The Holbrook news., 1910-04-15
ballad. which brought smile to the

l ballad, which brought a smile to the face of more than one of his friends.
 The time glided away very rapidly now. Mrs. Burton was everything de | sirable in a nurse and housekeeper, and Bessie loved her dearly. She was l quiet and sensible, her modest demean- or soon quite won Toms heart.
 There must be some good in her, or the little one would not love her so," he meditated.
 ''So it seems that you are to be su- perseded, Mrs. Burton" said a gossipy neighbor one day to the quiet woman, head of her young charge.
 "In what manner?" replied Mrs Bur ton
 'Why. MT. Wentworth intends to marry soon. Had you not heard of it? The news is in everybodys mouth. All the neighbors are talking about it."
 "Indeed!"
 And the gossip paused, quite out oi breath.
 Whom does MT. Wentworth marry?" came very quietly from the little widow.
 Lula Eastman. of course, and she's a splendid little thing; perfect beau ty, too; but she is in every way fitted to be his wife, beautiful, talented and accomplished"
 And the neighbor tripped off to i'm part her choice information to her next friend.
 Only a week later, Tom entered the nursery quite unexpectedly, and a pret- ty sight met his eyes. Mrs. Burton sat on the floor, with baby Bessie on her lap. The lady's hair had been un- bound, and fell in long, rippling masses to the floor. The glasses which she generally wore in Toms presence were tossed aside, while the blue eyes and pretty face were full of beauty and ami. nation.
 Tom stopped short.
 Clara Broadwood," he ejaculateo, when he could command himself How in the world did you get here?"
 ''Mr. Wentworth, forgive me for inn posing upon you, but I-oh. Mir Went worth, felt as if I must see my little one again. I could not give her up, so I came here as Mrs. Burton"
 She spoke rapidly. and Tom could hardly comprehend her.
 Your little one. Clara, is Bessie your child?"
 "Yes. MT. Wentworth, and have but one request to make of you. When you get married let me take Bessie I can see no other woman here as moth CT to my child when I have found could not get on without her" And the blue eyes looked so implor ingly at him that Tom felt the old en- chantment holding him once more in thrall as he looked at her.
 When I get married, Clara?' he re- peated. dreamily. T don't expect such a thing at present; for there is only one maiden in all the world that really love-" he said laughingly, land that is my little sweetheart here" kiss ing the upturned face of the little child And if I thought I should have to give her up, should think long time before I took any one in her place."
 The next morning, as Tom was about to go to his place of business. Clara Burton came downstairs in her travel ing dress. Her eyes were red with weeping.
 "Why, Mrs. Burton-Clara-why are you leaving me-? he asked in astonish- ment.
 'I thought I ought to leave under the circumstances. might stay as Mrs. Burton, but as Clara Burton, no. It is best for me to go.'
 Stay, Clara, stay, and take care of your little onei She needs you-and I have found out that the old love is not quite dead yet. May not Bessie be my daughter too, Clara-our little one?"
 But about Lulu Eastman, Tom? Mrs. Digby said you were to, marry her"
 "Confound Mrs. Digby," said Tom, vehemently. ''Lu Eastman is a nice girl, but too much of a butterfly for me. Clara. dear, forgive me, but | through you I once lost faith in all women; through you it may be re- stored; may it not be 50. darling?"
 ''Yes, Tom; 1 have suffered from a fancied preference. but I can be happy now in my first and only true lover"
 And so it was that the pure, guile less love of a little child was the | means of restoring Tom Wentworth's lost faith in omankind-Chicago Ledger.
 Sen.