The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-29
TIE EVENING STORY
Her PrOtcge.
(Ry Catherine "copper"

|
The child singing there was nothing
| but a waif whose small face was dis
| torted with his effort to raise voice
sufficient to attract attention and a
| few coppers. Her heart felt suddenly
as if a muscular hand had gripped it
and was wringing it so tight as to
pain her.
The child's atrocious voice coupled
with his brave effort to attract atten-
| ton aroused her pity. Lena Ashford
| had not always been a successful OPP
cratic singer; she, too, had known the
| need of helping hand.
With swift intuition she knew that
| in another moment the little waif
would be told to leave the court. Sing
! ing such as his was not tolerated in
that aristocratic neighborhood. AL
ready the ominous rumbling of win
dows proclaimed displeasure.
| She quickly threw up her window
| and leaned out. The boy did not
shrink away when she motioned to
| him but came over and stood close
beside her.
''Hush,' she told him softly, "I am
going to sing for you.'' She put her
arm across the waits shoulder and
began singing the terrible little street
song he had been singing. The boy
remained close beside her, his small
body rigid with the wonderment of
the lovely being whose hand was lying
on his shoulder.
1t was only a monet before win
dows opened cautiously on all sides of
the court. It was teatime hour on a
Sunday afternoon and a propitious
moment for an audience. Those who
looked out and d-wn upon the sing
ers saw a couple who seemed to have
captured the sunbeam that had drift
ed into the scene; it fingered over
the waif and the woman like spot
light. The beauty of the woman's
voice sank into insignificance beside
the wonder of her act. That she was
--s.- I,1v- 1oro 10 q G
the thought that entered the minds of
those who accepted the situation at
a glance. Philanthropy in its prettiest
form was being enacted there in the
window of Lena Ashford.
Dimes, quarters, dollars, notes be-
gan to flutter and tinkle onto the
stone court.
The waif did not stir from his po-
sition, but glancing down Miss Ash
ford saw a smile light his eyes In
tuition again told her that the boys
effort to make a few coppers had
been for some one dearly loved.
little song of Thanksgiving arose
quickly to her lips and a moment la
ter the windows above had closed
softly, even reverently, and Lena
smiled down at the boy.
''Pick it all up-every bit of it" she
commanded him with lips that trem-
bled, though they smiled, then come
here and will lift you over the win
dow sill and we will have cakes and
chocolate to celebrate our debut"
Tears were perilously near the sur
face when Lena lifted the too slight
figure into her spacious library. The
mother nature within her longed to
bring color into the boys cheeks and
luster to his eyes. He was not COM
mon waif, this boy of the streets, or
he would not have DOTTED his cap
when he came into the house.
He was not fearful and shrinking
in the presence of luxury.
IF father didn't trust me he would
think 1 had not come by all this mon
ey honestly" he told Lena. 81 will
have to tell him about you. He does
not even know that 1 am out trying
to make money"
Later, when she had learned of the |
whom the world had not heard of, |
Lena found herself telling the boy to
amuse himself while she donned her
QUITO door garments.
She had two motives for accom-
panying the boy home. First was the |
thought that he might in some way |
lose the precious money he had stuff |
ed into his tiny pockets, and secondly, |
there was a feeling that she might in /
some way help this man who had fail |
ed to make a living for himself and |
the boy.
eff there is a store open we had |
better stop and get something for !
father to eat" the boy had confided !
in which he lived.
"Abject poverty" mentally ejac-
ulated Lena, and was truly glad that
she had accompanied the waif.
When she followed the boy into the
room of the tenement she drew in
sharp breath of establishment. the
walls were hung with paintings in oil
from ceiling to floor. An instantan-
eous survey told her that art in it's
reality was there. Wondernent as to
why the artist had not proclaimed
himself a master hurled all other
thoughts from her mind.
And yet, when she turned to meet
the man who could thus express his
strength on canvas, she recognized the
fact that he had put his entire forces,
He had nothing left with which to
push himself into the markets His
face radiated the inner glow of genius;
his personal appearance was that OF
an artist with temperamental equip
nent and lacking in the practical
strain. Again the motherly instinct
,rept into Lena Ashford's thoughts.
He needed care and guidance and
punishment as surely as did the
small boy clinging to his hand. Per-
been helped on to the pinnacle of
'ame. Lena Ashford knew that unal-
Dyed genius always required a strong
guiding hand.
viii you let me exhibit your work
'or you" she asked him when they
had talked of many things.
A whimsical smile played about the
mans lips and Lena felt that he was
going to refuse her offer, but sudden
Y he glanced down at the sunny head
If his boy. His teeth pressed togeth-
IT and his shoulders squared.
II owe it to my son-to let you
help me-, he said
The woman choked back lump in