The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-16
Or DELE, THE
GIRL NEXT DOOR.

| Oh. mother. there's n new strl mex,
door. and the girls -" Fourtce,
year-old Allan Russell found himscl,
pushing like Girl; he hesitatcd. And
mere GIRL too he finished slowly
| HIS mother smiled. "Takc care. son, -
she said, they are only subaitern
people"
But. OH. motherl You wont say tina,
when you see her" he replied. diving
Into his desk. Say" he began. pull
Ing ont beautifully bound stamp
book. I'm getting to be too big for
suqh thing now soornfully. I'm
gong to give II to Dele"
Why. you don't know her yet. do
your asked his mother In genuine sur
prise.
We'll. yes, rather. We've been =.
Well guess you'd call IT 'hobnobb!ng.
mother. over the back fence. Jugt
getting acquainted, you know, and oh.
she's Hecn everywhere. and knows
everything. nno she's collecting stamps.
nut she hasn't amy like mine. You
don't care. do you, mother7"
OF course not. II you want to-" Be.
Ing an only child. Allan generally mad
his way. They were valuable but
what arc few stampa anyway. Mrs.
Russell settled back oil the comfort
able sofa for nap. Allan is such an
impossible child she sighed. sleepily.
How long she slept she did not know,
nnt low wild aobbing woke her. 1t
sounded quite near. but II wasn't AL
Ian. Who could II hes Raising her
mead noiselcssly. she Kazed wonder
ingiy ut the figurc OF giEt some eleven
or twelve summers. kneelng before n
bis chair. her head and arms buried
deep in the cushions. cloud OF short
midnight c,rls hid tho face from view,
but the simple, costly little frocls
looked elegant. and there was an air
of refinement about the child, al
though the short sleeveR displayed
arms tanned almost to olive. Convul-
sive sobs shook the slender figure Then
spoke In sobDnG whisper, "Oh,
mother. miss you so much.' Every
thing was clear to Mrs. Russell now
The family next door was pitifully
small, widower and his child and
her mother soul went out TO the little
stranger Rising noselcSsly. she crept
over 10 the kncclins child and went
down beside her. the gold hair ming
ing with the black. IL did not take
them long TO get acquainted. A few
minutes later Mrs Russell was sitting
In the great chair with Delie (for IL
was Delie) by her. eating bon bons
from a box Mrs. Russell had produced.
isn't 1t queer" she said between
bites, that you always wanted little
girl. and ] always wanted o mama I
don't remember my own mama, but
you are just like her picture. oh, l
wish she was here.
The adorinS blue eyes searched the
piquant face of the child beside her.
But I'm here" she said. and I'll be
your fairy godmother. and you're to
come over to see me. and we'll be Just
the best of friends; because. little
GIRL and here her voice was lowered
10 Il sad whisper. you remind me of a
big, handsome boy that came into my
life and then went out" Her eyes
were dreamy. and Delie wanted to ask
who the big boy was. but she knew 1t
was something sad. 30 ahe squeezed
her hand. Just like my mama, she
said simply"
Half an hour later, Allan coming In,
found them still talking. You hore?'
he cried delightedly. rye got a new
stamp-a dandy one"
"Oh. ain't that jolly. What did you
give for IT."
And Mrs. Russell slipped out. leav-
ing the two children laughing wildly
over the great bargain Allan had made.
(To Re Continued)
Composed by
WILLIE r. CHADWICK.
Care william Chadwick, Nationn nj
Soldiers Home. Hampton, Va.