The Press., 1919-01-16

three, was more like him than this child of his blood, born the next year At the corner a little old man, stopped and slightly lame, wearing clean blue overalls and Jumper, started across the street. Eloise. frOwning heavily, was inattentive to her driving and the old Irishman was knocked down and did not rise. At the hospital to which they took him the two girls, shaken and troubled, waited to learn the extent of his injuries. When he recovered con- sciousness Laurestine, against Eloise's protest, insisted on seeing him. AS she bent over his cot and pair of bright eyes. as blue as her own, looked up at her out of the white old face she burst into tears.
 "It breaks my heart tp think we hurt you!" she cried.
 Don't redden your swate eyes for me-" he whispered. If I die twill be becuz me time has come"
 He put his hand in his bosom and drew out little package. 'T found thot yisterday in the linin' of an old coat whin I were ragpickin'. They ain't worth much, beloike. but they're un- common purity beads. an l said to me self when I found 'em, they'd look purity on me girlie's neck. l were aimin' to mail 'em to ye: didn't know I'd have happiness to put 'em in yer hands meself! Could ye kiss me. me daughter-fer ye are me daughter list vance before ye gO?"
 Your daughter!' she cried out
 "Yis, me dear," he answered. "Whin Nora, your mother, died l gave ye to the rich folk that I knowed 'ud give ye a thousand times better chanst than poor Tom Malone! promised to keep away from ye, and I've done Ut lis much as was in me. l plned constant to hold me little growth daughter In me arms, but as thOt cud not be, I kim to the city where she lived, so I cud sometimes let me eyes rest on her. were d section hand for the railroad until l got lame: now 1 pick rags; Vance In while I've Sint ye present unbeknownst. Do you mind the bunch O American Beauty roses whin "t graduated?
 Laurestine remembered. She had thought Bob had sent them and had not wanted to put his name on them, for that was long before Bob knew she loved him. Crying softly, Laurestine kissed the withe"ad cheek many times
 "I'll be back before six in the morn ing" she promised. "Will you ht awake then?"
 "Sure I will, me dear" he smiled. 'En yell kiss me vance again if Pm sleepin' eternal, and yell wear 'em. won't ye. yer old daddy's head>?" l
 That afternoon Laurestinc was called to the telephone.
 we've got orders to move in the l morning at nine," she heard Lieuten- ant Vincent saying. Sweetheart, I'm ! up for a short half hour this evening""
 TomorrOw-Bob was going tomor. row! They had not dreamed 1t was to ] be so soon. And she had promised | him, if her father would consent, that she would marry him before he left. Her father!
 Bob was Kentuckian, West Pointer, and proud. What would he say if she told him her father were lying. man who said "ut'' for it, and 'niver' when he meant never-a rag picker! .''
 That evening Vincent wondered at Ter white. stricken face. She had d. ways been so cheerfIlly brave before, when they had talked of his going.
 Smile, Laurestine,2 he besOught her; I'm coming back. And you're going to marry me in the morning. as you promised, aren't you? Can you be ready y six for the ceremonyf"