The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-01

Bureau.)
 As Miss Yorke entered the Children s Aid office. the superintendent looked up from the newspaper she had been reading.
 T see that Mrs. Ritchie is dead she said, q am afraid we shall have to take John away. He can't live there alone with the husband He's been neglected long enough as it is, while the wife has been sick"
 But it was With a heavy heart that Miss Yorke took the train for Brook ton, and with heavier one that she reviewed Johns sad little history John wasn't John Ritchie, or John Anything just John. He was a wistful- eyed, brown -haired little fellow of six. with one shoulder much higher than the other. and a pronounced limp. whom the Childrens Aid had rescued from brutal father and weak and help less mother. They were not really his parents; he was founding whom som cone had left at their door. The woman had taken him in and tried to raise him in the face of her husband 8 snger and cruelty. But she herself had finally handed John over to the so- ciety.
 And they had taken him in. and given him food and shelter, and baths, and clothing-everythin in fact, ex- cept love. which a society can hardly be expected to provide in large quan- titles.
 And he was very hard to dispose of. No one wanted a child who was prac- tically deformed. and who might never be abel to go out in the world and do the work of a man.
 At last the Ritchies had come. They were a middle-agcd couple, farmer and his wife. living outside Brookton. whose two children lay in the little old Brookton graveyard. Ever since the first hurt of their own bereavement had softened they had planned and dreamed of adopting child. Now they had come, full of expectation, with the usual list of requirements-a fair. curly haired boy of four years old, healthy and of decent parentage.
 But John little limping, timid figure went straight to Ritchie's heart.
 He's the one, Elen,' he had said. Were going to take John home with up to be our little boy"
 Ellen had been at first aghast then dubious; but in the end she had been won over and the two had carried John bewildered and yet radiant off between them.
 new John developed In the sunshine of love and tenderness, John who could laugh. and even sing, and who dug in the garden with his little spade just as if his back had been like every other boys
 But now Mrs. Ritchie was dead, and John would have to come back to the shelter. The buggy drew up in front of ( 1<&,. rt.it x.,.f Ia -sl l porch, and tears stood in Miss Yorke's s eyes at the sight of the hanging crepe.
 It was Henry Ritchie himself who answered her knock--but Hency Ritchie how changed from the we0- preserved middle-aged man she had known. His suit of black hung shock ingly about his lean figure; he needed q shave badly; his eyes were ed-rim- med and sunken.
 You came to see about John, I sup poser" he asked in q husky voice as soon as they were seated.
 "Yes, MT. Ritchie.' answ ed Miss yorke. gently. Miss Delmar wanted to know what your plans were"
 I'm going to keep right along liv- ing here. Can't John live with me?'
 I'm afraid not, MT. Ritchie--not un- less you get housekeeper to look af- ter him.
 IT can't get housekeeper. not now" and Henry's voice trembied.
 Then I'm afraid we'll have to take him. I'm sorry--dreaufully sorry. But you can't alone. take care of him as our children have to be taken care of"
 q wish I could leave him." Bertha Ycrke laid comforting hand on his arm, but those are my orders"
 The man rose heavily. "All righ." he said ''Tll dress him and pack his things and bring him down"
 As soon as Miss Yorl<e saw John she realized that she must take him. He still wore the pretty clothes the Ritchies had bought him, but his half should have been cut days before. there was a hole in one of his stockings altogether he showed the lack of exper- fenced care.
 Good afternoon, John" said Miss Yorke. brightly. but bit unsteadily, Don't you want to so up~-to the city with me?'
 "Yes. thank you" answered John. in his quaint, unchildish way. And with father"
 That father" cut the visitor to the heart. "No. fathers not going" she managed to say. The man arose. wiped his eyes, and turned to the visitor Don't mind me-" he muttered apolo- getically. guess my nerves .ain't just right these last few days. know you've got to do this. it's best for the boy. But I love that boy just as fl he was my own--so did she. We was going to send him to school-and to college- His voice broke again. and he turned his back abruptly on them
 John did not seem to understand even when he kissed his father. and was strained In hts arms for the last