The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1920-06-11
"GLADDIE"
BY JEANNE L. DARLING.
% 1910. By Ncciur. N.rspapsr syndicate J

Hilicrest people nave not yet fOrS
gotten the eccentricities Of Peter
Tromp. When he built his house. the
hest situated In the village, II had two
fronts. One. with q big piazza. faced
the street here Katie. his wife. sat
and sewed or visited. The other fac
ed the meadows behind the hill town:
here. silent and moody. Peter used to
sit and ga,e at the faraway blue out.
lines Of beautiful eastern mountains.
They were not as friendly As hus-
band and wife should be-Peter and
Katie weren't. There were no chill.
dren TO bind their hearts together;
then. too. Katie loved her neighbors
and Peter did not He would not
even 60 10 flie little meeting house on
Sabbath days. and Ksties heart was
bitter about this The minister once
expostulnted. hut Peter led him
through his house and onto the back.
or rather the fr,nt porch.
THAT there's my church. and good
enough for me-" he answered. point.
ing toward the mountains, which lay
serene majestic. understanding. IN tho
purplc.rri colors OF sunset. and no
more would he say.
Two days after Emma Simonds died.
Katie went into Peters garden and
found Emmn's four.ycar. old daughter
there playing 'mudpies" with Peter.
They seemed the best OF chums.
At sight Of Katie Peter drew the
n rss.f taI child
beside him. Ills great. gaunt body
trembled with tenderness.
~ shall keep her. he said dehantiy.
Katie looked at Glnddics irrespon.
slble face and shuddered.
1.-THE Idea :" she objected. You're
crazy. Peter. Her aunt Ellnll have 10
take her. It's mighty risky tnkln' 9TH
er tolkscs' young uns TO bring NJ. Be-
sides, I don't have no time to look az
ter n child, anyway. And what would
the neighhors Ihlnk?"
Peters eyes blazet.
"Ilillcrrst mint my Judge" he an
swcred shortly.
Peters wiz. smiled snr,onicaiiy.
swell. s'long : she don't bother me.
she cnn stay" aud sne went back Into
the house.
Peter All G'a,iiic snt on. hand In
hnnd. "n III" Steps.
Daddy" sh. said Joyously. ana
strokc'i his face. lie gathered her IN.
10 his arms aud sne cuidl.d up
agnInSf his breast ana slept. The sun
went down and the mountains took
on vngr". haunting outlines IN the
darkenlng distance: pence lay over
the valley world ana refers eyes hun
griIy took In the signt until his soui
was satisfied. aud he. too. slept. his
head against the porch milling. They
were still there when Katie. returning
from nm evening call. came out and
found them.
so this Is the way you're goIn' to
take care ~ her, IN II. PeterT' she
Jared. "Shs's probably got her death
OF cold" nh, yes, Kate knew how her
words We're hurting the man she had
married. "She'll 20 to her Aunt Elias
tomorrow, Just rs sure Ms the sun
comes up"
She took the sleeping child and
bundled her into the house. Peter fol-
lowed, creSifallen, conscience struck.
Not for worlds would he have harmed
the child he was learning to love pas.
sionately. In time ne got back some
OF his dignity.
"lou let me have her" he com.
manded firmly. II want to look after
her myself, and I'm goin' to keep her.
too" he added not so firmly.
"Tili mornin'," Katie agreed. grimly.
and went out 10 SIT alone OH her porch.
GiaddIe was Wide awake now and
her happy laughter came out to Katie.
Somehow It drove the anger out OF her
heart and Allied II with q strange des-
olate feeling.
"whnt's that. Daddyf Gladdie was
asking. Gladdie's up-bringing had
been woefully deficient In some lines.
"a nigbtie-gownf 10 II Gladdis's. dad.
dyr
"It's Gladdie's tonight" she heard
Peter say. gently. "wsri get Gladdle
one OF her own tomorrow"
"who has II when Gladdle amt
here" the child persisted.
katie" gruffy.
"who's Katie, Daddyr'
"She's--she's." Katie knew her hus-
band was cropping for words. "she's
your new mamma"
Katie rose ansrily. To put such no
items into the childs hesdi
Peter" she called. "you harness