South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-15
Miss Mariana's Family
BY Hilda Morris

were usually poor.
L wonder that child doesn't get
into mischief" thought Miss Mari
ana. u guess it's a good thing In.
sitting here TO watch him. His
father is so wrapped up III that
book, or whatever il is he's writ
ms"
And then as the young man looked
up, sazing abstractly, apparently
toward the window where she sat,
Mariana leaned forward eagerly to
notice his fine. lean profile. Her
eyes were bright with an innocent
interest. it never occurred TO her
that ne might be looking at her
nobody had ever cared much about
looking al her. even when she was
very young. Unconscious of his
Saze, she sat there, rocking gently.
between her long white shutters, the
very picture of homely peace and
quiet After that the authors eyes
strayed often from his work, as
though he TnUst seek inspiration in
the walls OF a red brick cottage or
the long white shutters at its win
dows.
The day after this the young man
did not come into the park at all.
Mariana, having finished her simple
household tasks, took her place at
the accustomed window, eager for a
sight of the life that moved about
outside. If she was eager for the
sight of one particular person she
did not know it herself. Her heart
was unused 10 even the first throb
of that emotion called love Love as
she had read about il was a thrilling
thing, that came upon one suddenly,
usually in some picturesque environ
ment, and she had never imagined
that il could steal over any woman
like a gentle warming tide of hap
piness. However, she was happy;
there was a shine in her eyes and 4
budding smile upon her lips. AL
though she did not know il. Mariana
Vim was looking younger than
usual
But as the afternoon went on the
smile faded little She wanted 10
see the little boy. she searched
eagerly among the throngs of chill
dren. All. there he wasl A stout,
rosy-faced young girl had him firm
~ by the hand. she was leading him
toward the bench where the father
usually sat Miss Mariana GRAINED
her mead tC look al the young wom-
an. Somehow she had never sup
posed the little boys mother would
look like that He was adorably
brown -curled, but she wore flaxen
frizzes that looked suspiciously arti-
fetal She was a bit untidy, too.
and her soiled white shoes were run
disappointment escaped Miss Mari
ana. and some frau thing OF the
spirit seemed borne away from her
on its faint breath. The shine had
left her eyes. but she sat watching.
Being comforta bly, established on
the bench. the blonde haired young
woman drew out novel and began
TO read The little BOY danced away
10 play, and the autumn afternoon
shadows lcngthened visibly. At ,ast
il grew very dark and chill at Miss
Mariana = window.
suddenly the air was rent by a
Chud's shriH scream shriI enough
"a be heard above the sounds OF
traffic and the noise of children s
play. Mariana VIM looked out
gIickly 10 see the little boy-his
little boy-with blood streaming
from a hurt or his forehead. lie
had fallen perhaps, cr-Miss Mari
ana did not wait for cOnjectures. She
rushed out into the park and gath
cred the Weeping child into her
arms smoothing the dark curld
from the cut on his head II was