Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-16
he Story
of Niinette"
A New Serial
By Ruby Ayres
CHAPTER /.
4 Wait Is Born.

Ninstte was born in cheap lodgings in
a dun road IN the worst part Of BALKAN
The road ended in a cuI-de-sac. and the
cheap lodgings. which were at the back
Of the house, overlooked a yard belonging
to a veterinary surgeon, where dogs
how-led and barked all day and most OF
the night, making sleep Impossible to
anybody but a woman as III as was
Ninettr's poor little mother.
She was so i'll that nothing. not even
NInette's piteous walling. could waken
her from the stupor into which she had
fallen, so Ill that when the landlady, who
meant well, but whose heart had grown
hard from too much work and too little
tcyousness, came and bent over her and
said sharply: Goodness. rouse your
self, my girl, you can't die here :" she did
not even trouble 10 raise her eyelids. nor
reply: so i'll that when the last sunset
ray faded and slipped away out Of sight
behind the slated roof OF the veterinary
surgeons stables Ninette's mother
slipped away with It, leaving her baby
waIling alone in the shadOwy room
There was fine TODD IN the house
vrrung her hands and ran screaming 10
her neighb9r and the police came. and
A doctor was fetched. and half the street
gathered about the gate, aud someone
searched hurriedlv through the dead
u-onlan's belongings for means OF iden-
fihcatiOn, but nothing was found be
vond an old book Of poems with the
name "Ninette'' written on the fyleaf.
The IandIady tossed IL contemptuousIy
aside-she had no sympathy with poetry
and SIGH" as she called Il, and broke into
fresh lamentations
Il all came OF being too kind hearted
and taking the poor thing in her trouble;
she ought 70 have known better, that she
ought! There was no gratitude in the
world. OF would the woman have died
and landed her in for this
But that the woman was dead there
was no denying, and that she had died
without friends seemed an equal Ger
raInty, and late that night she was car-
RED away from the house in cheap
coffin. and the world knew her no more
But the baby walled, and walled, and
walled.
It lay on an improvised bed in a corner
Of the landlady's Kitchen, and gave her
no peace.
Someone had suggested sending II 10
the workhouse, but some far away mem
orv OF her youth had stirred in the har-
dened heart Of the landdaly and she said
brusqueIy:
Let II be for a bit-aad ven see"
But she was tired. and the iusty cry
ing Of the motherless infant began 70 get
on her nerves. and she Was on the verge
~ wrapping Il IN a shawl snd taking
IL OF 10 the workhouse herself, when
someone creaked down the stairs and
knocked at the kitchen door
The Iandhdy said: "Oh come in.
exssperatedly. and her frowuing face did
not clear at all when the door opener
and a tall thin young man Of uncertain
age. with mournful eyes and pale lace
entered.
he shut the door behind him and hesi-
tsted a moment before he said nervously;
aThe baby cries good deal. Mrs
Purton."
Mrs. Purton frowned more heavily
Have you only just discovered that,
Mr.. Wheeler" she asked with sarcasm
Where have you been. may I ask. that
YOU haven't heard her yelling for the
past four hours:
The young man came farther into the
room siII he stood besire the improvlsed
cradle where Ninette lay
III
quantities OF soft dark hair. rosebud
Of mouth and perfect little dimpled
hands that were waving wildly in the air
The young man put forward cautious
finger and Ninette's dlminutive fist closet
about It.
Il shan have 10 take her 70 the work
house after an Mrs. PurtOn went on
CURLY. Not that I've any opinion Of
the workhouse, poor mite. but what can
do7 slave from morning till night and
night till morning as fl IS, and the Lord
knows I can only just keep body and soul
together. Folks should be more con-
misunderstanding babies into the world
pOor lambs, as aren't wanted. and not SO
much as leaving a penny piece to keep
EN- with. I've no patience with such
things, that I haven't"
The young man cleared his throat
twice nervOusly; then he turned round
and looked full at Mrs. Purton-
"If you-if its possible 10 find some
one who wlll-wiI look after her TIL
tiu she's able 70 rough It bit he SAID
jerkiIy, Il shall be pleased to-delighteo
tO-pay."
His pale face was red enough by the
time he had finished speaking and his
uournful eyes were fierce as they dared
Mrs. Purton to scoT at him
Rut after the first amazed stare, the
landlady burst into tears.
.Tm sure I never wished to send the
pretty dear 10 the woTkhouse," she sob
bed noisily. "It went to my heart to
think OF it. that IT did; but what can
i do? I'm that poor meself.''
The young man interrupted ruthlessly-
1T have said that 1 viii pay. There
must be-surely there are-wOmen who
would take her and look after her
Mrs. PurtOn dried her eyes on her
aprOn and wept afresh.
Its making a burden for yourself
you are" she said. And IL I'D be BET
ter to let her go 10 the workhouse right
from the first, rather than bring hef up
in comfort. SO to speak. and then, when
she was getting big enough TO look
round and understand. to throw her back
on charity"
Il have said I viii pay" said the young
man again quietly. $50 il youu make
nrrangements-"
He paused for a moment. looking down
at Ninette who had rlOmentarily stopped
Continued on Page Three.)