Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-28
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despised, and yet II the girl did not
see him, he could be doing no one
harm.
Suddenly his musings we're abruptly
interrupted by the approach OF a
big Irish park policeman leading a
small child reluctantly by the hand.
The officer had to stoop to keep a
hold of the tiny tot.
Gotta lost kid" he said laughingly
to Donald.
Donald looked at the pretty little
girl. Fine day for youngster like
that to be alone in the park, isn't
it," he asked.
"Fine for the pneumony! Says her
mas knittin' and she run off," volunr
teered the policeman further.
Donald Grey paled little. Knit
ting did you say? Her-her mother?'
Sure! Why not? Amt they all
a-doin' it day an night for Tommy
Atkins and the loike O. him." asked
the officer.
"I saw a young woman back in the
summer house admitting" said
Donald.
"Where?" asked the policeman
alertly.
sI'll show you--it's quicker" and
Donald led the way back to the sum-
mer house.
The little one trotted beside the
big policeman and Donald humming
gayly. She seemed not to care who
her protectors were, SO long as she
was having a little excitement. Don
aid could see that much in the tots
eyes.
When she saw the trio approaching
Constance stopped knitting and
stared. { But Donald could see at a
glance that she had not lost any;
body's baby. She looked from one
to the other as the three drew close.
"Askin yer pardon, lady, but did
We lose this kid?" asked the police
man.
Constance laughed. She shook her
head. mo, indeed, l didn't. Is the
poor baby lost?"
She sure is-says her mas a-knit-
tin and she run away"
"And IT, interrupted Donald, a
trifle embarrassed now that he was
actually in the presence of the girl,
II having seen you few moments
since told the policeman of you when
he asked If I'd seen the child's
mother This was not strictly true,
but the truth was embodied In the
statement.
MAS dom that" said the child
gayly, pointing to Constance and her
knitting
as she, dear?" asked Constance =
and Donald realized that she had the
voice, too, of his ideal. "And where
did you leave your mammal"
The child made vague gesture.
cover home with lots O ladies all
knittin' and ="
The policeman took the child again
by the hand. Come on, kid, you'll
catch cold out here. I'll find her
ma all right. Much obliged And
the big policeman and the little one
walked off in the DRILLING rain
Donald Grey raised his hat. I'm
sorry -"
4 ooh, it was quite natural, I'm sure.
Don't apologize. l only hope they
find the baby's mother soon. It's not
day for little ones to be out loong. ;"
The girls tone dismissed him and
Donald strobe on. This time he felt
desperate. II he had wanted to know
her after single glance at her, he
longed more than ever now that he
had seen her smile, had heard her
speak, had stood beside her.
He would have felt utterly hope
less if he had not been firm be-
lever in the good Presbyterianism
that everything that happens is for
the best If this was the way he was
to meet her, never to see her again,
why-that was all. II she were meant
for him-and with his youthful, hope
full outlook on life. he believed she
was-he would find her somewhere.
For nearly two years he sought her,
and then, at benefit dance given
to aid the widows and children of
soldiers who had fallen in the war, he
was presented to her by patroness
of the evening.
"At last, Miss Atwood" he said.
And although the girl only smiled,
he had the satisfaction Of seeing In
her eyes glad look, as if she, too,
had been hoping "And if it is fate
he said to himself, in flash, "of
course, she has been hoping, too"