetual smile, but
tonight he was glad that 1t was so.
The house was intensely still, and
though quiet, he told himself, was
what he needed, yet sense of lone
liness overpowered him, when he
looked across the desk at the doll and
vaguely chered.
1t was an Easter favor, half rabbit,
half doll. and beloved of Maudies
heart. He wondered how the child
had come to leave it behind. She had
been playing in the study the night
before, all unconscious of the i'm
pending separation, and she had left
her treasures on the desk when his
wife had come II carry her off to bed.
Toodles, he remembered, Maudie
called the little creature and now he
and Toodles had the study to them
selves.
Il guess you find it rather lone
some without your little mistress, .
he said half-aloud, for the sake OF
hearing his own voice break the still
ness. You're faithful little soul,
Toodles, and we'll get along together
first rate You won't come breaking
z in on me when I'm trying to get the
Internal books Strengthened out, will
you2"
He read an assent in Toodles' ST.
lence and he ran on.
of course. you won't" he de-
clared
You'll understand that when a
chap works hard at the Office all day
and then brings the books home to
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 to leave me just be-
cause was cross at times, wasn't it?
OF course. used a 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.
TITS all right, Toodles," he went
on after moment. II suppose that
it does seem pretty quiet here to-
night with Maude and-and her
mother gone. but We'll soon get used
to it. If we don't, we can move to
some hotel. There'll be people
other people-in the house then, and
they won't come in unless we ask
them to- Well get along famously
little rabbit lady, and / guess you'll
be as glad as l 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 upsthe books over which he was
accustomed to work in the evenings.
He knew that it was a bad practice to
bring his work home, but he had
formed the habit in the early days
when he had had only an Office boy
to help him out. The old habit clune
in spite of his wife's remonstrances
Night after night he pored over the
long columns of figures that showed
an ever-increasing profit, and he
turned a deaf ear to Ruth's demands
that he give part of his evenings to
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 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
ne had turned on her the vials of his
ssenseless 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 belated endeavors to induce
her to change her decision were with
out avail. Maudie had spent all OF
her last evening on the rug before
the open fire and when she had fall
len asleep, Ruth had come silently
to take her on to bed, and Toodles
had been left on the desk
Now for half an hour Dedham made
9pretense of working over the books,
but at last he threw down the pencil
and turned to the doll again.
It's no use, Toodles," he reported
I can't write with the kiddle around,
and can't write with her gone. /
guess it's about time that | kept the
books in the office and rested nights.
guess my temper would be better,
TOO, Toodles, but it's too late, little
rabbit lady, it's too late"
He drew the toy toward him and
sitting with it between his clenched
hands, bowed his head upon his
arms. He did not move until a sound
in the doorway reused him, then he
ssprang to his feet with glad cry OF
welcome.
y let myself in, explained Ruth
hurriedly, II knew that the maid was
out. and that James was probably