The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-12-15

emphatically mo"
After be had gone she packed up her
book and her shawl and went home.
Tho brightness had gone out OF her
day, and she wanted to be where she
could weep alone 1t was dark when
she reached her room, and there was
nothing to eat. for her midday meal
was all she could afford
II was very early In the next morn.
ing when the slattcrnly chorcwoman,
who looked after the halls. knocked at
Babies door
"A basket left for you miss" she
said, and thrust it in
Not for me Rahhie protested to
the echo.s, then she slipped ont OF
bed and knott to open the tiny hamp.
er. It's surely mistake" she mur.
INJURED.
But 1t was not mistake for under
The oiled paper was bunch Of whito
viulots, with card: For Bahbics
breakfast table" scrawled on It. Then
there was grape fruit six small
white rolls, little jar of marmolade
and another Of potted chicken, a pat
OF sweet butter and bottle Of milk.
There was no name. but Babbio
knew thc writing She glanced hastily
from thu 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 upon him
Every day there came small
hamper sometimes it was sent from
the delicutcssen shop around the cor.
nor, and held hot meal, and again It
was from the fish market. with oy.
stcrs cold in their shells. or lobster
with all the accompaniment OF pickles
and crackers and mayonuaisc. or from
the fruit shop, with nuts and
apples and oranges ana grapes
aud figs
While her pride rebollrd at these
gifts, she could never find the donor
to ask him to stop. Her umidity and
reserve made her shrink from going
to the chop keepers. and in the mean.
time she grew rosy and strong with
the good food and the knowledge that
she had a friend
The ChOrewoman, whose lot was
chccred somewhat by share in the
good things which came to Babbic. of.
lered pertinent advice
III you've got man that thinks
enough of you to send you such things.
you'd better tie to him"
"Babbio shook her head Il
mustn't
why not?"
A sudden impulse came over the girl
10 conlidc In this shrcwd woman
do you think 1t is right for woman
10 marry when she thinks she iuhcrits
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 I
was still afraid one can't help think.
ing Of what may happen. you know
So | came here and have scwcd and
managed to exist"
The chorewomaus keen eyes met
hers. DO you know what / think"
she asked
no"
You've been left to think about
yourself too much Probably your pa
coddlcd you, and got your mind IN tho
wrong way don't believe you're any
NOR" sick than am"
"Hut--" Babbie began
Look here" tn" good woman said,
you so down to the hospital with me
in the morning. They have q big man
there who doesn't make mistakes about
such things. and hen tell you the
truth
Babble promised but the trip was
never made. for that night the big
man" who was famous doctor.
tramped up the stairs with Richard
Dwight
I'm not going to have any more fool.
ishness, Babbie" Richard said quietly.
as he came in. I've had to wait all
these days until the doctor came back
from n trip. don't want the opinion
OF any one else"
There was a trained nurse with the
doctor, and Richard went away to talk
In @ whisper to the chorewoman, who
was an eager listener on the stairs.
The doctor. coming down, deliver.
ed his opinion with smile, She il
as sound as u nut"
Richard went up three steps at n
time. And now. Babbie!" he said ra.
dainty.
She held out her hands to him. And
now" but he did not let her finish
her sentence, for his arms were about
her.
At the wedding the chorewoman was
the only spectator. She was rcsplend.
ent in a new gown, which was the gift
of the groom. and happy in the prom.
ise of her new position as housekeeper
in Babble's home.
So perhaps the sum Of her prayers
for the bride amounted to more than
the usual formal petition which at such
functions go up from critical audi
ences.
Horrible Request to Father.
What is probably the strangest and
ut the same time. the most horrible