The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-12-15
The Little Lonely Girl
1slO, by Associated LIterary Pregs.-
By TEMPLE BAILEY


sands he called back to her. Tell me
where you live" She shook her head.
emphatically. No"
After he had gone she packed up her
book and her shawl and went home.
The brightness had gone out of her
day, and she wanted to be where she
could weep alone. Ii was dark when
she reached her ROOM, and there was
nothing to eat, for her midday meal
was all she could afford.
1t was very early in the next morn
ing when the %slatternly chorewoman,
who looked after the halls. knocked at
Babies door.
"A basket left for you. miss" b
said, and thrust it in.
Not for me-" Babbie protested to
the echoes; then she slipped OUT OF
bed and knelt TO open the tiny hamp.
er. It's surely a mistake" she muir
INJURED.
But it was not a mistake, for under
the oiled paper was a bunch of white
%violets, with a card: For Babies
breakfast table" scrawled ON ii. Then
there was a grape fruit, six small
white rolls, a little jar of marmelade
and another of potted chicken. a pat
of sweet butter and a bottle of milk
There was no name, but Babbie
knew the writing. She glanced hastily
from the window, but no one stood on
the doorstep. And though, when she
was dressed, she made many excur-
sions down the stairs, she did not
come o him.
Every day there came a small
hamper; sometimes it was sent from
the delicatessen shop around the cor
ner, and held a hot meal, and again 1t
was from the fish market, with oy-
sters cold in their shells, or a lobster
with all the accompaniment of pickles
and crackers and mayonnaise. or from
the fruit shop, with nuts and
apples and oranges and grapes
and figs.
While her pride rebelled at these
gifts. she could never find the donor
to ask him to stop. Her timidity and
reserve made her shrink from going
to the shop keepers. and in the mean.
time b grew rosy and strong with
the good food and the knowledge that
she had a friend.
The chorewoman, whose lot was
cheered somewhat by a share in the
good things which came to Babbie. of.
fered pertinent advice.
III you've got a man that thinks
enough of you to send you such things,
you'd better tie to him."
"Babbie shook her head. a
mustn't"
why not?"
A sudden impulse came over the girl
to confide In this shrewd woman.
do you think i is right for a woman
TO marry when she thinks she inherits
an incurable malady? My father
died of one and / have always. been
afraid. The man who sends these
things wanted to marry me then. but
was still afraid. One can't help think
ing OF what may happen. you know
So / came here and have sewed and
managed to exist"
The chorewoman's keen eyes net
hers. do you know what ] Think
she asked.
NO"
You've been left to think about
yourself too much. Probably your pa
coddled you, and got your mind in the
wrong way. don't believe you're any
more sick than l am"
But" Babbie began.
Look here" the good said
you go down to the hospital with me
in the morning. They have a big mar
there who doesn't make mistakes about
such things. and he'll tell you the
truth"
Babbie promised, but the trip wa!
never made. for that night the "bit
man." who was a famous doctor
tramped up the stairs with Richart
Dwight.
I'm not going to have any more fool
ishness, Babbie." Richard said quietly
as he came in. I've had to wait al
these days until the doctor came bacl
from a tip. don't want the opinion
of any one else"
There was a trained nurse with thu
doctor, and Richard went away to tall
in a whisper to the chorewoman, wht
was an eager listener on the stairs.
The doctor, coming down, deliver
ed his opinion with a smile. She II
as sound as a nut
Richard went up three steps at
time. And now. Babbie!" he said ra
dainty.
She held out her hands to him. "Ant
now" but he did not let her fnisi
her sentence, for his arms were abou
her. =
At the wedding the chorewomaD wal
the only spectator. She was resplend
ent in a new gown, which was the gif
of the groom, and happy In the prom
Use of her new position as housekeepel
in Babbie's home.
So perhaps the sum of her prayer
for the bride amounted to more thar
the usual formal petition which at sucl
functions go up from critical audi
ences.