Evening star., 1935-10-13
overs sent Sugars heart to racing

flowers sent Sugars heart to racing
happily.
oh" she threw back her head.
when they had sat down in big, easy
chairs, Its so grand here in June.
wish it could always be June time"
Life isn't always June. though.
child" Sophia struggled for an OPEN
ing to what she had to say. "Its con-
slant change. And we have to take
December right along with May"
"I'll take vanilla" Sugar wrinkied
her nose pertly. But I'll probably get
razzberry. How about game of crib
bage when nobody is looking?"
They'd sneaked a game of cribbage
often, even though mother had al
ways been afraid some one would ac-
cuse her of showing partiality. But
the matron shook her head. Then
Sugar noticed her face was pale and
strained.
Mother" she got up anxiously to
sit down at the old lady's knee, aren't
you feeling we'll tonight?"
"Oh, yes" Sophia plunged then. Its
Just that I have news Tor you and
hardly know how to start"
For a moment Sugar looked startled.
Then she clutched Mothers hand.
| Il know. Tits time for me to
leave here. I'm IT,"
Sophia gathered the little red head
in her arms so that Sugar could not
see the sorrow in her eyes.
"Yes, dear The board met this aft
ernoon and they just won't let me keep
you any longer. We're so crowded"
For a moment Sugar was silent.
She released herself gently and smiled
Whitley.
well! So I'm to have a try at the
big cruel world. Isn't it thrilling?"
! Sophia Friddle made no attempt to
hide her tears then. She took Sugars
strong young hands in her wrinkled
one and held them tightly.
II might have known you'd take it
with your chin up. honey. But I did
dread telling you. You're like my own
child"
A little sob broke from Sugar and
she buried her head in the old lady's
lap.
You're like my mother" she choked
childishly. Il don't know what I shall
do without you"
"You can always come to me when
you need me-" Sophia patted the red
curls gently. "And whatever can do
for you, my child, I will do
What am I going TO do?" Sugar
asked bewilderedly. Where can I
60 to find work?"
Mother Friddle was silent for mo-
ment.
DO YOU think" her voice shook a
little, you'd be happy staying with
Mrs. Dick Locker lie Masters. taking
care of her little boy?"
Sugar gasped.
"Oh," she cried incredulously, you
don't mean you've found home for
me there! In that beautiful house!"
Sophia studied the little round, rosy
face a moment and saw the amazing
dimple, which came out in Sugars
right cheek only when she was
specially pleased, was beginning to
blossom. 1t made you want to do nice
things for Sugar just so you could see
it come and 60.
Mother nodded afirmatively and a
great load dropped of her shoulders
when Sugars eyes danced with happy
tears.
"Oh. Mother, it's too good to be
true!"
C&-t;. ,..;1oL - yo.&
II guess it's the hand of Providence.
This morning heard Mrs. lie Masters
colored nurse, Dillie, had just been
married and left. ! went to see her
and it took me two hours to persuade
her to give you chance. But she
finally decided to let you come"
"Oh, I'll work so hard to please
her." Sugar threw her arms around
Miss Friddle's neck and dropped a
large tear on her lace collar. I'm
the luckiest girl in the world! Mrs.
lie Masters Is the richest woman in
Lorien, isn't she?"
Eyes, and If you please her and
make her love you, she may do WON
derful things for you, honey. But
you know. You're going into her
home as a servant"
But that perturbed Sugar not in
the least. In her world every one was
equal. She had known only the Or
phaned-the fatherless, the mother
less, the poverty-stricken or the un-
wanted. The genius of Sophia Frid-
dies ability to keep her little people
happy had kept Sugar from feeling
like an orphan.
Miss Friddle's children, somehow,
didn't even have the look of the ira
ditional orphan. Except for the
plain blue serviceable uniforms all
wore, they might be any group of chill
dren at play or work. Years of fight
ing with the board for certain humane
rules. unheard of in the average or
phanage, had failed to kill her sense
of humor or her firm conviction that
even an orphan should have o mind
and soul. of its own.
For several minutes Sugar seemed
lost In q haze of rosy dreams, and
Sophia held her closely and kept si-
lent. Her own burden was SO greatly
relieved with the girls entire willing
ness to follow the plan she had
worked out that the old lady was al
most too weary to talk.
But the road would not be so
smooth for Sugar as 1t looked. Sophia
knew. She had told the girl as much
Of life as she dared-much md,e than