Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-01-14
CHAPT Err !.
"Tony"-Eor Short.

Lake Cayuga, and an early spring had
brought from the South the red-breast-
ed robins and thousands of other birds
to build their homes in the Forest
city, as Ithaca. n. Y, is we'll called,
for to the south, the east, the west,
and even to the north where the lake
cut sharply around a corner, broad
forests stretched their lengths and
heights of leaf and bough on minia-
ture mountains.
One evening on the western side of
the railroad tracks, q girl stood before
a small building over which, like ropes
of green, draped the branches of a
weeping willow tree. This building
was different from any of the other
painted, and the door stood open all
day.
Twas a strange little girl that
gazed up with searching eagerness at
the two lighted signs that had arrest
ed her attention. In her arms she
held a diminutive guinea pig, and the
way she Rugged it close demonstrated
her love for it.
1.-THE SALVATION ARMY" she
spelled out and thoughtfully consid-
cred it.
Everybody is welcome here" she
read slowly That meant that anyone
could enter If he wanted to, she de-
cided, and as Tonnibel Devon did
want to go in, she softly tiptoed up
the steps and peeped into the room.
AS there was nobody in sight, she
sidled in and looked about.
welcome was curved in letters of
red above a table, and the silent young
stranger sighed. She couldn't under
stand how a girl could be really well
come anywhere. OF course her moth
er liked her and missed her when she
was away, but Tony knew of no other
place where she was really wanted
but the canal boat, called Mary and
Dirty Mary for short, which had been
her home ever since she could re-
member.
"Glory be to God In the highest"
swung in letters of gold across the
right wall, and to the left, "Stand Still
and See the Salvation of the Lord"
kept her attention little longer She
didn't know what they meant, but the
varied colors shining brilliant in the
bright light Gained her turbulent
spirit and made her happy. She
Rugged the pig closer, bent her head
and kissed the top of its ear.
II guess we're in church, Gussie,
she said aloud, "and you mustn't grunt
or squeal like you do on the Dirty
Mary. It's awful nice and quiet, amt
it, honey?
'Were you speaking to me?" said a
voice from near the door.
TOnnibel Devon struggled to her
feet, turned around and saw a young
man looking at her. A flame of red
rushed over the tanned skin, but be-
cause he was smiling and kindly, she
smiled back, dimple coming to life
at each corner of her mouth
"Nope," she flung out in confusion.
ST was talkin' to Gussie-Piglet here.
Mebbe her and me hadn't ought to be
here. You can kick us out if you
want to-"
Philip MacCauley, the captain of
the Salvation army in Ithaca, bowed
and then he laughed
every one is welcome here" he
quoted, coming forward. "Where'd
you come from? I've never seen you
before"
"I'm staying up Hogholc way" re-
piled Tony. 81 amt been around
Ithaca long. This is an awful nice
room, amt it, huh?'
eyes, very We like it." replied the
young man. "St down: don't be in a
hurry. | want to talk to you"
Tonnibel did sit down but not very
comfortably. She was embarrassed in
the presence of this handsome young
stranger. abashed in the glamOr of his
uniform, and all the beauty of him.
With boyish admiration he was con-
templating the sparkle of her gray
eyes. shaded by long lashes as ebony
black as her hair which hung in ring
lets to her waist. He decided that
she was very pretty, and that he liked
to have her in the Salvation army
quarters.
Cant you stay for meeting this
EVENING"" he asked presently. "We
have singing here"
TOny's eyes deepened almost to lus-
trOus black.
"Oh, I'd love that" Then she shook
her head. "Nope" she went on, 81 got
to go home to mummy. She's all
alone! NIebbe when my daddy gets
back, I'll come some time and sit clean
through the night"
For an instant the smile stayed
about the boys lips, then gravity set
4 tied once more over his earnest young
face.
whats done in this placer she
questioned after while.
n "Oh we sing and read and pray,
replied the boy I'VE do everything