Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-09-23
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M'DONALD'S DISCOVERY
BY leila M. WALTERS.

The prospective boarder was max
ing searching inquiries. some OF them
rejecting upon the housekeeper.
Most women would have resented it.
but this timid little widow was so
anxious to get the boaTder who would
pay in advance that she answered nis
questions meekly.
And now, madam, are there any
children in the house?" he concluded
The little widow hesitated for an
instant and then said: No, sir.
Il think, then, I'll take the room.
The next day he moved into the
room. He found the first week that
the breakfasts were going to suit, and
the widow, instead of being laxative
and inquisitive, was very quiet.
After the first few weeks of salts
faction and self-congratulation he be-
gan to notice little Mrs. Burt. She
was good to look upon and we'll worth
any mans notice.
Coming home one day he saw two
children playing under tree in Mrs
Burt's 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 McDom
aid. stopping to pat the baby's curls
Hello" said the boy.
Does Mrs. Burt let you play here?"
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 he saw the same chill
dren as he was coming through the
little park on his way home. He sat
down on 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
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: "Iss
is where | live" She was sobbing
dolefully when the brother finally per
suaded her to go on.
Mcdonald was puzzled. He sat
down on a 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 Il he were about to run away.
Mcdonald arose and, taking 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 heavensr Where have they
been all this time?"
They've stayed upstairs when you
were in the house. Oh! | know what
you this way And haven't had a
peaceful moment since | did it. But
knew when you asked me that you
wouldn't take the room If there were
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 t
very fond of children, either, and
they had to learn to be quiet and
net bother him"
Mcdonald recalled something he
had heard about,a 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 will
scared faces. Without a word he led
the ttsSo little ones h.to his room.
The mother waiting outside heard
loud 81 outs OF glee. In about half an
hour tie children burst into the kitch-
en-, SIN laughing merrily
oh, mammal" shouted the boy,
'the man gave me quarter, and told
me to go up to the store and buy ice
am for baby and me"
When they We're 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 they
learned how. Think of those little
things cooped up for six weeks and
never daring to chcep when l was in
the house. 1t makes me feel like an
assassin. told them to yell as loud
as they could"
"Oh-h!" said Mrs. Burt and then
for some reason she dropped her eyes
and blushed.
Then Mr. Mcdonald. who had been
In some doubt before, smiled with
great satisfaction
YES" he said, Just that I'm sure
I'm needed to help bring up those chill
dren. And you need someone to take
care of you. and | want some one to
take care Of Can you trust me so
much, little woman"
Il don't deserve anything so lovely,
when | nave been SO wicked" she
whispered. but she was not permitted
20 fnssh that speech