The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-01-11
FATE AND A DOLL
BY JANE GORDON


Because of his solitary condition
Uncle Horace usually made his home
with one or another Of his relatives.
Uncle Horace was seldom considered,
apart from his usefulness, or conyen-
iently obliging nature.
So. upon certain evening, Marion,
the youngest niece, herself apparently
young enough TO be a playmate to her
very young daughter. Marion, called to
Uncle Horace. established beneath the
shaded light with his evening paper,
"Uncle Horace. tomorrow will be
Jewels second birthday, and had
quite forgotten that she has set her
heart upon a Mamma doll. 1t Is
rather late for me to go down to the
toy shop, but walk will do you good"
Certainly, my DEAR" Uncle Horace
FASTENED to agree, and with sigh of
resignation put aside his paper and got
into his overcoat
you just gently bend Dorothy-doll
So" explained the saleswoman, "and.
you see, she responds with Mamma. :"
Uncle Horace was trudging along the
avenue, when from beneath his
cloaked arm came a sudden and dis
tinct cry. Two women passing looked
at him curiously and hesitated in their
walk. Mamma" came again, MANI
ma" They smiled understandingIy
and went on. But as the trim bache-
lor passed the Select club, of which
he was a member, several men COM
ing down the marble steps, halted per-
plexedly, staring, as came the muffied
cry of Mamma"
"It's a COMPOUNDED doll gift for my
young great-niece." he laughed back
at his friends. A small woman hurry
ing on in the darkness paused at his
laughing explanation. Uncle Horace
saw her appraised face then in the
street lamps glow. There was GER
tain diffident air in her hesitation-an
eager anxious light in her blue eyes.
He shifted his burden. Mamma"
Mamma" cried Dorothy-doll. The
bachelor flushed angriiy; he was tired
, of being an object of amused interest.
But there was no amusement In the
small woman's glance.
II beg your pardon" her pleasing
voice aceosted, land / am sure you
will think me very strange. May /
explain? My little girl is at home, i'll
with bronchitis. She has tempera-
lure, and we are trying to please
and calm her. She has an insistent
longing for doll that will say Mann
ma / have promised all day to go
out and buy one, but could not leave
her alone. There was no one to stay
with her. So, tonight, as she fell into
light sleep-from which she will
presently awaken thought would
run down to the toy shop to purchase
such a DOLL Now that / have come
this far, / am consumed with anxiety
lest she should waken and be afraid,
finding herself alone. You understand
my unusual and desperate need? May
/ buy the doll from you here? Could
you possibly wait-to get anOther?
Tears of embarrassment filled sud-
denly the blue eyes; smiling, sympa-
thetic, Uncle Horace passed the box
into her keeping.
The small woman's thank you"
was eloquent. Hurriedly she went on
her way, while the patient Uncle Hor-
ace retraced his steps to the toy shop.
There's something awfully differ
ent about him. Niece Marion confided
later to her husband. Uncle was al
ways so menable; so willing towel,
efface himself. Now he has the most
Independent air-goes walking alone
his spare afternoons instead of offer
ing to take Jewel with him. And yes
terday-Marion looked about, then
whispered myself saw him driving
in his car with nice-looking woman
and a little child. Now, who do you
suppose that woman could be? Uncle
never had secret before"
Some client, perhaps" carelessly
answered Marion's husband. Horace
does not go out socially, so how could
he come to know strange women and
children?"
Uncle Horace, at that moment, was
the center of happy homelike pic
ture. In the pretty living room of a
tiny fiat he sat, "a small girl on his
knee, gentle woman with shining
eyes regarding them both. Uncle
Horace, his cigar held carefully aside,
was bending calico-frocked doll in
such a manner that she responded
promptly with a call for mamma"
At this Popsie. the golden-haired
child, laughed merrily, while her
chubby arm Rugged the mans neck.
The little woman arose presently to
place a plate of frosted cakes and red
apples at uncle's side. The look she
gave him was tender and admiring.
Uncle Horace undoubtedly had come
into his own. No more obliging self
/ effacement, no wistfuIly eager COM
pliance to please. Here he was the
pleased. the appreciated.
81 really think" Ruth Meredith, the
small woman, said softly, that you
were sent my way that night by kindly
fate, Horace. The same kindly fate
which brought US to meet afterward.
All my life I have been lonely-per-
haps you alone may understand how
lonely. For there are those who must
wait for their one true mate. 1t was
this desolate condition, which caused
me to adopt my sisters baby. after her
death. Popsy loves you, too"
"Tool'' repeated Uncle Horace, and
smiled his joy. 1--WE shall be happy
family, my wife. my new-found daugh-
ter, and l."
Il declare" Marion summed up the
situation to her listening husband