The Glenwood post., 1923-05-31


loved the air, the sunshine.
"Mornin'," called rasping voice.
''Why, Mr.. Wopple. good morning y
she returned briskly. "Ain't it a
grand dayY'
"Well pretty fair" conceded Mr..
Wopple grudgingly. He never so far
encouraged anything, even the
weather, as to give 1t unqualified ap-
proval.
Mr.. Wopple was night watchman
in some vague building near the
water front; and no one in The Gus
tard Cup questioned his being emf
nently adapted to exactly that work.
Watchfulness was the keynote Of his
personality; he sacrificed many hours
Of possible daytime sleep by bringing
his professional activities into the
home field
"Yes, it's grand day." repeated
Mrs. Penfield. quite as If she had re-
ceived more encouragement. "How
are you feeling, Mr. Wopple?"
"Jest middlin'," he replied, in die
away voice. His small, beady eyes
were filmed for moment, out of def
erence to this sentiment. He gazed
Mt Mrs. Penf1eld with new shrewd.
ness which she would have sensed at
once If she had been less occupied.
IT see Thads got a new rig" con-
dnued Mr.. Wopple. in the manner Of
one who delivers preamble.
"Yes, bless the baby!' laughed Mrs.
Penfield. 81 finished that up last
night. I'm sorry it's pink, cause II
don't go with his hair the best ever.
hut that nice gingham couldn't go to
waste"
81 expect Thad's lucky to get as
much's that" Mr. Wopple now be.
gan on the main argument
Sure. He was little disappointed
bout the color cause he amt struck
with pink, but that's good for him.
I figger a child ought to be disppoint.
ed at least once a week, in order to
get used to life" She discarded a
broken clothespin and reached into
her pocket for another.
II guess likely you aimed to have
folks think he was your own kid"
insinuated Mr.. Wopple, testing the
strength of his old pruning-shears
Land. no. l never claimed he was.
He's mine cause l adopted him and
love him, and cause he loves me.
That's all there is to it."
Mr.. Wopple thought otherwise. Its
easy said, Mis- Penteld, but I'll bet
there's lot more to it. Where'd YOU
get Thad, Mis- Penfield?"
With quick movement she lifted
the sheet and pinned it into place.
The records are for Thad when he
grows up"
You got some records, thenY"
"Mebbe," she returned, on guard.
Il don't see what diff'runce 1t makes"
well, I should say it made lot.
Course you'd want to know what kind
o folks he had. Might be things that'd
erop out. You'd be the one to be dis.
ppointed If he was to turn out q
robber or murderer or somep'n."
Mrs. Penfeld shook out a white
skirt and smiled. "All you got to do,
Mr.. Wopole, is to look at Thad once
and you won't talk that way. He's
rs sweet baby as ever was, and
there amt nothing In his face that
nln't good and dear. If he ever turns
out bad, it won't be his fault; it'll
he cause I failed him."
"Shaw! More like it'd be somep'p
in his birth"
Mrs. Penfield jammed down a
clothespin with violence that
snapped 1t in two, but her voice was
still pleasant. "Thad's got past his
hirth by most four years. and he
won't never get mixed up with II
again. He didn't inherit nothing diet
I'm afraid of, and one of the main
reasons I'm living Is to see that ne
develops Just the way he's started.
It's a good way; like 1t; and If the
Lord spares me, hen be ready to
meet the world face to face when
he's growed up"
Her neighbor's thin lips twisted
"All is," he said slowly, digging his
broken shears Into a post, II thought
mebbe you'd like to know there's talk
started. You see, Ben Simmons
come in t'other day and he saw
Thad. He said he couldn't get over
it-Thad looks SO much like kid he
knew about, year ago. Perfect
Image. Ben saysl"
Mrs. Penfeld made no reply. A
flush rose In her cheeks. but she
placed her pins carefully In the last
garment
"Well. Ben says this kid didn't have
no family he could be proud Of. Seems
his mother run of somewhere and
died Of 1t. and his father was 'rrested
for somep'n and"
Mr.. Wopple was Caring at the post,
and therefore did not ee Mrs. Pen