Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-03-20
marked with an x, in the newspaper
she was holding out to him.

marked with an x, in the newspaper
she was holding out to him.
Staring up at him from the printed
page was a two-inch. double-column
advertisement over his name and ad-
dress, and informing the public that a
LONESOME BACHELOR, retired
banker Of considerable means. desires
to legally adopt a young lady OF refine
ment and culture SO az to brighten
the later years of his life. Only those
whose birth and breeding qualify
them for a considerable social posi-
ton will be considered. Apply in per
son to the address given below.
After reading this Abner Burchell
a in turn astonished. indignant.
amused and curious. To the little lady
before him he rasped out his opinion
that 1t was the effort Of some prac'
teal joker. She nodded her under
standing and without saying a word
Immediately rose to go. That was
when the banker became curious; for
be 1t known Abner Burchell was q
close student of human nature. and
the fact that the girl, whose every ac'
ton bespoke refinement, should an
swer an obviously ridiculous adver-
tisement. puzzled him.
Putting 1t down to the ignorance OF
youth, he asked her pardon for his
gruffness, and courteously invited her
to remain for a sociable chat; where
upon he was again amazed at the
subtly distinctive air with which she
accepted the invitation. Certainly
this young possessed more
than ordinary refinement. Among
other things he determined to dis
cover her identity.
Three hours later several facts
dawned upon the mind Of one exceed.
ingly interested old bachelor: First.
that even his most skillful questioning
had failed 10 disclose her name; sec.
ond, that he could not remember hav'
ing listened to more spirited, yet sen.
sible comments on a score or more
subjects, nor had he ever dreamed
that little ladies of tender years could
prove such excellent company. He
wished he might have had a daughter
like that. Then the Idea came.
During luncheon, for which she
stayed, he was for the most part ST.
lent, and scarcely once raised his eyes
from his plate. Finally he reached q
decision, and with characteristic brew.
ity came at once to the point. He e u,
planned to her that he had raised
from infancy the orphaned child OF his
sister, had dearly loved and tenderly
cared for the boy through many years,
and recently the %blighted fool had run
away and married some girl Of indef'
mite ~antecedents he imagined, for he
had never investigated the matter.
Nor would he ever do SO; the young
man had married without so much as
asking his consent and. and-wellr
that settled the matter. Now the fact
was, he was lonesome. His extended
talk with her had shown him that. and
had set him thinking about the terms
Of that ridiculous advertisement and,
in a word. would she consent to carry
out a similar idea and become his
adopted daughter.
She would. gladly. for she thought
him a perfectly adorable old gentle
man. Whereupon he launched forth
into a discussion Of the future, and
made plan after plan for the little girl
he already loved as his own. So inter.
ested did old Abner Burchell become
two hours later before he thought to
ask:
by the way, little girl, what is your
manner"
"A very familiar one to you" came
the hesitant reply, It's-well, that is
to say am Mrs. Tommy Burcheil."
my nephew's-"
wife. And I want you to know that
you are a darling old uncle, that al.
ready love you dearly, that Tommy
loves you too, and that you love him;
and, although you may not know 1t.
you want him back, in fact you want
US both. am going to send for him
right ~away-and that's all there is to
til"
AS the establishment gradually left
his face, Abner Burchell slowly drew
the girl toward him, and a faint ex.
preston of understanding twinkled
from his eyes.
~ guess you know where Tommy
can be found along about this time
he murmured. "The telephone is over
there. Suppose you tell him Uncle
Abner wants both him and his wife to
have dinner here tonight-and al
ways"
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure News
paper s~yndicate.)
$500 -l