The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-09
EVENING sToRY
Adopting Frieda.
(By jane OSBORNE


"Oh Miranda. will you hold the door
my arms. You haven't heard of any
one that has lost a little girl, have
you?"
With these words Peter Hobson
broke the news of his discovery late
that memorable night in midsummer.
He had been on his weekly trip to the
nearest settlement. twenty miles down
| the valley Usually on such nights in
summer Miranda dozed in her chair
! with the screen on the front door un-
hooked; for Miranda had lived alone
with her stalwart young brother too
many years to fear tramps or thieves
on their desoiate side of the noun
tain. And usually Miranda would not
wake till her brother had put up his
wagon and horses and had let himself
in at the screen door But this night
/ his arms were too full of Frieda-
Frieda fast asleep, with her golden
curls close and warm against his face,
one small warm hand elutching even
/ in sleep to his shoulder and two
graceful little legs in white stockings
| and the daintiest of round-toed pumps
dangling in his arms.
Where in the land of the living
/ did you find herr was Miranda's not
too hospitable comment. But, Pc
/ ter carried the sleeping child to the
/ light of the solitary lamp that smoked
liying-room table, the sisters weather.
beaten, hard-set features softened and
! a smile bro ke over her face Hadn't
you better set her DOWN." she asked.
She was pulling at the ruffied white
petticoats which had become crushed
IN the strong mans arms. We must
wake her up and ask her who she is.
Her mother must be worried almost
SICK. Peter. isn't she pretty"
refer made no comment. but from
the tenderness with which he brushed
with his big clumsy hands golden
curl that had fallen across Erieda $
lace Miranda needed not to be told
that the big brother of hers had lost
his heart to the child he had found.
III set her down." he said and
wake her up because she must be
hungry, but there's no use asking her
who she is or where she came from
l asked her that when I found her,
out 1t didn't do any good Her name
is Frieda, and that is all she will tell
you. And while Miranda flew from
kitchen to living room preparing the
lavish supper of doughnuts and milk
and cold ham that she thought suita-
! bic for child of Frieda's age her
brother told her the details of the
discovery.
He had heard a cry in the thicke ct
OF the woods as he was coming home
about fifteen miles down the road
IL was just turning dark at the time.
, He stopped his horses and followed
thru the painless woods for a few rods
5 and then came upon the little girl
1 She was crouchins under the side of a
large bowlder and at first seemed toe
p startled to speak. She hadn't had
anything to eat for day or So
l. She started TO tell me about her
{ self Peter explained to his sister
= Did tell me her name was Frieda and
then she tainted away in my arms and
!. ! had to bring her around with water
from the stream. Then l held her in
my arms SO she wouldn't be scared
and when she was feeling better l put
J. her in the wagon on the seat at my
side with the robes tucked around her
: Later 1 stopped to give her one OIL
: two of those crackers you asked me
q to bring back from the store. and Their
| after while she went to sleep agar
g there at my side. Maybe when she
e wakes up she will remember who She
e is and how she came to be lost
o Maybe" m e n d Miranda
Seems as if she is big enough t.
r | remember
How old should you judge she is?'
Miranda cast a calculating glance
0 toward the dropping figure of thu
e child in the sleepy hollow chair.
t From the way she is dressed sh,
is siza BILE child of or 10-can't b,
i any more" Then Miranda got dowr
r the silver mug that had been Peter
;, many years before and that had hun.
he outgrew it. Il suppose, Peter, i
r we were not able to find her folks /
. would be our solemn duty to adop
herr"
;, II was just thinking about that my
self" agreed Peter. Perhaps it i
the nearest I'll ever come to havin
n a kid of my own
just then the little girl walked ur
u and Peter and Miranda hurried to at
tention With little milk and som
of Mirandas good bread-Peter ha,
thought that more suitable than tn
Re doughnuts-Frieda regained strength
y and before many minutes had passe
e she was laughing merrily and per
Y. fectlv at ease with her generous hos
II and hostess.
You are SO good to me-" she sal
lie sleepily. NO one was ever SO goo
n to me in the world BEFORE A tes
n came to Miranda's ewes and Pete
s, swallowed what must have been
sob. though he would not have ad
D mitted that fact.
- Now. do you want to try and tel
y us whose little girl you are?' Pete
asked patiently, kneeiing down befor
IN her.
ID NO. no, no." she shook Der head
Maybe Tomorrow But this is =
F. few minutes later Miranda ha
ia shown the little girl to the spar
10 room" and she and Peter stood oHi
I'd side her door waiting.
ri Are you sure she can marag
IL alone?'' Peter asked.
Il guess so. She asked me to leaV
4 her alone. When she calls out 1 al
10 to go in and get the lamp. I toll
her l would"
20 Then came the little treble call an
lie Miranda stole silently in.
Peter, just look she whispere
back a second later and Peter tip
toed into the ROOM Apparently tn
child was extremely weary for he
~ eyes were already closed and the dis
: heveled ringlets of golden hair wer
} tossed over the face, pillow and whit
/ counterpane that was tucked neat
{ up to her graceful chin.
Peter looked wonderingly for
minute and then tiptoed to his ow