The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-07-29
Daily Short Story
BONNIE LADDIE.
81 MOLLY McM STER

The court of the apartment house
was unusually quiet
Doris Nane marVeled at this fact
while she sat beside her open window
She was glad of the stiffness because
II gave her moment TO concentrate
on the situation that was troubling
her. She was contemplating the ad-
visibility OF marrying Edward Kelly.
and the thought had It's drawbacks and
its charm.
Doris had met the society man at a
reception. She herself had been the
soloist and Kelly had sought her &C
quaintance.
Il have everything TO offer you" he
had said not 10 minutes earlier when
he had left her at the door of her
! small apartment. You need struggle
no longer with your music. I will Law
isr everything on you that money can
buy"
Il doubt II you could buy me hap
piness.' Doris had answered in a mus
| ing voice.
And that was the question she was
| trying TO answer as she sat in the
darkness and stiffness OF the court.
Certainly IL would be as easy 10 love
a man with money as one without.
she decided.
Out OF the silence there came the np-
pealing cry of an infant. Doris raised
/ lIeI head TO a listening attitude. Ed
NAIu Nelly WAS loI EOAltu
/ There was a baby crying somewhere
I in that court.
Il hope some one will go 10 IL soon. 20
thought Doris. She listened. all atten-
/ ton The night was warm and the
windows open in most Of the apart
ments She decided that the child's
cry came from the room next her own
boudoir 4 FIRE escape practically
Joined the two rooms.
The crying continued and the small
voice began a most imploring call for
Mamma dear
Heavy footsteps in the room so near
her own stopped her thoughts and ar
rested her ear. A deep. masculine
voice was attempting TO console the
awakened baby There was a clumsy
unaccustomed kind of note in the
mans efforts that seemed only TO
raise fresh outbursts. That the man
was on the verge OF distraction was
evident
As last resort the man began sing.
ing. Doris caught a swift breath.
, The mans voice was 50 big and grun
that she feared the baby would roar
its terror TO the entire neighborhood
When she heard the words OF the
terrible little song that was serving
as lullaby. Doris shook with mirth-
less laughter. There's a Bully Gone
10 Rest That seemed 10 be the only
dirty known 10 the man.
The small, tenderly sweet voice OF
the child demanded other music
Rock-a- by. Baby. Bonnie Laddie-
Bonnie Laddie'"
Doris choked back the lump in her
throat She knew not whether the
piteous appeal Of the baby for its lul-
laby or tho efforts Of the man 20 sat
isfy 10 reused her emotion
She could stand 10 no longer and
she stepped out Of her window and
across the Ere escape 10 that other
apartment
"Shss'" she cautioned. peerinR into
the candlo.lit room. and discerning the
man just about TO exit hurriedly q
viii sing the baby TO sleep She
stepped within the darkened room
and loaninE over the crib crooned soft.
iy fo tho baby
Tho man. startled out n HE senses
stood looking and listening 10 what
seemed fo b. an angel visltant
Firaly he found voice 10 remark.
Tits mother said 10 give him n bottle
II Do woke up. 7 was just about 10
Put 90 in p Tin ~ hot water for a
fnu minutes" Doris ordered softly.
and continued her singing
When David Rogers returned with
the bottle the baby was dozinz or s.ff
the girl took % gently from his hand
while che sand My Bonnie Highland
I.sddie" IN the most beautiful voice In
the world
Relieved that n woman had come
10 his rescue. awed a. the manner NJ
her coming. spelhound AZ the picture
she presented there beside tho crib 'n
The candlelirht and thrilled 20 the
soul because her warm fingers had
touched his when she took the bottle
David eeewcd az one bcreft 81 the
power n speech
Doris arranged the bottle In =
.lantinr position that tho baby miEht
drain 10 easily After that she cast a
long. wonderful look on the beautiful
pansylike face. motioucd David 20 quit
. Tho room softly and went noirclrasiv
out and INTO her own room
The poor man. she reflected. a.