The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-10-05

review, and when it was all over there
remained in the parlor soft, round
faced damsei of five years. with soft
mop of golden brown hair and a pair
Of eyes like brown velvet pansies lash
ed thickiy 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 adup-
ton il you wish to. Miss Brown
| Il guess Ill want to do that" said
Miss Belinda as she arose to 60.
when will Bessie be ready?" she ask
ed. with delightful sense of owner
ship in the dainty mOrsel of babyhOod
before her
This afternoon" said Mrs. Hill.
You won't find her much trouble.
She's quiet little thing aud speaks Of
her mother and the little baby that
for her father. Where's your father
Bessie. dear:" asked the matron. bend
ing down.
Hell be back in little WHILE" said
Bessie. running to the window. II
guess better look for him. hadn't t.
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 1t did not
seem right to grasp so much happiness
as was promised in the possession OF
little Bessie Carson. III 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 bedcIothing which
she had used as a child. There were
be resurrected from hair trunks ana
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 elepha nts
with currant eyes for the delecta ton
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-
uon when she had chance. and Miss
Belinda was almost usha med 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 tear.
Ills 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. ut makes me feel 81
| good here" She placed tiny hand
on 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
6led and Bessie Carson had become
Bessie Downs when one afternoon the
gate latch clicked sharply. and tail
man strobe up the path aud looked
strangely down at little Bessie playing
with her dolls at Miss Beiinda's feet.
| From her CHAIR ON the veranda Miss
Belinda arose with sinking feeling
at her heart. This man was not FROM
the home. although there was u
strange familiarity In his tall. ieau
figure. his tanned cheeks. with the
drm. beardless lips ana chin. he die
nut look Ut Miss Belinda. but he push
! ed . back, his hat and held out hi
hands to little Bessie.
bless: Darling little Bess! Dom,
you know daddyy' be asked hoarseiy
With a startled cry the child looked
at him earnestly and then ran straigh'
to his arms with the unfailing instinc
Of the child for its parent.
Then the man looked up aud saw
Miss Belinda standing white ant
shaking. before him. I'm s0rry
ma'am. but It's my little girl. aud
Mercy! Linda Downs. what are yog
doing here with my BessieT'
In the long. cool twilight there wal
time to relate how James Stearus mac
married the girl be had been engages
to when Belinda Downs met MIN II
the west Nd many years ago and thes
had both fallen In love In spite u
his previous engagement. but he hat
been true to his promise and married
the girl who had been Bessie's moth
er: how one Of the Devastating 600dl
OF the wewt had separated the litti,
family for months. and ut last tn