The Dolores star., 1912-03-22


her nephew. Go up to the front, vii
liam. and shake hands with the nice
kind preacher"
'Wha' fer?" he asked. Il don't want
to go up there; ev'ybody here1l look
right at me-"
Are there no little orphans here?'
the minister was saying. Il. want to
shake the hand OF any little child
who has had the misfortune to lose its
parents"
60 on. William" commanded his
aunt. Go shake hands with the
preacher"
The little boy again demurred but.
Miss Minerva insisting. he obedlently
. slipped by her and by his chum.
Walking gracefully and jauntily W
the aisle to the spot where the lee.
turer was standing by a broad table.
he held out his slim, little hand.
Jimmy looked at these proceedings
Of Billy's in establishment, not com.
pretending at all. He was rather in.
dignant that the older boy had not
confided in him and invited his par
ticipation.
But Jimmy was not the one to sit
calmly by and be ignored when there
was anything doing. 80 he slid awk.
wardly from the bench before Miss
Minerva knew what he was up to.
Signaling Frances to follow. he swag.
gered pompously behind Billy and he.
too. held out q short, fat hand to the
minister.
The speaker smiled benignly down
upon them; lifting them up IN hia
arms he stood the little boys upon
the table. He thought the touching
sight OF these innocent and tender
little orphans would empty the peck.
cts Of the audience. Billy turned red
with embarrassment at his conspicu.
Gus position. while Jimmy grinned
happily at the amused congregation.
Mortified Miss Minerva half rose to
her feet. but decided to remain where
she was She was . timid woman
and did not know what course she
ought to pursue. Besides. she had
Just caught the Majors smile.
And how long have you been an
orphan!" the preacher was asking Of
Billy.
Lincoln's born" sweetly Responded
the child.
Sc! bout the orphantest boy they
u.s." volunteered Jimmy.
Frances. responding to the lattsr's
invitation. had crawled over her .ath.
er's legs before he realized whs> ~as
happening. She. too. went smilin.
down the aisle, her stifY white dress
standing straight up In the back like
a strutttag gobbler's tail. She grabbed
hold of the mans hand. and was
promptly lifted to the table beside
the other orphans" Tears, stood In
the good preachers eyes as he turned
to the titterinx audience and said In
. pathetic voice, Think Of II. my
friends, this beautiful little girl has
Poor Mrs. Black! A hundred pairs
Of eyes sought her pew and focused
themselves upon the pretty young
woman sitting there, redy angry. and
shamefaced. Mr.. Black was vislbly
amused and could hardly keep from
laughing aloud.
As Frances passed by the Hamil.
tens pew In her promenade down the
aisle. Mrs. Hamilton leaned across her
husband and made an attempt to
clutch Lima; but she was too late;
already that dixnined little orphan"
was gliding with stately, conscious
tread 10 Join the others. This was too
much for the audience. A few boys
laughed out and for the hrst time
the preachers suspicious were
aroused. As he clasped Lins's slender.
graceful little hand he asked:
And you have no father or mother.
little girl?"
Eyes, I have. too" she angrily re-
torted. MY father and mother are
sitting right there" and she pointed
a slim forennger to her crimson. EN-.
barrassed parents. d