The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-06-23


review. and when 1t was all over there
remained In the parlor a soft, round
faced damsel OF five years, with soft
mop Of golden brown hair and pail
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. Hel
mother died In the city hospital last
March. and their records say that the
child's father is dead. You can keeE
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 I'll want 10 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 and speaks OF
her mother and the little baby that
died, and. strangely enough. she asks
for her father. Where's your father
Bessie. dearr" asked the matron, bend
ing down. - wy ~
Hell be back In little WHILE" said
Bessie. running to the window. "a
guess better look for him. hadn't II"
QUAINT. isn't sheY" whispered Mrs
Hill as she let Miss Belinda out.
"Very nice little GIRL" said Miss Be.
linda. trying to keep the happy spar
kles out OF her eyes, for 1t did MOI
seem right to grasp so much happiness
as was promised In the possession OF
little Bessie Carson. -I'Ii 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 10 drag down
from the attic and place beside her
own. and 1t had to be made up with
all the miniature bedclothing which
she had used as q child. There were
old fashioned dolls and other toys TO
be resurrected from hair trunks anu
brushed and reburnished and there
was batch of delicious ginger cookies
to be made so that she might fashion
a dozen gingerbread men and elephan ts
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
ton when she had chance, and Miss
Belinda was almost asha med OF the OPP
portunities she afforded Bessie FOR
showing her affection.
1T certainly can't harm anybody &c
enjoy being loved" protested Miss Be
linda to her sterner self as she brush
ed away tear.
lis you crying. Miss Linda" asked
Bessie wistfully.
Just 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. 1T makes me feel 81
good here" She placed tiny hand
on her heart. Miss Belinda kissed her
again. W. .@ so N
That happened after Bessie had been
there three months. The adoption
papers had all been made out and
filed and Bessie Carson had become
Bessie Downs when one afternoon the
gate latch clicked sharply. and q tall
man STROBE up the path and 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
mt 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 .hfs nat and held out his
hands to little Bessie.
"Bess! Darling little Bess! Don'r
you know daddy" be asked hoarsely.
With q startled cry the child looked
at him earnestly and then ran straight
to Ills arms with the unfailing instinct
Of the child for its parent.
Then the man looked up and saw
Miss BeIinda standing. white and
shaking. before him. I'm sorry.
ma'am. but It's my little girl. and
Mercy. Linda Downs. what are you
doing here with my Bessiey'
In the long. c0oi twilight there was
time to relate how James Stearns nad
married the giri he had been engaged
to when Belinda Downs met MIN IN
the west so many years ago and they
had both fallen In love In spite OF
his previous engagement. but he mad
been true TO his promise and married
the girl who had been Bessie's moth
er: how one OF the devastating floods
Of the west had separated the little
family for months and at last the