Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1913-01-24
THEIR. NEW DAUGHTER
BY EDNA c. BACHELOR.


ordered breakfast room.
His white locks grew more and more
belligerently erect as he excitedly rs1
mis- fingers through his usually orderly
han; shis cheeks were flushed by his
wrath and his piercing blue-gray eyes
new storm signals of anger
Never heard the beat of it in nv
hie!-never! the young cub" he
growled. Here I've worked and slav.
Cd. and shaved and worked to give him
. chance and a gcGd time, and this
81 my thanks. NOr even a by-your-
leave! Bless me, it's-it's madden
ing!" and the old doctor blew his nose
with loud and valiant sound, which
yet. somehow or other ended with a
curious pathetic little squeak that
suggested a very great anger merged
into a very decided hurt.
"0f course, Maria, you quite agree
with him, l know" he trumpeted
hArshly In q vain endeavor to subdue
the tremor In his voice, but must
oay l had a better opinion of your
Indictment than to call that mannish
Elliott creature with her cigarette puff
nngs, a sweet little thing and" here
the gruff voice took on an even harsh.
or tone, that Eric should dare to say
he was bringing you a new daughter
to help I'LL Nelsie's place-our little
white, golden haired Nelsie!"
But, my dear, | am sure you are
mistaken. Indeed, l know you are
Judging her wrongly"
Wrong nothing" snapped the doc.
tor testify. 81 hope ! have enough
solid horse sense to put two and two
together when / see them. I've never
seen the creature myself and | hope
to goodness ! never do, but Duncan
was telling me only yesterday that she
can bet and tipple and smoke to equal
any Of those young fools who hang
around her. Ugly tempered, too, says
She leads her cousin who lives with
them a dogs life"
Now, father, just knew you were
Samping at conclusions" spoke up the
gentle little Dresden lady in such 6
spirited and reproachful voice that the
Sectors mouth opened in sheer amaze
nent.
oh, OF course | know nothing. alb
bolutely nothing; but this | do know
even If am in my dotage, that thai
nannish creature with her loud voice
and her sports isn't quite the idea
daughter of my dreams" The old mai
turned abruptly and left the room.
Late that afternoon he made his way
Dlowly and YEARLY towards the sun
baked, tenement-choked district called
An town parlance "the poors acre." ant
-for almost the first time in his sixty
hale years he felt the WEAKNESS of life
and its utter and abject misery as i
q Vouchsafed to some. For years thi
DePpery little doctor, whose bark wal
20 much worse than his bite, hat
worked among these poor of a grea
city.
For a time he had sought help in hi.
Aelf-assumed task from his little Ores
den lady wife, but she had grieved 81
In her gentle way over their, to heI
sordid and awful sufferings, that h
had ccmfOrted her as he might hav
done a child, and had left her in peac
at home.
From that day he had never mel
toned his poor in her presence, and a
II to make up for her deficiencies. h
had thrown himself into his work wit
redoubled energy. But somehow O
late years he had felt more and NOR
keenly the need of womans love an
guidance among them, and many
time a half unconscious signing wis
had crept through his troubled mint
IF only Nelsie had lived to be a CON
rade and help"
With stopped shoulders and laggin
steps he mounted the dark stairs G
the first tenement house, and a shrinl
Ing dread of his visit and of what h
must see filled him. He could pictur
the scene quite wildly, he assure
himself, and he sighed impatiently a
his own impotence.
THE baby will be crying, Tomm
and Sue will be little bit dirtier tina
usual, and good deal crosser Will
Jimmy, poor wee lad, will be tiny bi
Quieter and just as thoughtful as eve
II only their mother could have som
one to take care of her, figurativel
and literally, she'd stand a chance c
getting better and if she doesnt-ma
G0d help them all! If only Nelsie ha
lived" sighed Nelsie's father as he n
luctantly opened the door, and the
suddenly his sharp gray eyes filmet
Tor the suns rays showed him a Ne
Eie-like golden head bent over a sleeI
ing baby by the uncurtained windov
while around and about peace and O
der reigned.
well, bless my SOUL" quoth til
doctor in a husky whisper, and he lai
his hand very. tenderly upon littl
:crippled Timmys head, whose usual
pale face was crimson with the su
pressed excitement of his present wol
derful happiness. Its Miss Deligh
doc" be whispered shrilly, "and she
'gOin' to take keer on US till nanny
better, cos she said so, n she brung l
chicken pie for dinner"