The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-09-28
One child had come to them-a boy

When Frederick Ware died, some i've
years ago, it was discovered, to the
surprise of his friends and the con-
sternation Of his wife. that he had man.
aged to dissipate nearly the whole of
the large fortune he was known at one
time to have possessed.
At the end Mrs. Ware found herself
with but enough to live on very COM
fortably, if she were careful.
After one or two changes she had
settled down in this pretty suit OF
apartments in quiet but thoroughly
good neighborhood. And here she had
come to a stop.
Through her pride she had gradually
dropped away from the associates of
her prosperity, until but few remained
to her of her old time friends.
Therefore, with no active interest to
hold her attention, Katharine Wares
existence was about rs dull and aim
less a one as could be imagined. She
herself was unhappy, ''unsatistied and
restless" in the extreme.
Secretly, she wished to marry.
SO when Richard Davenport. a
man of high intellectually, enormous
wealth, but great eccentricity, had re-
newed the acquaintance OF other days
and had showed quiet pleasure III
her tactfully appreciative society,
Katharine had done her utmost to hold
his continued interest.
Now, after year of their perfectly
innocent intercourse. this was the re-
suit!
Davenport could not offer her mar
riage. He had been, as was his invari-
able custom. absolutely frank with her,
and as for her own position. she felt
that without some break in the deadly
monotony of her life she would so
mad.
! Well, she had decided!
She had begun a fevcrish, sorting
out process Of her misunderstanding
this to be taken, that to be packed
away. when a knock sounded on her
outer door
Hastily swapping out the lights, she
hurried out into the reception room
and opened the door.
A young woman of pleasantly at
tractive appearance, but laboring I'M
der controlled yet very apparent en-
element, stood without.
Mrs. Ware, do excuse me for COM
ing to you, but I've Just got word on
the telephone of big fire downtown.
close to our settlement house, and |
| learn that many of our people-chil-
, dren chiefly-were caught in the build
ing and seriously burned or hurt. This
means a great deal Of work for those
who can come. You spoke the other
day as though you were interested in
:, the work down there, so I've come to
: see if you will 60 with me tonight
There will be so much to do and sc
few to do it. Won't you come, Mrs
Ware? You are so capable, / know
; and you could help so much"
" For a moment Katharine quite in
tended to decline She would be very
busy herself this night. Then some
thing in the girls anxious. quiverine
Z face made her hesitate.
please" the girl murmured.
+ Every well. Miss Porter I'll gel
e ready at once" Mrs. Ware said. he'
e decision instantly made.
d A quarter of an hour later the TIVE
e had started on their way across town
d
q 1t was o'clock in the morning.
1 The dull, gray light was just begin
e ming to creep through the dirty win
dow of the small room on the top 1ool
| Of In CT
l. This was the third place Katharine
Ware had been to give assistance tt
the sufferers during this long. awfu
night.
Most OF those employed in the burn
ing factory had been foreigners, will
all the average foreigners dread O.
ambulances and hospitals. so it wal
that if by their own efforts or the as
sistance Of those in the throng ther'
to gaze at the burning structure the!
could manage to crawl to their homes
however miserable, they did so.
1t was to these unfortunates the set
tlement workers were giving succor II
whatever way they could.
Katharine. wearied almost beyOnt
window with a child Rugged to he
breast He was asleep. his blue eye:
closed and his fair, softly curling hal
falling back from his forehead. On
little, moist hand lay nestled agains
Katharine's neck.
The woman's arm was numb AM
strained from the weight Of tile sleef
ing child, but she would not have lai
him down just then for worlds. Sh
was gazing raptlyv down at the littl
face-surely there had never been sue
a resemblance before!
The child seemed veritable reincaI
~ nation Of her own dead darling-th
eyes, the hair, the very shape Of til
e. head! How could it be? And how cam
this fair, beautiful child to be anon
Is those swarthy faced Russian Jews, on
b. of whom, young girl of about 81,
st teen. had been badly injured by leal
" ing from fire escape?
She had been picked up by some on
er and carried to this room, which repr,
Y. scented the home of n family of fiv'
d, exclusive of this child. whom Katl
W arine had observed crying softly b
re himself in corner. after she had don
o. what she could to alleviate the suffe
ID ings of the young girl.
to The patient, moaning softly occasion
y ally, was otherwise resting quietly. S
Is Katharine had taken the little boy
r, her arms and hushed him to sleep.
er "Muyver" he had muttered sleepil
I'd once, cuddling closer in the arms il