The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-02-02
BY ETHEL HOLMES.


w N N M N n ~ n u - ~ ~ wv
Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper union,)
Mrs. and Mr.. Van Wrinkle were pre-
pairing for breakfast. They were rich.
the Van Wrinkles; in fact, they had
never known time when they had not
been rich. There was one thing, how
ever, which money could not buy for
William Van Wrinkle, and that was
good health for his dearly loved wife. In
order to give her every advantage they
lived almost entirely at their beautiful
country home, where she could spend
her entire time In the fresh air.
Then, too, Mr.. Van Wrinkle and his
wife were very fol Of country life,
and devoted much of their time to the
cultivation of rare flowers and fruits
Their roses were the finest in the coun-
tryside, and every morning his wife
found beside her plate at breakfast
fresh flowers.
On this especial morning early in
June not only were magnificent roses
waiting for her at her place at the
table but some Of the finest and most
luscious strawberries from their own
garden. The breakfast table was set
In the pagoda, which at this time in
the year was covered by mass Of
roses, In full bloom. AS Mr.. Van
Wrinkle entered the pagoda the butler
reported that the Strawberries had
been stolen from the table while the
maids were indoors.
"These brats who live about herei"
Mr.. Van Wrinkle exclaimed. 'Let me
know If 1t happens again, John, and
wen catch the thieves, even If have
to hire special detectives for the pur-
pose."
The next morning as Mr.. Van Wrinkle
was returning to the house from a
walk before breakfast he espied the
figure Of a, child some distance away
darling through grove Of trees. In a
moment the stolen berries came to his
mind and he made dash in the direc-
ton Of the flying figure. He soon
caught up with q little girl just as she
was outside his hedge and close to the
door of a nearby dilapidated house,
which was evidently her home.
"Stop, you little thief"
The child came back, and in a pite.
Gus voice said:
please, sir, don't let mother hear |;
she's sick and can't eat the food we
have. Good food costs too much now.
thought these berries would help
make her eat"
where is your father7' asked Mr..
Van Wrinkle.
"Father died last winter"
"Who supports you and your
mother7"
II have a big brother; fifteen; he
earns six dollars week; but somehow
there never seems enough to get mother
nice little things to eat" There was a
piteous look of distress ON the thin,
pale face.
How old ARE you ~ -eiss-ssF3
| Shine and half, sir.r
"Come up to the house every morn
Ing and I will leave orders with the
gardener to give you fresh berries for
your mother, and cream as we'll"
Mr.. Van Winble had always been a
hard man to the poor. Born rich him
self, he looked down on those In pow
erty as Of an entirely different species
from himself, devoid of the same feel
ings as the rich. He had once sent a
poor man to prison for small theft
and felt that he had shown himself an
unusually good citizen by so doing.
This morning he had the awakening OF
his life. Was not the mother Of his
own children delicate? On reaching
home he went upstairs to his wife's
room.
Louise" he said, "you know tina,
strawberries were stolen from the
breakfast table yesterday morning. II
happened again this morning and
caught the thief"
"Oh! I am sorry for that; wish he
had escaped What did you do with
him?"
lhC tiilCl WuS q IttiC gin hDOuI q
year older than our Ruth. What die
with her was to tell her to come every
morning and fresh berries would BIZ
given to her"
"Oh! how I love you for that" cried
his wife. "Do tell me about it."
BY the time the story was told there
were tears in the eyes Of Mrs. Var
Wrinkle. Her husband seeing her dis
tress and for the first time harborint
similar feeling, told her that HI
would provide ample funds with which
she could provide for the little girl ant
her sick mother while he would loo,
out for the boy himself.
eff I find him to be promising lad,
he continued, II can easily place hin
In position where he will have I
chance to rise"
The next spring Mrs. Van Winkl'
was much improved, and the woman
she and her husband had helped hat
entirely recovered. One morning thu
little girl appeared at the Van Wrinkle
breakfast room, tiny bunch of wilt
wood violets In her hand, which sh,
held out to Mrs. Van Wrinkle and said
They're the first of the season;
| v.falyad hharv. foy. WON