The Detroit times., 1915-04-29
Gallant of Z
Cares Tenderiy
For Maid of 2

Such love as that OF Leo Gustaf-
of No. 47l Monroe-ave-. is so rare
and SO truly beautiful. that II really
seems worth recording
Il endured through privations and
yicissitudes. quailed not in the
shadow Of strong steel bars. and
never wavered for an instant when
the adored one. true TO the nckle In
sSinct Of the maid. openly ignored
Leo. and cast him aside, as IL were.
Tor the glitter OF brass buttons. and
the blue OF the uniform so dangerous
10 susceptible feminine hearts.
II was love ~ frst sight, With Leo.
he IS seven years old. and when
Elda RosSella. who is two and one
half years old. and lives At No. 52s
IlliRois-st.. passed Leo's home. early
Tuesday afternoon with eyes axed
upon a "hoky-poky" ice cream man.
and tiny feet trotting along in pur-
suit. Leos fate was sealed
Just what caused the sudden ann
ity is a mystery, but 10 many who
saw the couple, IL appeared that
Leo's admiration was probably In
SANITY aroused by the conjecture
thai Elda vas perhaps the most su
Fremely soiled little girl that any
mortal ever cast eyes upon.
Her fare was covered with sootS
dirt which bid everything but hel
two big. bright eyes. Her stockings
once white. and her little frock. once
gray. were ali the same color
matching her face.
AZ any rate. Leo followed his god
dess. and soon he edged up and tool
her hand
A. Congress and Randolph-s SITS
far. faE from the homes Of both chill
dren. Trasic oracer George Ludwil
noticed the pair OF children. shortly
after O'Clock.
The little girl hung around" and
gazed az the Officer as he made fancy
motions on the street The Iitti'
boy tugged a, her hand. occasionally
and looked sorrowful Ludwig paic
little attention TO them for time
Nearly an hour later. though. he no
ticed. with a start OF surprise. thai
the two Riddles were still hanging
around the corner"
He investigated
He asked Elda II she were lost
and she nodded her head
He asked Leo about IL, and Leo
burst into tears and told the storJ
Of his remarkable infatua;ion-hov
the little girl, whom he had never
seen before. had passed his house
following the Ice cream man. and
how he had followed her. and guard
ed her. knowing that she must b.
lost.
Leo was able 20 give HIS own name
and address. and said he could gel
home all right.
SO the oficer picked Elda UP ten
derry and carried her 70 the centra
station, and sat her mp on the bis
desk. Then Elda started 70 cry
plaintiveiy. Mama: Mama"
Outside the door the officers heard
3 howl OF dismay and then a series
Of choking sobs Some one opened
the door. and Leo. who had stood
With HIS face pressed against the
pane. stole In, rather fearfully. but
With eyes for no one but Elda. He
patted her hand. and she stopped
crying
He drew a soiled handkerchief
from his pocket. and with INFINITE
tenderness and solicitude drew II
across the dirty face Of his ladJ
love.
When Elda sobbed a little for her
Mama" Leo cooed 10 her, and pet
ted her. and tried his best TO quie,
her lie cried. himself, just to wit
ness her grief
And when someone brought a bas
OF candy. which Instantly soothec
little Miss Elda. Leo braveiy decIin
ed TO take any OF II. but pointed tc
Elda and said The whole bag. u
her" He did eat one piece. though
Elda was later identified as ths
subject OF a report OF missing cir
with white stocks and gray frock
II was hard 10 Identify her. on &C
count OF the CRIME. but the police
men took a chance on being right
and sure enough her brother. wh'
was notified. called and said she wa
the same little girl who had wander
ed away al noon.
And no one seems 10 know vha
became OF Leo, He just SUNK on
OF the station, and faded from sight