Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-06-25

giving to each child loaf OF bread.
The other children scurried away
hastily, but the little cripple and his
sister moved Off slowly. Despite their
caution at an icy spot the lame child
fell
Sulwell sprang to lift him. He was
unhurt. but his crutCh was broken.
The girl began TO cry. Never mind"
said Stilwell, "Ill carry brother
home"
Were going to have nice potato
soup and bread for dinner" the little
lad confided to him as they went
along Last night we were too late
to get any bread Mamma cried be-
cause she just had crackers for us
TO eat today"
Hush, Seaver!" protested the lit
tie girl
What are your names?" StiIwel
asked, "and your fathers name?'
"Seaver and Naomi Robnnette."
the grl answered; "our father is dead,
but his name was Caspar."
SulWell felt an icy chill run over
him. Her children! And the bread
line God!
They were passing a grocery and
delicatessen. Stilwel stopped and
bought two fat baked chickens, hot
sausages, steaming bowls of vege-
tables, a green lettuce salad, celery.
cheese, butter, fresh hot rolls, a fruit
cake, apples, bananas, grapes nuts,
| bottles Of milk. Her children starry
ing. Well they would have one good
feed!
With sparkling eyes little Naomi
LED the way to the top floor of a
rickety tenement and opened her
mothers door.
In the dim light of the single gas
jet Stilwell saw that the room was
scrupuously clean but as Bare as a
| hermits cell With her back to the
| door, a woman bent over some sew
ing. Ida! And this was the garden
| OF jasmine bloom" in which he had
imagined her!
Yves bringin' company, mammal"
| the little boy called. 81 fell and broke
my crutch and he carried me home"
me woman rose, a wan sort Of
beauty shining in her tender face
You are very kind, sir" she began.
Ihen her eyes, large and blue,
wldened. A little gasping cry es-
capped her, little cry of surprise
weakness, humiliation
With his free army Stilwen caught
her and led back to her chair. Ida
Ida dear-its only Ban"
Her father and mother had died,
she told him presently, and Caspar
| had wasted her money and his to the
last penny Then he to, had died.
and she had come to this. "Oh. Ban
croft" she sobbed finally, the child
rem are 50 hungry. II must let
them eat, I'D ask you to eat with
them, but I've nothing fit to offer
YOU"
Sulwell brought forward the heavy
| basket. "Scaver and have been
marketing.' he explained gayly.
The little mother wiped away her
tears and laughed with the children
through the happy meal Stilwell.
watching, rejoiced over the ghost of a
dimple her smiles revealed.
The children were asleep on the
| old lounge, and his watch pointed to
| II before he remembered his de-
! sertion. He rose then and took Ida's
| trembling hands in his. "You used
| To love me, Ida" he said "and I've
/ never quit loving you. Can't we be-
gin all over again, and can't you and
the kiddies be ready to go West with
! me tomorrow afternoon"
Her eyes met his in joyous flash.
| d Oh, Ban" she cried. "I've al
ways loved you, but don't-don't
tempt me to do you an injustice"
Stilwells eyes shone He slipped
| the old ring on her finger The
wedding ring will have to be smaller"
| he murmured.
A little later she was crying over
| little Seaver's threadbare coat. "Oh,
| | cannot bear to shame him by bring
ing them to him in RAGS" she mur-
INJURED Then she saw an envelope
in one saggng pocket On it was
scribbled: "To get what you need,
my dear" In it was roll of bills.
| A little later as Stilwell in some
what distrait fashion helped Corinne
| Hilliard from her car she struck him
with one of her roses. Where have
you been, deserter?" she queried,
| curiously
'In a garden Of jasmine" he an
swered her absent mndedly.
Copyright, 1915, by w. Wcrner)