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Newspaper Page Text
'- -jgyf "Vi'fTirWL jjiiJiajjifcS-y flight formhad crossed, the gar den a moment previous, but be was too absorbed to note its presence. Out iabe deserted lane be cbose a grassy spot beside the hedge and buried his face in his hands in painful thought ' In a single day he had seen the business of years go by the board. There had been the? consolation, how ever, that the assets had paid off ev ery dollar of debt that is, with "his own, priyae inherited fortune thrown in. He believed in Cleora. He had anticipated that, like a true woman, she would sympathize with him in his' affliction, comfort and encourage him. How cruelly was he disap pointed! Suddenly Bliss lifted his head in xsharp surprise. Some one was sob bing on the other side of the hedge. men came tne words: "And, oh, Midget! How cold and :ruel they were! After all his love for Cleora and his noble loyalty to bis friend! They have thrown him out on the cold world, just as Uncle John said I would have to go. Oh, cruel! cruel! And Mr. Bliss was so kind to us!" ' Peering through the hedge Bliss made out a young girl caressing a pet kitten and confiding to the purring animal her heart's grief. He knew Dorothy Lane well a poor relative of the haughty Cleora. He had pitied her life of drudgery, and once when Miss Boyden was away had thought fully strolled up to the place with a box of caramels for Dorothy and a pretty new ribbon for Midget's snowy .neck. It had been a pleasant hour and he had not forgotten. Now vast sorrow and pity oppressed him as he realized that the hard-hearted, selfish ness of the Boydens was" to be -wreaked, on this helpless, innocent orphan. It was two weeks later when a new surprise came to Bliss. He had rented a vacant storein the village, and his clear business record enabled fclm to secure a limited stock of goods. Cleora"was a-dead issue with him now, but his business pride was left He resolved to build anew among those who knew and respect ed him. "It's only Dorothy and Midget, Mr. Bliss," announced a sweet, confiding voice, and, looking up from his desk, Bliss recognized Dorothy. In one arm, she bore a bundle, in the other erh pet kitten. "They are going away to the sea side, Cleora and her father," she ex plained. "All the money, my mother left me s gone, -he says, so they turned me out But I came straight to you!" cried the little waif brightly, as if that tact solved all troubles in her path. "Oh, you want-advice, little one?" said Bliss, in a kindly tone. "No, I don't," dissented Dorothy, 3trenuously. "I know what a great grand man you are, and I want to work for you and help you. Oh, we need so little, Midget and I, and an old lady in the village will give us a free home for getting the meals and keeping the house in order. I've thought it all out Daytimes I'll come here and be your clerk. You can teach me how to sell goods and keep your books, and Til work like every thing. Oh, please, don't say no!" A humid blur came beforeihe eyes of Bliss at an appreciation of the im petuous, unselfish devotion of this poor httle wayfarer. He saw that he would fairly break her heart if he de nied her. It was wonderful how quickly Dor othy learned the business way. She was bright, joyous company "all day long. Then, too, the business began to grow. At the end of six months she was proudly earning a salary. She wore more neat, fitting clothes. She was "Miss Lane" now. One afternoon, just as Dorothy left the store for the day, Bliss stood gaz ing after her raptly. Something new, something love-inspiring stirred with in his soul. ( "Hello!" uttered a sudden, jolly MliS . -e ftftji umMmmUimmm