The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-06
the little spell that I'm away, 1 am

the little spell that I'm away, I an
sure"
1t was with considerable trepidatior
that Mr.. briggs undertook the tasl
of pacing up and down the porch, awk
wardly holding the sleeping child in
his arms. Then the little one began
to fidget. 1t was warm on the porch
and shady in the garden. Cautiously
he conveyed his precious burden down
the steps. There was a path lining
the high brick wall that separated the
place from the adjoining house. Here
briggs took up his anxious promen,
ade.
He was not acquainted with his
neighbor, Mrs. Denslow. He had seen
her several times, handsome, &c.
nial-faced lady. Retiring and shy,
he had rather evaded her. When an
old-time friend and his family had
lived in the house, he had kept the
little door In the brick wall unlocked.
with the advent Of a new neighbor
he had ordered it closed and its sock
eted bar kept in place.
All Of a sudden the baby opened its
eyes. Il looked up wonderingly and
appealingly at briggs. Then its little
lips began to pucker. It was a war
baby all right, briggs decided, for its
first feeble wall gradually grew into
clarion-note volume.
Ssh! Goodness; what shall I do?"
Mustered briggs. Ssh! Bye-bye!
Oh, dear! this is horrible pickle for
defenseless man to be I'M"
He bounced his bundle, he coaxed,
he cooed-in vain. The cries of his
tiny charge redoubled.
You poor mani" spoke sudden
voice, and looking up the abashed and
embarrassed briggs saw the fair face
OF his widow neighbor appear looking
over the top of the brick wall.
Evidently she had mounted a step lad
der on the other side to command.
the view.
II am having quite time, L say,
l say" floundered briggs.
Why don't you lay the baby down
and go get it some milk" challenged
the pretty widow.
Il am afraid of breaking It"
Il shall have to help you, 1 see," re-
sponded Mrs. Denslow, winningly.
"There-there's the gate;" suggest
ed briggs. "Pll unfasten it,
Witch ha I;d. xx,;<b - .s-l~
Of relief he sank weak and perspiring,
to . rustic seat. as his visitor took
charge OF the child and soon soothed
1t in a gentle way that won thu pro-
found admiration Of her host.
He stole many shy glance at her
before Mary returned. How COM
panionlike she seemed in the little
garden! How pleasant the old house
appeared as, Mary returned, the two
Of them hustled about installing the
tiny stranger into comfort and con-
tent!
Il declare" remarked briggs to
Mary, after Mrs. Denslow had gone
home. she's one Of the pleasantest
women l have ever met"
BY the end of week briggs blessed
the little cherub that had been the
means of changing the entire basis
Of his lonely bachelor life. The two
women made pet of the tiny stran-
ger and briggs himself spent half Of
each evening in awkward but earnest
attention to 1t. Mrs. Denslow came
over frequently. They got we'll &C
Quainted and briggs missed her when
she was not there.
Then at the end Of the month there
came q shock. The Belgian mother
appeared to claim her little one. She
had found relatives in the new eoun-
try. She could get q sure home for
the little half orphan.
Mary cried, Mrs. Denslow was dis
consulate. briggs tried to bride the
mother to sell him the little one.
Mary solved the problem. She had
noted the growing friendship Of
bachelor and widow.
"Mr briggs" she said slyly, II you
and Mrs. Denslow were married and
could offer the Belgian widow perma-
nent place as cook. why, the little
one would be as good as adopted"
"A capital ideal enthused briggs
If Mrs. Denslow will have me II l
ask her"
she VIM" declared observant
Mary, and she did. and happiness su-
preme and satisfaction all around was
the glad result.
Downright. 1915 by w. G. Chapman.l