The Red Cloud chief., 1914-01-01

from an asylum. can't send her
there"
Mentally. she saw again those clear,
trusting, blue eyes.
And I know you will all be Sind
enough to keep this very quiet un
til" there was just a slight. tense
hesitation. until we decide what shall
be done"
Naturally. II was talked about, how
| ever. In boudoirs and at clubs the
question was raised as to what name
little Elsie would acquire. Was 1t not
bad enough to be facing a divorce
residence in the far west without &C.
! quiring an unnecessary incumbrance
at the crucial moment?
/ Within the Dalton bungalow on
Long Island stranger things were hap
pening. No clue to the baby's parents
| had been found When BILLY Dalton
dropped down occasionally, as he had
been doing for year past to keep
up appearances, his first question was
Anything new" and this always
meant anything new about the baby's
history" And little Elsie would look
up at him with reproachful blue eyes.
as II asking. why do you care?'
And the worst of II was that Billy
Dalton began to realize that he did
care Janet had changed. and, with
an odd sort of jealousy, he realized
that it was little Elsie and not he who
had brought about the marvellous and
altogether desirable change. She wac
no longer bored. How could she be,
with Elsie cutting new tooth every
few days, and such wonderful hamp
ers OF clothes to be bought, all fine
handkerchief linen. narrow Val and
convent embroidery? A more fastidi'
Gus customer had never entered the
shops which specialize on layettes
and with her own hands, Janet made
covers for down pillows, silk.tufted
afghans and other foolish things
while the tongue of gossip wagged
gayly over the whole absurd episode.
One frosty December afternoon
Dalton ran down to the bungalow and
found Janet standing at the window.
The low spreading evergreens on the
west side OF the house were powdered
lightly with snow, and Janet turned to
him with kindling eyes"
BILLY, | shall have a Christmas tree
for Elsie. She is SO bright for her
age. do believe she will notice It,"
quite likely" responded Billy with
assumed carelessness, as she laid
aside his storm coat But in making
your plans you seem to have over
looked one important fact. AS yet
Elsie is not really yours. The law"
Janet turned on him sharply.
She Is mine by right of-every
thing found her and ! love her"
"Yes-but you must formally adopt
her. I thought perhaps you'd better
see to that before leave. I've
changed my plans bit. I'm going tc
meet mother and Grace in Rome fol
Christmas. The mater has not beer
feeling very fit. ! am not fond o
: England in winter-and-"
Janet crossed to his side and hel
: hand rested lightly on his arm.
, Don't you think you'd enjoy muci
i more seeing Elsie have her first tree
And-and ! think I need yOu-mor'
than your mother does"
Something rose in Dalton's throa
and threatened to choke him. II wal
: sensation he had never felt before
D not even during the good-natured, laz,
run of his wooins. Janet wanted him
He thought he had not cared. Nov
, he knew that he had cared all along
But it was characteristic he did no
: express his fierce joy in words. III
held Janet very close and whispered
I well, I rather did hope you'd Civ
o the little beggar the name of Dalton
It's pretty good name. after all, eh?
l. Norman Stanley heard the new
n when he landed in London. He sent
J. lions skin. captured by his own hant
= for little Elsie to roll upon. Then h
went to the Nile country for the wiz
y ter.
Il Copyright, 1919 by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)