The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-03

Then he had typhoid himself-he's
been out of bed only eight weeks. He
amt strong enough yet to hold down
so he does what he can pick up to
keep things going until he's right
well" They were walking along the
burning street. three abreast. Betty
saw that no car would take them in
panied them silently. They passed
through a few tawdry but respecta Bile
streets. and then turned a corner.
"Bein' Saturday, everything will be
"slnce 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
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
were a few books. little china on
the dish shelves. and some silver
spoons. The girl child, quantity po-
lite, offered them chairs. She chung
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.
It suddenly became delicate matter
for Betty to mention helping her. She
broke the queer embarrassment by
telling news.
We're going away Monday.
Papa's luck's turned-he's got the
money man owed him. And he's
going to take us to the country a
mt la 81 I'D
then we're going to have lovely lit
tie house-and just everythingl''
The girls began to exclaim joyfully
glad in the child's good fortune. They
begged her to tell them the rest.
"And now dads gone down town 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.
thin there is The little sisters face
sobered. and she spoke very quietly
"Everythin' 'cept mother!"
She was standing near the older.
and drew the motherless mite close,
hugging her hungrily in her old
maids arms. How good the child felt
to her. how right and natural it was
to hold a child! The woman's heart
opened like a flower. and it's spon-
taneous gladness made a new at
Effectiveness 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 off and come
back they promised.
The boy climbed to Betty Wayne's
knee, the while she sat in a half fear
lest he might not stay with her-it
was as if a wild bird had come to
her hand. The girl still leaned against
her shoulder, playing with the small
watch pinned to her waist. The wom-
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. ii
was the woman he spoke to. She,
still c1asping the boy, went to him
also and Henry Thorne took his old
sweetheart into his arms.
Were goin' to have everything"
the boy said, land a mother. too. Dad,
was she a surprise?''
Betty Wayne's born right was hers.
-(Copyrighted 1910 by Associated
Literary Press.)