The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-07-25
A WELCOME GUEST
BY ARNOLD WARRENTON.

llts
"And l heard 1t first !" roared his
| brother, Martin.
"Why, what's your idea?' jeered the
first speaker. Suddenly taken liking
to humanity, that you want to grab a
poor little abandoned slit of thing,
after"
There Robert Leslie paused. An
acute expression in his brothers face
checked him. He was sorry, for he
realized that he had made bad break.
There had been passage In both their
lives where anger had led to injustice
and this, in turn, to sorrow deep and
lasting.
Into their lonely lives this sunny af-
ternoOn there had come a startling ex-
perience. Their home was a double
house, with a common porch. Robert
lived alone in his quarters. Martin had
hOusekeeper, Mrs. Wade. Thus for
years these two rare old bachelors had
lived, daily sinking deeper into a rut
Of uneventful existence.
"See here, Robert" spoke Martin.
after pause during which the twain
gazed down at the little huddled atom
snugly ensconced In q padded basket,
Il see we are of one mind. Some moth
er, heartless or driven to direful eX-
tremity, has left the child here. Why
she selected two grabbed old cranks to
take in the little refugee | cannot COM
prehend. Here 1t is, though, and we
are like two schoolboys with an odd
toy. All ,rlght-well adopt the child"
yes, 1t will break the loneliness"
responded Robert; but what do we
know about babies2"
THAT'S just It," said Martin, eager
ly. But have Mrs. Wade. She's old,
but she's a woman and knows a baby's
ways. Don't you see"
mo, l don'tw growled Robert. II
have as much right to the child as you
have"
Granted, and Wen make it a mutual
adoption" paclfied Martin, persuasive
ly. 1--WE thought for a long time how
senseless it was for us TO maintain sep
arate establishments. Close up your
joint and lessen the expense by taking
a room with us, and share the baby
among us"
So the little founding was carried
into the house. each of the queer old
characters jealousy insistent on hav-
ing Il handle of the basket all to him
self.
Here's a visitor, and we're going to
adopt the little fellow" announced
Brother Martin, and Mrs. Wade went
into ecstacies over the tiny stranger.
Never was such n lovely, smiling, blue
eyed angel. Why, see-he wound his
chubby fingers around her work-worn
hand and actually laughed up at her
oh, this was such a rare gift from
heaven! And Martin grinned and
chuckled, and Robert hoped from foot
to foot In a state of high excitement.
And Mrs. Wade cried and laughed.
while the baby cOoed and crowed.
In the following irrational week Mar
tin sneaked down town and came back
with all kinds Of baby goods. Robert
contributed a high chair and rocking
horse. The two fond and foolish guard
ians lowered about the cradle on all
occasions possible.
I've been thinking that baby ought
to have some one to care specially for
him." suggested Mrs. Wade. 81 have
my other duties, and I'm old and slow"
so search was made and a Mrs. Min
turn hired to take charge of the child.
Slyly Martin hid baseball and bat,
kite and a pocketknife. Robert Sc
cretly went him one better. He had
toy wagon and a sled under the bed.
The days went by pleasantly and
peacefully, the infatuated brothers dis
covering daily some new cuteness and
intelligence in the baby, always crow
ing and smiling. One day the new
nurse was wheeling the little child
along the street when lady, youthful
In face and form, stopped her to bend
over and caress the baby. The nurse
was attracted by this interest. They
fell into conversation and the nurse
mentioned that she would have to give
up her charge, as some relatives had
asked her to make her home with
them.
"Oh, can trust you? VIII you bless
my life by one simple act2 broke forth
the strange lady, and into the nurses
ear she whispered II story that brought
tears of sympathy TO her eyes.
1t came about that when the nurse
left the Leslie home she recommended
IN friend" AS Mrs. Bell, the latter
succeeded her. The boy seemed to
love her from the start. She won upon
the brothers and Mrs. Wade.
One day Martin called his brother
into the library, closed the door care
fully and extended to him letter.
"Read that" he said soberly.
"Why, what is it about? Who wrote
ltY
Mrs. Bell, otherwise Mrs. Arnold
Leslie, wife of the nephew you sent
adrift eight years ago, He has been
i'll in a sGnltarium for year. She had
to work to keep him there and had to
give up the baby. The letter tells all
the story, and Arnold is well and com
ing for her"
mot to take the baby away?" quav-
cred Robert.
"Unless-"
81 understand" spoke Robert, arts
Ing and leaving the room. He drew Il
roll of banknotes from his pocket. He
found Mrs Bell in the garden.
H., ,ntJ .,nHncir,r fba