The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-13

y
Long Branch -
at was a friend of mine who was
there said Mrs Strickland. II loaned
her tie purse, and she lost it
who was it &c asked Doris.
:, You don't know her, dear."
ss1Nhy did you lend her your purse?'
tBecause she hadn't any money of
her own
There was a puzzled look on the
child's face as she replied. As she told
Judge Dinsmore later, she had been
trained, and by the very mother who
was now Iibbing to her, to tell the
truth in any circumstances. So she
said:
.sBut, mamma, wasn't it fbbing TO
tell the man
.eNo. ri explain some other time.
Now promise mamma You won't say
anything. /" e
81 promise said little Doris.
And now came a great event in the
life of Doristf1e homecoming after
few days, absence of her dearly be-
loved daddy She had missed him
greatly, SO that it was with great Jox
she heard his voice In the anteroom
saying to the StrfcklandS maid:
Hello, Bertha! How are your
Every body all rightT'
ALMOST before Bertha could reply
Doris ran from the room, crying:
ssIt's daddy, mamma! It's daddyg'
Still outside the room in which his
wife waited, silent for him, Strickland
called out.
I eyes. it's yodr old daddy. Hello,
sweetheart
There was 4boisterous meeting Of
father and little daughter in the ante
room.
Hello, daddy dear! What have you
got for meY' asked Doris
"Something wonderfulr' replied Strick-
land .sGiye me another kiss. Are you
: glad to see your daddy p
t9Oh, mamma and have been so
lonesomer'
where is mamma2Y
sIn here,s safd Doris, and she took
her daddy by the hand and led MIN
into the sitting room AT one Side
tered she made one step toward him
land was still busted with his little
daughter He handed his travelling
bag to her, and she stood holding it in
her tive small hands, for it was heavy,
while May, overcoming her hesftat ton,
ran to her husband Her voice was af-
fectionate, but high pitched, as she en-
braced him and said:
Robert, dear. I'm SO glad you're
backr'
Her words were sincere, and her out
ward manner was that Of q Toying
wife, glad TO welcome back her hus-
band after an unavoidable separation
To the latter, happy in the reunion
with his wife and child. there was
nothing strange In the greetings.
But a close observer might have
noted that the manner of May Stfck-
land at this time was strained and nm
natural, almost hysterical. she was
keyed to too high point. Her mo
lions were strained and jerked, as
though her limbs moved in response to
nerves that were stretched taut. The.
face she showed to Robert was agIow
with welcome, but when he turned
aside for a moment to speak with
Doris the eyes took on staring. strain
ed expression in which one might read
horror, almost.
Was it the loss of the purse that per
turbed her so2 Whatever it was, while
her husband 5 attention was distracted
by the child, she made a great and
successful effort to calm herself.
0IE4chldAd St4t1e0 the cAdnnOFS OF DOr1S
long enough to turn. to his wife and
say
Its good to be back. By Jove, I
was homesickH,
Chose few days seemed like ages
said May. Didn't it seem long
time, Doris r.
5 = ooh, an aWfully long tfmew said
Doris. Whenever the clock struck
today I wished it was time for you to
be here. Didn't I, mamma?',
.WeIl,y said Strickland, next time
we will all go together"
4Everything's all right, then7' asked
May.
eyes just as I wrote YOU
-HaVe you had your dinner, Rob
ertY'
I.sNo; I was so anxious to get home
that I didn't stop"
s'You must be famished I'll have
: Bertha get some dinner ready for you.
1t won't take long
Thanks, DEAR And to Doris. who
had gone to her beloved dolls again,
Strickland said, Come here s
NI'm leaving you in good hands. .
said May as she left the room to super
intend the preparation of her husbands
Z dinner.
"oh, yes said Strickland; Doris
G and have lots of things to tell each
other He seated himself and took
Doris on one knee. Now, young lad.
tell your daddy. who hasn't seen yoi
for four whole days. exactly VIII.
you've been doing With every mimi
of your time.
.sOh, daddy, I was promotedg'
Doris. with face .a-foT