Show copyright 1906 by dally story pub co she had long yellow curls that 1001 ed like glistening columns ot gold bobbing in the sunlight when she balled or lying in rich satin abend ance all over her little fluffy shoulders when she was still her ees were big and round and peculiarly blue like twin cornflowers and there were perpetual discs of pink in the small oval cheeks when winifred laughed there was a transitory glimpse of something snow white and even about the firm shining row of upper teeth and an unexpected dim pie dawned at either corner of her mouth the day as hot to sultriness the sun beating upon the lake with fierce intensity and transforming it into a great sparkling pool of melted metal the willows that grew quite down to the w ater s edge drooped and wilted and the languid butterflies folded heir wings in the shade of them winifred hurried down the road as fast as her long white stoc hinged legs carry her the big sun hat scarlet with poppies flying back from her head by its muslin ribbons she found a tempting tuft of grass in the shadow of a giant water oak and sat down to eat her lunch when she had finished she crossed her hands in her lap and sat gazing out across the lake with suddenly tired absent eyes she heard the village clock strike two then three and all at once the water began to dance and shimmer and grow black before her eyes A horrible dizziness settled over her and she flung herself down on the cool grateful grass and closed her eyes there seemed to be a per feet babel of noises ringing in her eara and a lot of people shouting in loud voices but winifred took no notice of them her senses began to wander and she almost laughed out to think how nice and cool and sleepy she was then came oblivion when the little girl came back to earth again she was lying in her own bed with the pretty canopy of blue satin and the cloudy white draperies all around she felt numb and stiff and listless and when she opened her lips to speak her voice sounded so tiny and far away many days pass ed before she was allowed to sit up and hear all about herself and the grave kind man who had rescued her I 1 should like so much to see him and to to thank him said win fred one day the first she spent out it bed you may replied her aunt tor he is here right now he was very himself that day the heat prayed him an even more serious trick than it dil ou he has been unconscious ver since he brought you home but to day he Is some better and a while ago expressed a wish to see you as soon as ou were well winifred flushed with pleasure and begged to be permitted to go to him at once my mother would not care am sure she insisted as her aunt demurred you will not refuse mea so the little girl was wheeled into the sick man s room v here he lay pale and prostrated against his all he smiled as she came in and held out his hand winifred thought it looked very thin and tremulous and that his face was eveir thinner but it was a good face she that at once and undeniably good looking I 1 can never thank you enough she began the pink in her cheeks deepening to a scarlet what in the world would have become of me it you had not happened upon mea the invalid laughed and shook his head im glad indeed that I 1 did hurried down the road he answered quick li but what on earth would have become of me it your kind aunt had not taken me in then I 1 suppose we must be quits 7 she laughed merrily show ing all her dimples at once the other nodded do you know he asked presently why it was I 1 wanted so much to see sou as soon as I 1 wont iou tell mea it was because once I 1 had a little girl with long yellow curls just like bours and big blue eyes you you reminded me a lot 0 f her that day I 1 found you unconscious by the lake do iou mind telling you thise ISO oh no and bovic little girl where Is she nowa sie Is not Is she she Is not dead but winifred looked at him suddenly with wid bewildered eyes I 1 I 1 lost her the man explained after a pause and the little girl did not question him further my mama will be home to mor row she remarked in a change ot tone and I 1 want ou to meet her she oh ou don t know how grate ful she will be to you I 1 she chasn t any one but me she ad led quickly have ou no fathers he question ed gently winifred shook her pretty gold head slowly back and forth not now for gods sake don t turn away from me nowa she said her eyes filling with lwft tears i never mind I 1 t to have asked you won t you tell me some thing about that mama ills cheeks lost some of their pallor as be spoke and a sudden eager look crept into his eyes she Is the dearest best and most beautiful creature in all the world winifred broke out an uplifted smile on her dainty flushed face every body loves mama she Is so good and kind and true but her health is not good at all she has to work so hard to take care ot herself and me and I 1 am afraid she Is not going to hold out always but mama Is awfully proud you d see that right away you like to see her pictured 7 the sick man nodded not trusting himself to speak he watched her in silence as she unfastened the lock et from a long gold chain and held it out to him so this is your he ask ed after a long long pause yes that Is she now do you blame me for loving her so much no I 1 I 1 t blame any one he responded slowly there was another long silence during which the door opened and closed on noiseless hinges and some one came softly into the room mama my little sweetheart the worn an clasped her arms about the child and held her in a long fervent em brace when she looked up a pair 0 dark eager eyes were fixed upon her this is the gentleman who saved my life mama are t you but the look on her mothers face inter erupted her she broke oft gazing one to the otner with big won dering almost comprehending eyes katharine for gods sake don t turn away from me now I 1 I 1 am a different man heaven knows I 1 will try to be worthy of you it you will come back to me and give me one more chance the woman had buried her face in her hands and her body shook with sobs when she looked up her eyes were moist I 1 am a different woman too dear was all she said but it seemed to be enough at least to winifred and to winifred s father |