The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-12-09

an the girl she does the COOk1n and
! goes to school, and goes after the boy
every day-when there is school.
Their fathers bound they shall be
educated. They haven't always been
down on their luck; they have some
clothes that some woman made, you
can see that-a woman who loved 'em
to DEATH"
| Betty nodded. The lunch was over,
and she rose with her guests and paid
the check. They thanked her heart
lily. But again she did the unexpected.
even to herself.
1--we nothing on earth to do. Sup
| pose you take me with you and let me
see the children? What do you do
for them? Will their father like it?
Does he-ill-treat them?"
They gave her glance of scorn-
but how could she know?
Not on your life!-he adores them
children! His wife was in hospital
two years, and it took even their lit
tie home to pay the doctors and all.
We've got it out of him little by lit
tie. Then he had typhoid himself
he's been out Of bed only eight weeks.
He amt strong enough yet to hold
down the good job that's waiting for
him, so he does what he can pick up
to keep things going till he's right
WE'LL" They were walking along the
burning street, three abreast Betty
saw that no car would take them in
their present direction, so she accom-
panied them silently.
"Beln Saturday, everything will be
torn up" they admonished her.
Since they come here six weeks ago
me n Gladys has been helping Betty
clean up the rooms and wash and
mend things"
The older woman stared.
"Betty?"
"Oh, that's the kids name-Betty.
Here's their door,
They knocked. A shy, dark-eyed
little girl opened it. They went in
and saw, perched at the table, lit
tie fair boy eating bread and milk
from blue bowl. He smiled at the
girls-even at Betty. Something in
the look of his blue eyes tugged at
her heart. The room was very neat,
with traces Of refinement about
There were few books, a little china
on the dish shelves, and some silver
spoons. The girl-child. quantity po-
lite. offered them chairs. She clung
to the hand Of Gladys, and gazed shy
ly at the stranger. There was some
thing proud about her, too. The shop
girls were her neighbors, her equals
1t suddenly became delicate matter
for Betty to mention helping her. She
| broke the queer embarrassment by
telling news.
Were going away Monday. Papa's
luck's turned-he's got the money a
man owed him. And he's going to
take us to the country month till
he gets all we'll. And then we're go.
ihg to have lovely little house-and
just everyth1ng!"
The girls began to exclaim joyfully
glad in the child's good fortune.
And now dads gone downtown to
get US some things and we're goin'
out to the park and feed peanuts to
the lephalunt-I mean elaphunt," said
the boy breathlessly.
Were goin' to have just every
thin there is" The little sisters face
sobered, and she spoke very quietly.
"Cept mother" she said. Every.
thin cept mother!"
She was standing near the older,
sadder Betty, who reached hand and
drew the motherless mite close, hug
glng her hungrily in her old maids
arms. How good the child felt to her.
how right and natural it was to hold
child" The woman's heart opened
like a flower, and it's spontaneous
gladness made a new attractiveness
unfold within her. The boy felt it,
and came shyly to her knee. Then the
shop girls rose to go.
We'll get our things on an come
back" they promised.
The boy climbed to Betty Wayne's
knee, the while she sat in half-fear
lest he might not stay with her-it
was as II wild bird had come to
her hand. The girl still leaned against
her shoulder. playing with the small
|
ans head was bent low over the boy.
Then it was that man, tall and Of
strong build, but rather pale and
weak, came to the open door and
stood looking. He grew paler, then
red, and leaned for support against
the wall. He could not believe his
eyes; he could not believe his heart;
and he longed above all things to be-
lieve them both
Betty" he said, Betty, Betty"
But though the girl ran to him. it
was the woman he spoke to. She,
still clasped the boy, went to him also,
and Henry Thorne took hi sold sweet
| heart into his arms.
We're goin' to have everything"
the boy said, land mother, too. Dad.
was she surprise?"
Betty Wayne's born right was hers
~:-ok H. TT