Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-06-29

ASVACWS 0AN WAOA AZ was AsVHG tAOkG
remained in the parlor a soft, round
faced damsel Of five years. with a soft
mop of golden brown hair and a pair
Of eyes like brown velvet pansies lash
ed thickly with black. Belinda's heart
was humping rapidly while she inter
viewed the little girl for the 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 is 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 if you are satisfied
you can take out full papers of adop-
ton if you wish to. Miss Brown"
II guess I'll want to do that" said
Miss Belinda as she arose to go.
when will Bessie be readyy" she ask
ed, with Il delightful sense of owner,
ship in the dainty morsel of babyhood
before her.
''This afternoon said Mrs. Hill.
1Ou WO1 L lluu Icl "uSu uOuUlC.
She's a 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 l better look for him. hadn't II"
QUAINT. isn't she?" whispered Mrs.
Hill as she let Miss Belinda out.
Every nice little girl" said Miss Be-
linda. trying to keep the happy spar
kles out of her eyes. for it did not
seem right to grasp so much happiness
as was promised in the possession of
little Bessie Carson. "I'll drive down
after Bessie just before supper"
All the rest of the day she was very
busy preparing for her orphan visitor.
There was a small bed to drag down
from the attic and place beside her
own. and it had to be made up with
all the miniature %bedclothing which
she had used as a child. There were
old fashioned dolls and other toys to
be resurrected from hair trunks and
brushed and reburnished. and there
was a batch of delicious ginger cookies
to be made so that she might fashion
a dozen gingerbread men and elephants
with currant eyes for the delectation
Of little Bessie.
At 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 to her with affec-
ton when she had a chance, and Miss
Belinda was almost ashamed of the op-
portunities she afforded Bessie for
showing her affection.
1T certainly can't harm anybody to
enjoy being loved" protested Miss Be
linda to her sterner self as she brush
ed away a tear.
"Is you crying. Miss Linda|" asked
Bessie wistfully.
"Just a teenty bit, dear, because you
love me so much" smiled Belinda,
bending to kiss her charge.
Il smile when you love me-" con-
fded Bessie. st makes me feel so
good here" She placed a tiny hand
on her heart. Miss Belinda kissed her
again.
That happened after Bessie had been
there three months. The adoption
papers had all been made u and
filed and Bessie Carson had become
Bessie Downs when one afternoon the
gate latch clicked sharply, and a tall
man strobe up the path and looked
strangely down at little Bessie playing
with her dolls at Miss Belinda's feet.
From her chair on the veranda Miss
Belinda arose with a sinking feeling
at her heart. This man was not from
the home, although there was a
strange familiarity in his tall. lean
figure, his tanned cheeks. with the
firm. beardless lips and chin. He did
not look at Miss Belinda. but he push
ed back his hat and held ou, mis-
hands to little Bessie.
"Bess.. Darling little Bess: Don't
yOu KNOW daddy" he asked n~oarSeiy.