Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-01
The Daily
Short Story
A LITTLE WAIF
Rv Walter Joseph Delaney

Z
family"
/ Ezra Wharton, confirmed bache-
lor- smiled indulgently, in apparent
( harmony with the sentiment ex-
/ pressed but as Alan Dwyer nodded
and passed on his way Wharton
soliloquized, with. a shrug Of his
/ shoulders:
"That's well enough in theory,
I but Dwyer took risk. First he
aad no money, Alma's folks were
poor as church mice, his position
brought barely a living salary. In
some happy-go-lucky way he has
managed to pull through, but sup
pose he lost his job and sickness
came-misery! No. sir! I'll never
think of marrying until I've got a
home all paid for and a few thou
| sands in bank
There was not a happier man
than Alan Dwyer, nor a more con-
| tented woman than Alma in all the
country side. 1t was rarely at the
end of a month that the striving
duo could count any surplus, but
hope was strong, work was cheer
| full duty, and the present was one
| constant round of pIeasantneSs and
the future a golden vision. Their
little four-room house just held
them.
Getting rather crowded, aren't
you?" a friend asked Dwyer, just
after he had passed Wharton.
mo. only snug" retorted Dwyer,
with room for a couple of more,
il they come along"
! He had not noticed girl of about
! fifteen, plainly but neatly dressed,
who stood a few feet distant She
had great wistful eyes, full of in
telligence. Her shoes were dust
covered, as though she had been
walking many miles: she looked
tired, and in a way forlorn. She
halted him with touch on his
arm.
"Hellol" he spoke, with a won
dering stare.
IT'S only me, girl. Huldah, -
came the prompt response. PLEASE,
sir, 1 heard you speaking of there
being room for some more. Did
you mean it, mister?"
"Eh, why-did l mean it7'' STAN
mered Dwyer, confronted with a
problem distinctly challenging his
benevolence- "Why are you ask
ing"
Because I am an orphan and
nave no home, and I've come a long
way, and don't know where to go,
and I'm hungry, too"
We'll, WE'LL" commented Dryer,
fairly cornered. You don't mean
TO say that there is no one you can
go to-"
Not a soul in the world SOL
EMMY asservated the odd little
mite.
Come with me, then" he said
Alma and I will take care OF you
till you ct righted, if nothing
more"
1t was thus that Alan Dwyer
opened his heart and home to a
homeless refugee He and his wife
were glad of it when a month had
passed by, for the newcomer grew
into their lives like some beautiful
flower. The children took to her
and she seemed to understand the
home duties like some trained
housewife. She was active. cheer
/ ful. tireless, and lightened the bur
dens OF the mother and wound her
self about the heart OF the husband
until he almost loved her as he did
nis own.
She had a simple story. She was
founding taken from a chiEdren's
home by an old maiden lady, q
Miss Agatha Lull, at place named
HopetOn. She had been treated
we'll by her foster mother, but
when the latter died Huldah over
heard the town trustees talk of re-
turning her to the asylum. She had
packed her few belongings and had
fed.
The year that brought the bless
ing of this helpful little body 10 the
DWyer home also had its hardships
for hardWorking Alan Dwyer- He
was injured by some machinery and
was idle for over three months.
Then there was shutdown at the
mills. 1t was close living for the
Dryers now, and another baby was
NSAhAhS. hO OullOOh ~ - CAAN ~
uncertainty and anxiety
One day Dwyer, reading a news
paper, started, looked around and
read a certain item twice 1t stated
that large sum would be paid for
Information that would lead to the
finding of Huldah, formerly a
foundling, more latteriy adopted by
i Miss Agatha LuIl of HopetOn." A
name and city address was given.
To the city next day Dwyer made
his way
1t was to discover that it was
the father of Huldah who was the
advertiser. Sixteen years previous
mis- wife. while demented, had left
him. 1t Yves only after constant
search for a decade and a half that
he had at length Traced her to
Hopeton, where she died, and he
had learned of the exist ence Of a
daughter.
Walworth Rhodes was rich. He
was prepared, eager to shower
wealth and luxtffy upon the child
he was so longing to greet, but
when he ret rned with DIVER to
his nome and Huldah was told that
he was her father she wound her
arms about the neck of Mr.. Dwyer.
And this is my father, too" she
said.
HE deserves that you call him
so, noble-hearted man that he Isl"
assented Mr.. Rhodes with deep
emotion "You love him and your
new mother and the little ones. So