The Morris County chronicle., 1910-05-31
THE LEADING OF FATE
BY LILLIAN G. cOPP.

8 ) s : = : e : : ~ : ; e
It was jeans first visit among the
people of the poorer tenement dis
trict. Into the congenial surround
ings of her own sheltered life never
had crept the faintest intimation that
such sordid poverty existed. Jean
slowly followed her aunt up the stairs
OF the huge hive-like structure they
entered, shrinking alike from the
balf-starved children, who swarmed
about them, and from the consump-
tive girl wrapped in ragged quilt
and propped up in chair with lumpy.
exceisior-fiiled pillows. Suddenly her
neart gave great throb as she
paused before an open door. There
stood an antidote for the wretched
poverty and suffering already wit
messed.
jeans face lost its white, drawn
look, as she reached for the dimpled.
blue-eyed boy, who, patting the soft
fur clasped around Jeans white
throat, cuddled serenely in her arms.
oh, auntie, isn't he a darling 2"
she exclaimed feryently.
Mrs. Moreland acquiesced as she
assembled the flight of stairs opposite.
Oblivious of everything but her new
found treasure, Jean made no effort
to follow.
"See.' the boy called to someone
within, and Jean encountered the
glance OF a pair of magnetic dark
eyes.
Il beg your pardon" she STAN
mered to the short. compactly-built
man who was closely regarding her.
One of Lauriston's rare smiles
lighted his face as he answered Jeans
apology ut was l who left the door
unclosed, SO I felt responsible if the
child were stolen"
Mamma sick" Reginald tried in
his baby way to make Jean UNDER
stand; man come; make mamma
well"
'Oh, he is the DOCTOR" thought
Jean; interpreting the prattlings of
the three-year-old boy. But when he
attempted to close the door, she in
terposed
Please leave the door opened un-
I'll my aunt comes down. don't
know where to find her, and doubt
Al she remembers me until she re-
turns home" At the probability of
missing her aunt. Jeans voice fall
tered
You are not used to this" said
Lauriston kindly, as he placed chair
for her.
NO." Jean answered quietly.
though she shuddered at the mufied
groans that came from the inner
room.
Don't be afraid, Reginald's moth
er has no contagious disease Lau-
riston assured Jean in low tone. .sIt
is breakdown from overwork and
insufficient nourishment.
Jean breathed freer at the infor-
nation. Lauriston looked at her
quizzically while he unconsciously
pushed back from his forehead clus-
ters of thick, brown hair.
Boys face dirty. Boy wants face
washed" asserted Reginald peremp-
torily pulling at Jeans gloved hand.
Come here, my little man; will
wash it for you" broke in Lauriston.
seeing that Reginald's persistence
added to the embarrassment OF the
girls position.
mo; want lady to- stoutly pro-
tested Reginald
Lucky boy; always to get what
he wants" remarked Lauriston. as
Jean removed her gloves and took
the dampened towel from his hand.
"Jean in new role, softly ex-
claimed Mrs. Moreland from the door.
exchanging an amused glance with
Lauriston. II shall never again
doubt your ability to manage raw re-
cruits. But do tell me, DR.. Lauriston,
how you managed Jean?"
AS her aunt pronounced Lauris-
toms name, Reginald was hastily
stood on the floor, while, unmindful
OF her own falling articles. Jean
turned and stared at her aunt Was
this the DR. Lauriston Of whom Jean
had heard SO much since she came to
share Aunt Kate's home? Could this
be the man she had longed to meet
the man who searched out needy
cases among the destitute poor, and
gave not only his own time. skill and
money, but induced a large class OF