Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-21
The Argus Daily Short Story
Behnda's Orphan-By Clarissa Macke.
Copyrighted, 1911. by Associated Literary Press

"No, 1 don't want no orphan" saIo
Miss Belinda, with decisive shake OF
her head. I've got my hands full
now with chickens and young turkeys
coming on and bees and currant bushes
without bothering with a high flying
youngster that'll scare the chicks and
get stung by the bees, although they're
warranted stingless. mind you, and to
trample on my berry bushes. No.
ma'am-no orphans for me" This time
Miss Belinda's lips clicked together
with little sound Of finality.
I'm sorry. Belinda. because the
home is Jest about running over with
'em. / was telling the matron this
morning that knew there were plenty
of folks in Little River who could give
a good home to some OF those young
sters If they wasn't so mean and
stingy. or course ! don't mean you."
added the local member Of the visiting
committee Of the Rfverview Orphans
home. But sometimes when / think
of all the spare beds. all made up
clean and white. In the empty homes
around here it makes my blood bile
to look upon them poor orphans so
crowded for room that Mrs. Hill says
they'll have to sleep In rows crosswise
of the beds pretty soon."
81 want to knowp' CALCULATED Be
linda. with a startled glance at Eme-
to the truth. Emeline. and not exag-
gerate. Now. honest and true. how
many orphans too many have they got
up thereT
"Ten," replied Mrs. Brown fiatly..
"Humphr' snorted Belinda.
In and out Of the scarlet wool went
her big wooden knitting needles as she
-22idly constructed a shawl TO comfort
some shivering shoulders when the
summer was over. Mrs Brown watch
ed her neighbor expectantly. With a
family of seven sons and daughters
under her own rooftree she was safe
In the condemnation of the uncrowded
homes of Little River. Here was Be-
linda Downs, now a handsome, well
preserved spinster OF forty-two. OF In
dependent means. possessing snug
home. a tiny income sufficient for her
modest wants. little shaggy pony and
q rusty phaeton to carry her about the
y
woman nor child to call upon Belinda
for service. for she was without rela-
lives. having outlived them ali.
II should think this was just the
place for an orphan to be happy in."
suggested Mrs. Brown. throwing an
admiring glance around the small do
main where orchard and garden were
green and thrifty I'm spring bloom
I've got orphans enough as it Is"
snapped Belinda shortly.
Mrs. Brown smiled as she saw the
fatheriess and motheriess strays which
the bnely woman had gathered about
her.. There was q lame duck which
Belinda had rescued after hupter had
bronght II down with q glancing shot;
a Barrier pigeon which had dropped
exkau,ted on her doorstep; a mongrel
dog OF many colors which had been
faithfully scrubbed by Miss Beiinda
and was now much cleaner II not hap
pier than In bis sofled state: there was
also q 6ne collection Of homeless cats.
Indeed. Miss BeIinda's place might
have been another orphanage, so thick
~ was 1t populated with waifs-
Would you rather have a boy or a
giri?" asked Mrs. Brown crafty. But
Miss Belinda was not 70 be caught
that way.
I'D rather have a cat" she said.
You ought TO be ashamed. Belinda
Downs. the way you do talkI IL you
could see them poor young ones look