The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-09-29
Daily Short Story
II err M ate,

Her
Duncan Leonard's hopeful face be
came suddenly downcast. He looked
appealingly at the slender. deter.
mined girl beside him.
Why" he asked.
because OF the children" said the
girl with a regretful look into the
mans kindly eyes. Il would fail sig
naliy as a loving mother to them.
am not used 10 children. and yours
forgive me. Duncan-are so very
bad
These wers strange words for Dun
cam Leonard TO hear. No child was
bad by his standard. unless abnormal.
Ills own childr n were frank. honest
fair. ready TO acknowledge fault.
and brave under punishment. They
were mischievous and noisy-yes:
but surely Nora did not call that be-
ing bad.
You don't know them. that's the
\ trouble. h. said hopefully They're
! as good as gold. Why not let me
| bring them over and spend the after
noon! Give them a chsnc. to snow
you how really lovalie they are on
close acquaintance. May | Gomez"
The girl net his pleading eyes
with a wonderfully tender smile.
Perhaps II ] saw them agair--if ]
saw they could b. good she muir
INJURED.
The children were playing asniabiy
! in the hig side yard of their home
when uGcan appeared. He caught lit
tie four year old Marcella In his arms
and called Edward ard Gregory 10
him.
IF take you for visit this after
noon will you be real good?" he
ASKED earnestly.
Sure" the boys cried gleefully.
the spirit OF miscief entering their
! little heads at the very mention OF
good"
| Nora came across the lawn to meet
them. the train OF her dainty white
null gown in her hand. She dropped
the Rowing skirt as she shook hands
with the boys. and took the box OF
candy that Marcella offered.
Together she and Duncan, each
holding a hand OF the little girl. they
moved UP the walk few steps. Then
r-rr' r-r-r' something went, and Nora
came 10 full stop. while Edu I'd
tried 10 disentanela his feet from the
runles OF her trailing skirt IL took
some time. the rescued feet being all
right. save little polish rubbed off
the shoes. but the dress.
Il should have held il up." said
Nora. sweetly. and gave the children
all another dip into the candy
! duncan could have shouted his Joy
Ills eyes grew 80 embracing a. Nora
seated herself and took Marcella In
/ her lap. that Nora blushed in Protest.
| Marcella soon had TN. candy 10 her
self ana r.unc he'd it contentedly. her
myers, suckier and stickier. be,wpen
each chocolate. and travelling regular.
! ~ TO Nora's waist Ia wipe on what
she could OF tn" brown dripping SWEET.
ness. Her moist. sticky lips rubbing
! against Nora ; barred throat brought
hdi ~ face TO his little daughter.
y NV pretty waist she cried ont
sharply. duncan. it's ruined Could.
Mt sou see what she was doing"
didn't notice she had the candy. Of
ne said cuntritelH. Why did YOU Wipo
yonr hands on Miss Kings dress.
BABY he asked in worried tones
cause You said ! must not get
my d""ss dirty. WAS the smiling an.
sw'r You said she wouldn't love me-
II / did fahv,r"
duncan kissed the baby face and
| turned mis- cv"> appTehensively on
/ Nora. she was viewing her gown
Even IN" man. ignorant OF the detail,
I OF woman apparel. Jaw plainly tha
the dress was ruined. The Skin, wa,
! torn and hcsmeared with shoe polish
! ia" waist. whose dainty tiuffiness ha,
caught his aGmirius gaze. was IRE
de"inahiy stained and mi shapen.
/ Don't look So tragic. dear" he said
; with constrained laugh. Its Mar
II =
. not haV" got M candy
lie was over-auNious that his BARNS
should please his dear lady and made
mess Of g.
u" is certainly 70 blame" said
Nora. IN pregnant voice.
duncan stared "You don't mean
chat you would lot llttie thing Ike
'hri come between u.s."
It's not fr" dress" she said sober.
w. l's i"y annoyanc. over IL that
troubles m'. wanted To shake her
iiad been Ter mother | think 7
sAtHld have. And you wouldn't like
that"
u am not afraid 10 trus, them 10
your hand. my darling" h. said ton
me-
Nora flushed under hi. loving gaze
Ii' $50. Loo t'g. dear Co her p,rhsls.
J'e perhipt
hAI f"fr came fsing through the
Or a. '..s "puoliuue moment a boz.
suf' pear thrown by Edward with
fuil force. that landed on Nota'a
hiushinr check and oozcd 20 ne.
shoulder
huH'an turned quickly. bur his
bows w'r" already Clluch@d r.: the
LEft Tho rollins mass 81 squirmine
Leg ana giW coming toward him was
rot su unusual q sight g. 20 dismav
BIN ordinarily Bur now Ills eyes
sw'p' Nofd' srol'pI countenanse
VIII dumb. desperate pleading
Us Dos Fault" ssif GT"rory. ctv.
lrf Ei"arj.~ nose another punch q
go 'hnf l"ar for vi Hlrr climb
81 ~ DO" fo" of 90" trc" Tor % 7
Gff
81. .torr duncan e"parstcd tho
h"r." co.,. -fauf. 90. gaken heIs.
l's.l. f-p" tvttl'. bloody nose ~
tfDsrfr'. .r'..r aI vnf.t and tfols~f4
Then .. cora. ruined SOW.
lie .'f. ....f"r o.. BOYS ont as
tot Do ,a.I .. Iut f..f.it how e..r
finf. arI '.r.'f .le. fnrr the
1H'k h"for" o.. r0A" 1L'u TO- aia
rsrfft
ct afI ssutrfa on Iopg much ts,u