The Little River news., 1919-12-03

IHul uepehuS, JOllu bulIO"S ar
 swered in his quizzical way "some- | times I think it is your father who is ! my boss. How are the bruises?" Tonic made a grimace. Hurts every time I move." he said
 "an the visiting nurse has me all plas- l tered up, too. She" Tonie's tone was contemptuous, "don't help much, but when Angela comes, she tells stories an plays picture games with me an l I forget all about it. Father likes l Angela, too," the boy added trium- | phantly. "He told her that he was sorry he threw me down stairs John Burrows remembered having 1 heard that the dreaded AntOnio'S wife l had died some time ago; this Angela
 might be, perhaps, coming stepmoth-
 CT for the boy; he was thinking over the possibility of gaining her influence
 to conquer the stubborn spirit of the
 man, who consistently sowed disseasion
 among his fellows. So strong was his power, that to dismiss him would mean loss of valuable followers. And as John Burrows considered, the door ! opened and girl came swiftly into the room.
 Angela" cried the boy, his thin arms outstretched.
 The head bent over Tonie's was as
 dusky as his own, and when the girl ' turned to look questiOningly at Bur
 rows, her eyes were deep and dark.
 Admiration was in the gaze John
 Burrows gave her. Her face was like
 glowing flower above the plainness 1 of her dark blue dress.
 You are Tonie's friend, I hear," he
 said.
 The girl nodded, as she drew some
 bright picture cards from a bundle and spread them out before the invalid.
 Then. mechanically almost, but with
 radiant smile at the boy, she began her game.
 'I,' John Burrows told her, ''am a member of the factory firm, and, I
 wonder if you can agree with Antonio , in his grievance"
 "I-dO not" the girl answered brief ly.
 Then, still wonder" he added and came close to look down into her face. 'If you might not influence him to our point of view. The man could be a
 power for good as well as for harm" '1 can only influence through kind
 ness," answered the girl "I-try."
 John Burrows rode away with a memory picture of her, rocking very gently, the maimed small Tonic in her arms. The picture haunted him strangely. He found himself forced to return again to the dingy room.
 Angela came every day to see him." Tonic told Burrows. Sometimes she made good things and brought them for
 his and big Tonie's supper. Big Tonic
 spread them out on the little table as
 she told him to, and sometimes, he
 even stayed awhile at evening, playing
 one of the picture games.' / John Burrows formed habit of Stopping in his car before his home ward ride each evening. He too, left
 surprises for small Tonic, an orange
 maybe, or a new game to play And if Angela was there he carried her in the front seat beside him to the end
 of the street. Angela would not tell him where she lived.
 The mystery of her tormented him. The refinement of her manner so at
 variance with her rough friends of the
 court, and the simplicity of her dark
 dress with its white collar, so differ
 ent from their gay clothing.
 When he left her at the end of the
 street, she always stood waiting with
 . parting wave of her hand, until he
 was out of sight. And as the summer passed, the wild spirit of Antonio show
 ed undOubted improvement.
 John Burrows reflected savagely that
 like Antonio to win the hand of such
 glorious woman. Then to John Bur
 rows came the Illuminating discovery
 that the unknown woman undoubtedly
 had won his own heart. And when he
 saw her again bending tenderly over
 the convalescent Tonic, he found it
 impossible to withhold his secret
 ''I love you" said John Burrows. "l want you-to be my wife," And even as he spoke the words, the consternatiOn which such union
 would cause among his friends the
 disapproval of the senior member of his own firm. were as nothing com pared to the suspense of Angela's si- lence.
 Then her radiant onile flashed upon | him.
 'I also, love you" she answered sim
 ply. And I am going to say yes, be-
 cause I believe that I may be-a
 help to you. And now, when you drive me to the end of the road, will you stop for moment at my fathers of flee. l am Angela Wells Father is your senior partner. It was in visit ing him here that became interested , in Tonic, and the rest of my friends.
 (CoDyrisht. 1919. Western NswspsDsr Union)