Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1913-10-02
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
M'DONALD'S DISCOVERY


The prospective boarder was max
ing searching Inquiries. some OF them
rejecting upon the housekeeper.
Most women would have resented it.
hut this timid little widow was SO
anxious to get the boarder who would
nav in advance that she answered his
questions meekiy.
And now, madam, are there any
children in the house7- he concluded.
The little widow hesitated for an
instant and then said; No, sir"
Il think. then. III take the room"
The next day he moved into the
room He found the firpt week that
the breakfasts were going to suit, and
the widow, instead Vi being laxative
and inquisitive, was very quiet
After the first few weeks OF salts
faction and self-congratulation he be-
gan 10 notice little Mrs. Burt She
was good to look upon and well worth
any mans notice
Coming hcme one day he saw two
children playing under tree In Mrs.
Burts garden. He thought they must
be trespassers for. when he opened
the gate, the BOY started UP with a
look of terror and seized the wee sis
ter by the hand
Hello. youngsters" said McDorh
aid. stopping to pat the baby's curls.
Hello" said the boy
Does Mrs. Burt let you play herer"
he questioned, for the lad seemed anx-
ious to be gone.
Yes, sir, but l must go now was
the answer, and they hurried away.
The next day ne saw the same chill
dyen as he was coming through the
little park on his way home. He sat
down on a bench beside them, and put
forth all his arts OF entertainment
TO interest them. The boy was a
manly little fellow of six who took
care of the three-year-old baby In a
responsible manner. When the chill
dren started home he walked with
them When he turned in the garden
gate the boy led the little one on. but
she hung back, saying positively; las
is where / live" She was sobbing
dolefully when the brother finally per
suaded her to go on.
Mcdonald was puzzled. He sat
down on garden seat to think it out.
He had not asked the children their
names or where they lived. Undoubt-
eddy they knew Mrs. Burt. perhaps
were related, and in the habit of com
ing often But why, then, had he
not seen them in the six weeks he
had been there? He suddenly remem-
bered his abrupt question on the day
he had taken the rooms Could it
be that she thought he hated all chill
dren?
His reflections were interrupted by
a whisper behind him. Looking
around he saw the two children com
ing down the walk. When they saw
him the little lad stopped and looked
as II he were about to run away.
Mcdonald arose and, taking a child in
each hand, led them to the door.
Mrs Burt met them at the door.
She was very pale and her hands
were trembling. but she held up her
head and looked straight in his eyes
Who are these children?"
They are mine"
Good heavens! Where have they
been all this timer"
They've stayed upstairs when you
We're in the house. Obi | know what
you must think OF me for deceiving
| you this way. And l haven't had a
! peaceful moment since / did it. But
| knew when you asked me that you
wouldn't take the room If there we're
children here. Taxes were due, and
needed the money so badly. | knew
| you would pay, and | couldn't bear to
see you go. You see the children are
very quiet. Their father-wasn' I
very fond of children, either, and
they had to learn to be quiet and
not bother him"
Mcdonald recalled something he
had heard about brutal husband and
father, and stood aghast to think he
had been put in the same class. Mrs,
| Burt was awaiting his verdict, and
the children were looking on with
! -N' -e~~'as W ANlAO0N g NbAd A4S ~
the two little ones into his room.
The mother waiting 0tside heard
loud shouts Of glee IN about half an
hour the children burst into the htch-
en-, still laughing merrily.
oh, mammal" shouted the boy,
the man gave me a quarter. and told
me to go up to the store and buy ice
cream for baby and me"
When they were gone Mcdonald
came out where Mrs. Burt was still
waiting
They never made such noise be-
fore" she said
No? Well. then it's time ehey
learned how Think of those little
things cooped up for SIX weeks and
newer daring TO cheep when I was in
the house II makes me feel like an