Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1921-09-23
ADOPTING TED
BY JACK LAYTON.
20 by Mcclure Newspaper syndloats.)


Thadeus went along the tree Dor
dered path, feeling strangely at
variance with his surroundings. Coun-
try lanes and primitive ways were
no accustomed things to the city
banker. And so long had he bent
over cash drawers and intricate figure
Ing, in his impressive steel cage, that
Thadeus himself acquired an impor-
tant a%loOfness born of his task. He
fretted now Indignantly against his
doctors unusual prescription.
"One restful day In the country
the great man said, will do more
for you than bottles of medicine. A
restful month would do better"
Thadeus rebelled against the month";
that would be unbearable. He knew
that his nerves of late had been pill
ing up misery in many unexpected
ways, and he knew also that he must
relax and find a changing Of ways.
He thought, as he stepped dlstaste-
fully over the dust, OF his W gloomy
home in the city, with grabbed Han
nah in charge o. constantly chang
ing maids, and he wondered after all.
what his struggle for money had
amounted to. Certain 1t was that IL
brought no happiness nor happiness
In store. But he had been placed
In the trcad-mlll. and because Of his
skill, must so OF and on, epdlessly
counting and accommodating more dol
lars. Perhaps IL was a breath OF
sweet clover across the fields which
caused him To think Of love, some
thing vaguely sweet and comforting,
which had passed him by. There was
not much chance now that love would
I cUufe to him to stay. He was too
buslly absorbed aud unapproachable.'
The mi had grown upon him,
with the loneliness Of his years, and he
was, after all, not sure that he wished
to be shaken out OF the accepted way.
He stopped to brush n leaf from his
palm-bcacl suit, and encountered
surprisingly, n child's grasping hand.
Daddy :" cried the child delight
cdly, Daddy" Thadeus frOwned, the
warm moist little body was pressing
against his immaculate trousers.
Take me-" commanded the intruder.
take me up. Ted's tired; Ted's
lost" Gazing mt the boy. Thadeus
heSitatcd uncertainty. then with an
ineXplicable impulse lifted him In his
arms; clinging small arms encircled
the mans neck.
How trustfully now he lay in his
arms. 1hadeuS reflected sinkingly,
that no creature had ever before
cOntidingly sought his protection or
turned to him in seeking affection.
That was strange-too. At the bend
Of the road he saw n young woman.
She was seated on the clover dotted
grass, resting against a tree, an open
book in her hands. At sight Of him
self with the boys curly head on his
shoulder he m smiled-a wei
coming smile.
"TIOw do you dor" she said, 81 see
You have found my boy" Thadeus,
though he had for such a brief
moment glimpSed her, was conscious
of distinct disappointment.
"Your bOyY Thadeus repeated, yes.
I found him"
She leaned forward eagerly.
"And you like Ted?"
II suppose thai | do like Ted. He
took me for his father, called me
Daddy. Perhaps your boy has not
seen his father for n time" The
young woman reached up TO relieve
him Of the sleeping burden.
"Tcd'S father Is dead" she explained
gently. "Tcd does not remember him
Mt ALL" !
TOO bad." Thadeus murmured con-
fusedly. nice little chap. Rather took
TO me-" he added pleased.
The girl raised her dark eyes to his.
"WOuld you like" she asked calmly,
"tO take Ted, and keep himT"
Thadeus gasped. She was evidently
serious in her question, earnestly
awaiting his reply.
IOU fDll|u no 81 ilutU IOF MN,
she explained, $50 very much more
than /. You see. / happen TO know
who you are. | have seen YOU in the
bank-many years. OF course" she
smiled again, you would not remem'
Der me.
Thadeus sat S~peechless. When he
found his voice he tried to make It
coldly disappearing. But this was din.
cult before the entreating softness OF
the girls dark eyes.
"You-the boys mother" he ex-
claimed. would give him away--to q
stranger"
The young woman wrinkled her
pretty brows pe~rplexedly.
81, Ted's mOther?" she repeated,
"why the poor little soul is m orphan.
I brought him ont here with me on
nv vacation, for two weeks Of fresh
air in the country. Ted Is for adop-
ton; and they wrote me from the
ASYLUM that any possible applicant
would be directed here, so ! took you
for an applicant. Ted has been taught
70 say mother or father ingratiat-
ingly. Poor fOrlOrn little Tedr
Thadeus sat promptly down on the