Mexico Missouri message., 1918-01-17

~ among the throngs of children. An,
there he vast A stout, rosy.faced
young girl had him firmly by the hand
She was leading him toward the bench
where the father usually sat. Mlns
Mariana craned her head to look at
the young woman. Somehow she had
never supposed the little boy'S mother
would look like that. he was adorably
brown-curled, but she wore fiaxen frlz.
zes that looked suspiciously artificial.
She was bit untidy, too, and her
solled white shoes were run down at
the heels. A long sigh of dlsappoint.
ment escaped Miss Mariana, and some
frail thing Of the spirit seemed borne
away from her on Its 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 vislbly. At last II grew
very dark and chill at Miss Mariana's
window.
Suddenly the air was rent by
child's shrill scream-shrill enough to
be heard above the sounds Of traffic
and the noise of children's play. Mari
ana Winn looked out quickly to see
the little boy-his little boy-with
blood streaming from a hurt on 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
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 1t 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 hugged 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, Theresa2" he ask
ed sharply, turning to the rosy blonde,
"I-why was just over by the gate
talking to fella. +"
"That will do for you, then. I hired
you to look after Tommy. If you can't
do 1t better than that you may CO."
"All right, I'll go then," she retorted
pertly. And Miss Mariana's door
slammed after her, leaving a strange
quiet behind 1t.
The young man sat looking at her
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 crate.
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, 1t sent
strange thrills of ecstasy through Mari
ana Wlnn. When she spoke she look
ed so young and eager one would
scarcely have known her.
| Bring him here again." she was say.
ing. "rd love to take care of Tommy
sometimes. I've nothing else to do,
and love children. Bring him when
ever you like; but please don't leave
him to any such nursemaids again. I'd
so much rather you'd bring him here"
81 will, then," he agreed, "if you
really mean 1t. And wonder-could
come again some time, too?"
"Oh, yes" she nodded lightly. "Of
course. Only don't believe 1 know
your name."
"Henry Moore. And you are Miss
Winn, know. l will come again."
He said this as if he meant it. And
Miss Mariana knew that he meant It.
She went about her work singing after
they were gone. For deep in her heart
she knew.