The Adair County news., 1920-12-29

1t might have been this action on
her part that brought to quick fruition
the resolve that had begun to live the
night before when Doctor Pendleha-
ven had tramped along the boulevard
to Ithaca. From what she had told
him now, she had been left alone. Then
there was no one to ask permission Of
to help her.
where's your fatherT he said.
abruptly.
IT dunno" answered Tonnibel, lit
tie sulkily. She didn't intend ever to
speak of Uriah to anyone.
"Then you are all alone, now that
your mothers gone? Do understand
you haven't any relatives"
"Not anybody" she hesitated, Eat
least, not now. Not anybody but Gus
sie-Piglet here"
She touched the little animal with
exquisite tenderness. Doctor Pendle-
haven leaned over and, placing one
finger under the girls chin, raised her
face to his. Come with me-" he said
softly.
TOnnibel followed him through what
seemed to her long miles of halls.
When he ushered her into a room and
closed the door, she stood a moment
taking in all its magnificence. The at
mosphere was laden with heavy per-
fume of flowers, and then she saw
something else. A man lay partly
IN h11v. 1fy,rr
eyes staring at her.
This is my brother, Paul Pendle-
haven, my child" said Doctor John.
HE wants to thank you for bringing
back the picture"
"Sit down a WHILE" murmured Doc
tor Paul.
She sQuatted unceremOniously upon
the bed beside the pig.
Our little friend here is in trOu-
ble," said Doctor John to his brother,
"and wants work. I'll come back after
three" Then he went out.
For a long time Paul Pendlehaven
looked at Tony, and Tony looked back
at him. Tony was mentally plying
him with all her loving heart. He was
thinking over the conversation he and
his brother had had about this strange
little girl who had brought from a
thiefs den the picture Of his baby.
"How would you like to stay here
while with met" he asked at length.
Gray eyes widened to the fullest ex-
tent of fringed lids.
"LOrdy," was all TOnnibel could say,
as she glanced around.
"You might wait on me-" explained
the doctor, land keep me company.
do get lonely sometimes. Would you
like that? 1 know you like flowers"
81 love EN-" cried Tonnibel.
Pendlehaven smiled into the shining
eyes. He felt better already.
give such a lot of them all over this
wing" he went on. "You might take
care of them for me and-and other
things"
Tony was almost bursting with Joy.
She had within her the greatest gift
of God, supreme gratitude. To work
for him would be bliss indeed. She
didn't want to cry, so to keep from it.
she bit down on her red Underlip. 1He
had said in positive tones that he
wanted her. 1t did seem good to be
wanted somewhere. What she did then
Pendlehaven remembered many a long
day. She bent over and kissed his
hand. The warm red lips thrilled him
as vibrant youth always thrills weak
ness.
"Can Gussie stay, tOO?" she pleaded
presently. Shed be without anybody
if she didn't have me-"
Eyes" said Pendlehaven, as his
brother opened the door, You can
make her a nice home in my cOnserva-
tory"
1t took but a moment for the sick
man to explain to Doctor John his ar
engagements with TOnnibel, and the
girls heart was not the only rejoicing
one among the trio.
When Katherine Curtis came home
late that afternoon she found her