The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-09-13
A WELCOME GUEST 4
BY ARNOLD WARRENToN. /

And l heard it first! /" roared his
brother, Martin.
why. what's your idea7" jeered the
first speaker. Suddenly taken liking
to humanity, that you want to grab a
poor little abandoned skit of a 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 a 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 q double
house, with 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 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 a 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 it is, though, and we
are like two schoolboys with an odd
toy. All right-well adopt the child"
Eyes. 1t will break the loneliness"
responded Robert; "but what do we
know about babies?"
That's just it," said Martin, eager
ly. "But l have Mrs. Wade. She's old,
but she's a woman and knows a babys
ways. Don't you see?"
mo, I don't!" growled Robert. 81
have as much right to the child as you
have"
Granted, and We'll make 1t mutual
ADOPTION" pacified Martin, persuasive
~. I've thought for long time how
1t was for us to maintain sep
arate establishments. Close up your
Joint and lessen the expense by taking
room with US, and share the baby
among u.s."
So the little founding was carried
INTO the house, each of the queer old
'haracters jealousy insistent on hav-
ng a handle of the basket all to him
elf
Here's visitor, and we're going to
dept the little fellow" announced
Brother Martin. and Mrs. Wade went |
nto ecstacies over the tiny stranger.
lever was such lovely, smiling, blue
yed ANGEL Why, see-he wound his :
hubby fingers around her work-worn
and and actually laughed up at her
IN, this was such a rare gift from
eaven And Martin grinned and
nuckled. and Robert hoped from foot
foot in a state of high excitement.
nd Mrs. Wade cried and laughed,
lille the baby cooed and crowed.
In the following irrational week Mar
sneaked down town and came back
18th all kinds Of baby goods. Robert
high chair and a rocking
'rse. The two fond and foolish guard
casions possible.
I've been thinking that baby ought
nave some one to care specially for
M" suggested Mrs. Wade. Il have
y other duties, and I'm old and slow"
search was made and q Mrs. Min
IN hired to take charge of the child.
yly Martin hid baseball and bat,
te and pocketknife. Robert Sc
city went him one better. He had a
= wagon and sled under the bed.
The days went by pleasantly and
acefully, the infatuated brothers dis
vering daily some new cuteness and
diligence in the baby, always crow
: and smiling. One day the new
rse was wheeling the little child
ing the street when lady, youthful
face and form, stopped her to bend
er and caress the baby. The nurse
s attracted by this interest. They
into conversation and the nurse
ntioned that she would have to give
her charge, as some relatives had
red her to make her home with
m.
oh, can trust you? Will you bless
life by one simple act7" broke forth
strange lady, and into the nurses
she whispered a story that brought
RS of sympathy to her eyes.
came about that when the nurse
the Leslie home she recommended
friend" AS Mrs. Bell, the latter
ceeded her The boy seemed to
e her from the start. She won upon
brothers and Mrs. Wade.
me day Martin called his brother
} the library, closed the door care
y and extended to him letter.
Read that" he said soberly.
Why, what is it about? Who wrote
Mrs. Bell, otherwise Mrs. Arnold
lie, wife Of the nephew you sent
1T eight years ago. He has been
q sanitarium for year. She had
work to keep him there and had to
/, up the baby. The letter tells all
story, and Arnold is we'll and com.
for her"
Not TO take the babv awav y, nu.v