Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-09-02
Basy's Photograph
BY oTlLLlA F. PFEIFFER
: g 1ssScooSeo

an! the accents were those OF dlSap-
pai:ii.d ,Han
III. is4,. Glanced to cast his eyes up
on the bureau where lay his wife's
Mrtius materials. 1t held letter
Which We recognized as from their mar
iieu Gaushler, lsunice, who lived IN
H;yn,Eset. and beside it was photo
graph, shnt OF u child perhaps two
Wars old. t,,,liar ii was poorly TAX
Ell piei.re or the subject was out
rageDu:,,y ugly looking naturally.
"liomely as sim srowled Joel, feel
iil.; wronged rs u grnadparent. 1.-THE
fiissi in the family, and squints, big
nose and ears. and Ma egging me on
tn be prepared TO give it pretty
present. Why, it ought to have a
mask :"
Isunice and her husband had not
been back home since they were mar
ried. Now they had announced two
wee,;s visit, and little Virginia was
TO be brought in triumph. Little
ch4rub," took the prize at baby
show $50 smart and cute!" and like
enthusiastic sentiments from it's fond
grandmother had aroused pride and
anticipation in the mind of Joel Dor
kns. Now he was disllusoned, with
a positive shock. The photograph lay
before him. probably just sent by Eu-
nice. He had gone to a jeweler the
week before and had ordered a costly
neck chain, he had written out check
Jp11 f0 hn mr.
ed to the wonderful granddaughter as
the start of a savings account.
"I'll cancel the order and tear up the
check" declared Joel wrathfully. II
hope they don't parade the child
around to have people endure its APP
pallins LONELINESS. 'Cherub. Pretty
as a picture Looks just like moth
Wv Vow
Joel swung from room and house
in fever of dissatisfaction and re-
sentiment Half mile away lived
Harper briggs, the father of Eunice's
husband briggs was retired farm
er, well-to-do, and Joel located him in
the upper floor of the barn where he
had work shop. Originally briggs
had been weaver in straw and split
cane. To while away his idle hours
he once in awhile INDUCED in potter
ing at his old trade, purely for pleas
ure. He was now making chair for
his granddaughter.
"Whatever possesses father?" more
than once during the week Mrs. Dor
kins observed 10 her daughter. "He
has q regular crouch all of the time.
Goes around as if the coming of your
sister and Walter and the baby was
bore and annoyance to him."
ooh, you're mistaken, mammal" in
sisted Nora Dorkins. "He is just so
anxious to see the little one, and cod
die it, and crow over it that he can
hardly wait until Tuesday arrives"
Joel Dorkins overheard the latter
opinion expressed and shook himself,
and growled, and went out in the gar
Gen and kicked up the turf. Those
big eyes! That fiat nose!
Tuesday took him to town. The
briggs trio We're expected to arrive
about noon. Joel returned home about
two o'clock. He was slightly penitent
as to his aversion for the ugly child
he was expected to go into ecstasies
over He could not feel pleasant or
welcoming but he felt 1t duty to
appear glad and cheerful at having
Eunice once more under the home roof
AS he neared the house he fancied he
distinguished a, futter Of feminine
skirts disappearing. AS he walked up
the gravel Path he stared hard. Seated
in the wicker rocker that briggs had
made and presented was the most ex
qusitey perfect and beautiful little
child his gaze had ever rested upon
Her eyes were starlike. her ringlets
suggested an aureole of FURNISHED gold
The moment she saw him approaching
she arose, clapped her hands, and then
extending them caressingly toward:
him. exclaimed in wild and Joyous
glee:
"Dear Anspa! Use Virginia Estellt
briggs. How did you do?"
Joel fairly reeled. AS there camt
suppressed tittering from beyond thu
screen door leading into the hallway
he realized that the child was repeat
ing a tutored lesson framed for hi
especial benefit. The child falrl.
sprang into his arms. There he hell
her, quivering all over with emotions
he could not analyze.
Then he came in for hugging iron
Eunice which his son-in-law followe'
with a genial, heartsome greeting. AM
while they all babbled over the de
lighted little one, Joel stole out to tn
kitchen. He hung around his wife il
Il wayeging. unaccountable way unit
she challenged:
",Joel, what ever possesses you, act
ing like a man in a daze!"
'I was Just wondering" blurted Joe
81 noticed photograph of baby o
your bureau"
"Oh, that-your picture when 20
was baby" replied Mrs. Dorkin'
"What about it?"
"Oh, nothing at all y answered Joe
with vince.
"Your mother gave it to me year
ago. You wasn't much Of a locker
those days, Ell, Joel?"
He made for his little den of al l
brary in the wing of the house, ponde
ing over his egregious mistake Fl
closed its door and took up the tel
phone to call up the town jewele
Send up that neck chain,' he ordere
"Thought you didn't want it?"
changed my mind. Send it up tn
pys