The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-10-15
"All in
the Family"
By GEORGE E. COBB

had just arrived, kissed 1t gaily and
handed 1t to her married sister, Mrs.
Merton. The latter perused it and
placed II on the table. Then both sis
ters broke into smiles as little Will
fred Merton, three years DID, picked
up the envelope, gravely pretended
to read it, kissed it as her auntie had
done and thrust it into the pocket OF
her apron with sense of Importance
quite womanly.
The ladies discussed the anticipated
return of John Bond in detail. He
had been absent for half year, striv-
ing to get rid of some land In Idaho
left him by a sister. There had been
an alfalfa crop to take care of and
now, provided cloud on the title
could be cleared away, an irrigation
company was ready to pay substan-
tial sum for the tract.
"When is father coming, l won
der?" asked Dora.
"He doesn't know exactly himself,
but sometime before the first, think.
What a relief it will be for him to
get money enough to clear up the
debts on the property here and enjoy
life without continually worrying
about the needs of tomorrow !"
Little Wilfrcd wandered off into the
garden by herself, and whenever
mother and aunt got glimpse of her
they observed that she would take the
envelope from her pocket and pretend
to read it, talking to herself about
Grandpa coming home" and post
Office and property" and business"
Late in the afternoon Winnie found
Wilfred asleep on garden bench,
faithfully clasping the envelope i'm her
hand. Just at dusk she went out to
wake up the child and bring her into
the house. but Wlfred had finished
her nap and had strolled off some
where. Mother and aunt searched for
her but could not discover any trace.
Then somewhat anxiously they started
out to look for her outside the home
precincts.
None Of the neighbors had seen her.
Nearly half mile from the house a
that Il little tot answering to the de-
scrptiOn of Wilfred had asked him
the way to the pOstofiice. That was
an hour ago and the now alarmed
women hurried downtown.
Various clews were gained and fol-
lowed down, but fruitlessly. 1t was
dusk when the tired Winnie and her
sister neared their home.
"Why" cried Winnie joyfully, as
they neared the gate, "there is Will
fred now!" and both ran toward the
spot In the garden whence the merry
tones of the little one emanated.
There in the dim twilight she sat on
the self same bench where she had
slept. A young man Winnie had never
seen before was by her side, his hand
held her own and they seemed the
closest Of friends.
"Oh please tell me just one more
story!" Wilfred was pleading when
her mother rushed toward her, clasp
ing her in her arms in a transport Of
delight. Her companion arose to his
feet and bowed courteously.
II found the little one nearly
mile from here" he said, "lOst and
crying. She could not tell where she
lived, but happily showed me an en-
velope giving this address. brought
her here and we have been waiting
for some one to come and claim her."
"How can we ever thank your"
cried Winnie, and In the exuberance
Of her gratitude she took his hand
in friendly clasp, and then flushed
at the temerity of the impulse and
looked more beautiful than ever in
the eyes of very impossible young
man.
Wilfred chung to him clear to the
gate and then wept because he had
promised to tell her another story.
She was so insistent and Mrs. Merton
felt so kindly toward Mr. Wilton Bart
ley as he introduced himself, that she
asked him to stay to tea. His visit
ran well into the evening and he re-
ceived genial invitation to come
again.
Within a month Wilton BARLEY was
had flashed upon his life, bright mag
netic meteor. He had travelled a great
deal, and one evening in reciting an
adventure near certain town In
Idaho, Winnie remarked:
THAT is where my father is at pres
emf" and told something Of his mis-
sion there. BARLEY looked strangely
interested and the next day told his
new friends that he was going away
from the city for week or so, and
when he babe Winnie good night at
the door as clearly as he could without
exactly telling her that he loved her,
he indicated that upon his return he
would have something of special inter-
est to both of them to impart.
Three days later BARLEY introduced
himself to John Bond in an Idaho
town and explained how, through his
daughter, he had learned of his iden-
tify on6 U-haraohnntc