Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1911-09-21


was humping rapidly while she inter
viewed the little girl for ;he last mo
ment before giving her decision. The
child was shy and gave timid. breath.
less little whispering answers. and Be-
linda loved her the more.
Her name * Bessie Carson. her
mother died In the city hospital last
March, and their records say that the
child's father is dead You can keep
her for awhile. and II you are satisfied
you can take out full papers of adop-
ton II you wish to- Miss Brown"
Il guess III want to do that" said
Miss Belinda as she arose to go.
When will Bessie be readyY she ask
ed. with II delightful sense of owner.
ship in the daint' morsel Of babyhood
before her At
"This afternoon said Mrs I'm.
You won't find her much trouble.
She's quiet little thing and speaks Of
her mother and the little baby that
died. and strangely enough. she asks
for her father Where's your father.
Bessie, DEAR asked the matron. bend
Ing down.
He'll be back In a little while" said
Bessie. running to the window Il
guess better look for him. hadn't II
Quaint. isn't she?' whispered Mrs.
Hin as she let Miss Belinda out
Very uice little girl. said Miss Be
linda. trying 10 keep the happy spar.
kles out OF Der eyes. for 1t did not
seem right to grasp so much happiness
as was promised in the possession OF
little Bessie Carson I'm drive down
after Bessie JUST before supper.
All the rest of the day she was very
busy preparing for her orphan visitor.
There wnS small bed 10 drag down
from the attic and place beside her
own. ana It had to be made up with
she had used ms n child. There were
old fashioned dolls and other toys 10
be rcsurre'ted from hair trunks and
brushed and reburnished. and there
was a batch OF delicious ginger cookies
to be made so that she might fashion
uOHch Slh-ti bittu biSh anu ciei'hdh -
with currant eyes for the delectation
Of little Bessie.
Al last when all was In readiness
and the little girl had been happily
transferred to the phaeton and allowed
to drive the gentle pony home there
was never such unalloyed bliss as
shone In the faces OF Miss Belinda and
her little orphan. The child loved Miss
Belinda and chung 20 ner with atfec-
ton when she had chance. and Miss
Belinda was almost ashamed OF the op
portunities she afforded Bessie for
showing her affection.
1T certainly can't BARN anybody TO
enjoy being loved protested Miss Be
linda to her sterner self as she brush
ed away tear
is you crying. Miss Linda?" asked
Bessie wistfully.
"Just & teenty bit, dear. because you
love me so much. smiled belinda.
bending to kiss her charge
II smile when you love me. con
iided Bessie III makes me feel so
Oh her heart. Miss Belinda kissed ner
again.
That happened after BESSIE had been
there three months. The adoption
papers had all been made OUT and
filed and Bessie Carson nud become
gate latch clicked sharply. and tai
man strobe up the path and looked
strangely down AT little ResSie playing
with her dolls al Miss BellndaS Feel
From her chair on the veranda MISS
Belinda arose with sinking teeIng
the home. although there was
strange familiarity IN his IaIi lean
figure. his tanned cheeks. with the
tirm. benrdless lips ana chin. he did
not look AT Miss Belinda. but he push
ed back his hat ana held ont MS
hands to little Bessie,
Bless Darling little Bess.' Don't
you know daddy he asked hoarsely
With "A startled cry the child looked
al him earnestly ana then ran stfnlgnt
TO his arms with the unfniling instinct
Of the child for IT'S parent
Then the man looked az and saw
Miss Belinda standing, white ana
shaking before INN. I'm sorry
aam. Dui rs IN, mite giri. ana
Mercy Linda Downs. whal nre y'n
doing neIr win ny BESSIE
In he ions. coW Iwlnshl tnere was
time to relate uuw James SieHrnS nad
married the giri nr nad nreii engaged
10 when Belinda Downs mel nlm 40
the west 81 many years ngo ana th"y
had both fallen IN love IN spite at
his previous engagement out ne nad
Deen true 90 MS PROMISE and marred
the girl who hnd peeu i'eSsie'> m"lh
er; bow one OF the Devastating Hoods
OF the west nad separated the htIi,
family tor mouths. ana at iast the
wife and rhila mad gone east ~ me
hope OF huding some OF Mrs. StrarnS
relatives She mad been taken III "a
New Nor6 registered ny mistake no
det the name OF Carson had died aud
letr the homeless little R'Ssie "a the
care OF stranger hands
ln rhe meantime tue distracted Ia
ther had been uuntius uigh ana o."
fa- mis- fapify ~. nau Traced them