Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-06-27
81
c% ~ 2<4 z&alzagM:
{Q4 E'(MhEK7 RAHXW.

th">e unpleasant abou@S where the CO
mlhKied "dorS uf cabbaReS and onions
salute the %nustrils of the visitor as he
enters the door.
We were conducted up two flights
OF stairs and shown unceremoniously.
INTO n dim. dull room, where the One-
time popular little favorite lay white
and still upon a by no means luxurious
bed. Everything about the place be-
t"kened poverty and suffering.
SHE was attended only by a stupid
looking German girl. who withdrew as
we entered. \ child. 1. sunny haired
girl of .. WAS kneeling patheticaliy by
the bed claspinE the white hand of the
dying woman. and hiding her face In
the covers.
Gilbert" she said presently. you
loved me once"
He looked up AT me and said. half
alphabetically: Yes. ! loved her
once"
Then he fell on his knees beside tho
bed and continued brokenly. II love.
, YOU now"
II Want you to take her. my little
D"llie." She went on. Take her aud
see 'Nat she is cared for. She is my
only one-mine and-his. l can trust
YOU, Gilbert. She is all I have. and
you will-cherish her-for my-sake.
Do not let her love-unwisely. Az her
mother did. romis me. Gilbert:"
IL promise. Ramona. For your sake
go N' "''s Aisi'6 III
Never let him contaminate her with
his touch" she cried, feverishly and
wildly. Should he come tn you tell
him that l died hating him"
Then she leane orwar and kissed
Treadwell and took up the child In her
arms and kissed her pa~sSionately. The
following m She sank back
among the pillows dead.
notified the woman of the house.
and a few moments later Treadwell
and 4 S.A,,t amt .nVaH t.>lx IN s.. l..-
Now, what are you %planso" asked.
You are not exactly I'm 81 position to
assume such II responsibility as you
have undertaken. ! speak frankly. old
man. How are you going to take care
of this chiid?"
bounds "A week." he responded. Didn't
! have am offer of that for my services
this afternoun?"
Yes. but" / began.
THE circumstances are changed
now he interrupted.
He STROBE Enthusiastically out of the
door and that was the last | SAW of him
for two days. | read the announcement
In u daily paper of his engagement for
u hurlesque part In "Conrad's Popular
Willy Willy Company" and thus
knew that his revised plans had been
successful.
For the sake of the mother. the child
had become more to him than his own
future. He was to care for il, and cher
ish IT. even as he had cherished the
hope of his own eventual success. TO do
this it was no longer possible to con.
tinue I'm the old way. he must have
money. and there WAS but one way
open to him L" get IL.
He did not ask me to the :.aater Ia
witness his performance: but went
one night. and sat where he could not
see me
tonrad's predictions We're we'll found
ed. Treadwell WAS "A success. His ap-
pearance brought forth a storm of ap.
plalise. and his extravagant manner
was II continual source of merriment.
| fel, truly sorry for him. knowing
what he suffered. There was an ex.
preston of the keenest pain ON his
countenance when the audience roared
at his ma but ii all intensified
the huInors of the character he SO we'll
impersonated. and few suspected that
II WAS not assumed for that purpose.
A day or two afterward he took ma
to see his new charge. She was har-
bored IN the house of a kind old lady.
who provided her with the utmost con
sideratfOn and care, and took "A moth.
eriy interest in the little dear"
She was really the prettiest and
sweetest child | ever saw. And as she
ran To Treadwell and put her baby artns
~affectionately about his neck. lie kissed
her teIlGerly and smiled. Yes, Gilbert
Treadwell actually smiled.