Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-01-18

ly among the throngs of children. All,
there he wasl A stout, rosy-faced
young girl had him firmly by the hand
She was leading him toward the bench
where the father usually sat. Miss
Mariana craned her head to look at
the young woman. Somehow she had
never supposed the little boys mother
would look like that. He was adorablyI
brown-curled, but she wore flaxen friz-
yes that looked suspiciously artificial.
She was a bit untidy, too, and her
soiled white shoes were run down at
the heels. A long sigh of %disappoint-i
ment escaped Miss Mariana, and some
frail thing of the spirit seemed borne
away from her on it's faint breath. The
shine had left her eyes, but she sat
watching.
Being comfortable established on the
bench, the blonde-haired young wom-
an drew out a novel and began to read.
The little boy danced away to play,
and the autumn afternoon shadows
heightened visibly. AT last 1t grew
very dark and chill at Miss M~ariana's
window.
Suddenly the air was rent by O
child's shrill scream-shrill enough to
be heard above the sounds of traffic
and the noise of children's play. Mari
ana VIM looked out quickly to see
the little boy-his little boy-with
blood streaming from a hurt OF his
forehead. He had fallen perhaps, Or
Miss Mariana did not wait for con-
lectures. She rushed out into the park
and gathered the weeping child into
her arms, smoothing the dark curls
from the cut on his head. 1t was not
a serious injury, but she bore him into
the house, followed by a troupe OF
curious youngsters.
She had completely forgotten the
blonde-haired young woman, and II
was not until she had washed the cut
and bound it up, and established Tom
my on the sofa with a ginger cooky,
that an angry ring at the door pro-
claimed the fact that the young wom-
an was in search of him. Moreover.
she was not alone. The father, white
with anxiety, stepped in first.
"Where-' he began. Then, seeing
Tommy, he Rugged the child and turn.
ed to Mariana with eager, anxious
questions.
"He isn't hurt much" she assured
him. "Only he was frightened, and
there seemed to be no one near"
"Where were you, Theresa" he ask
ed sharply, turning to the rosy blonde
"I-why / was just over by the gate
talking to a fella. +"
'"That will do for you, then. 1 hired
you to look after Tommy. If you can't
do it better than that you may 60"
"A1l right, I'll go them" she retorted
pertly. And Miss Mariana's dooI
slammed after her, leaving a strange
quiet behind 1t.
The young man sat looking at hel
with wistful eyes, that made Miss
Mariana drop her own, and a warm
blush filled her cheeks. He was speak,
ing-something about being very grate-
full to her for looking after the child
something about being very lonely, and
having no one to care for Tommy:
Whatever 1t was he said, it sent
strange thrills of ecstasy through Mari.
ana VIM. When she spoke she look
ed so young and eager n would
scarcely have known her.
Bring him here again." she was say.
ing. I'D love to take care of Tommy
sometimes. I've nothing else to do
and l love children. Bring him when
ever you like but please don't leave
him to any such nursemaids again. To
so much rather you'd bring him here
81 will, then" he agreed, "if YOU
really mean it. And l wonder-could
I come again some time, too?"
"Oh, yes" she nodded lightly. "Ot
course. Only I don't believe 1 know
your name"
Henry Moore. And you are Miss
Winn, I know. l will come again"
He said this as if he meant it. And
Miss Mariana knew that he meant 1T
She went about her work singing after
they were gone. For deep in her heart
she knew.