Show A THAT LITTLE GIRL by ROBERT DUANE LATIMER LA TIMER copyright 1914 by IV G chapman still a confirmed bachelor rosilyn lonely and hopeless as ever I 1 should say replied roslyn ware i with atwith a submissive smile wish you would follow my example declared hal vance exuberantly been married ten years ideal home lovely wife and say bay roslyn weve got a little girl at our house who would just charm you see here shake off the dust of ages and come down and liven up with real heart and home folks the result was wag that roslyn promised to put in a week at rest haven ten days later on the afternoon of a ninth day he left ills his office m with till the cirlo his old friend hal in his mind 1 I suppose the graceful thing to do Is to take her some kind of a present ruminated rumina ted roslyn let me see hal lias bas been married about ten years this ii little atle daughter of his I 1 should judge must be about eight years ot of age now what would be an appropriate gift this was really a puzzling enigma tor for roslin roeln he was twenty senty eight but knew little of femininity his training had been all business and to a degree he had grown prim and precise he was silly shy so much so that when he be went into a department store and approached pro ached the handsome brunette in charge of a toy counter he hemmed and hawed cawed in a decided fluster the young lady smiled encouragingly tor for roslyn was a well groomed handsome man although he had never stopped to think ot of it he stated the object ot of in general terms child girl about how bow old now pretty saleswoman oh I 1 should think about eight 1 11 I have the very thing for you instated insisted the vivacious miss its the lates it t thing in dolls roslyn bad seen dolls before but i never one like this face and dress 4 v its the latest thing in dolls were radiant and fairylike fairy like its eyes opened and closed and its hands moved let me show you proceeded the clever young woman and she bhe wound up some phonograph mechanism skillfully concealed within the body of the doll A lisping baby like voice recited audibly and charmingly twinkle twinkle rw inkle little star and again added the saleswoman and the doll sung Cherr cherries ls are ripe four other records go with the outfit continued the young lady As you see the lips move abdat a little distance it is quite a phenomenon it Is indeed agreed roslyn how much eighteen dollars and one halt half ill take it said roslyn promptly he was wag very much satisfied with his progress it was dusk when he arrived at the town on the outskirts of which was located the vance place the me ordered his baggage taken up to the house bouse he himself would walk roslyn carried the he box containing the doll with him little lots lois he was sure hal had called the child that would i girl like be vager eager to see her present as soon as possible roslyn reached Te ached his destination at Awil twilight ight A servant answered his summons at the door bell he told who he be was and she was vas at once all deferential attention mr vance has just gone around to the he horses sir she said please step into the parlor lie he will be here la in a I 1 few moments 11 roslynd Ros lyns sight was blurred by the dimness of the hall zut tut he passed a doorway indicated he iwas about to seat himself when the sound pt of careless variant notes from rai ml piano in a corner of the next room attracted his attention he vaguely made out a feminine form abne one halt half re caning on the broad music seat and this and that careless note leisurely and in a dreamy fashion tits its lots lols the little daughter ot of athe house at once decided the well meaning roslyn and he advanced with precision he placed his hand turon a with the words swords 1 I am your fathers old friend roslyn ware an dy must belittle lots lola I 1 have hae brought you a doll and then he be stooped over and kisheda fantt vel val V chira t arl thel oh ob say ita ICS an awful Mi mistake and roslyn retreated dropping the box his honest face a vast blank a as just then the servant turned on th the hall light and tt it flooded the room and he saw arise from the piano seat tall comely graceful a full grown young lady was she flushing indignantly annihilating hi bi lating hini him with majestic glance laughing or crying ho he knew not which so daled was he and because just then hal arrived ran at him with the eagerness of a schoolboy school boy whirled him about in a gay caper and marched him up to his room drawing out hla his protestations that little girl ot of yours roslyn managed to sandwich in as they descended the stairs lois my cifes sister we adopted her you see explained hal and ros ROB lyn dimly comprehended the tearful fearful mistake he had made he shivered and shrank as they reached the parlor again and was greeted by bis big hostess and introduced to miss verner to his agreeable surprise a welcoming hand was placed in his own he e looked up into a bright roguish face smiling encouragingly he stammered forth 1 I 1 I acted under a wrong impression miss verner but secretly he congratulated himself as he viewed the velvety cheek he had so audaciously kissed here mr vance broke forth with a great jolly guffaw he slapped roslyn on the shoulder and jollied him briskly for his wife had recited to him the piano incident about the doll too blundered on roslyn oh I 1 shall keep that it you please said lols lois prettily you have given me a grand idea mr air ware then followed a week that was full of soulful delight for roslyn lois was a revelation to him kind considerate almost gentle closer and closer grew the strength and rare beauty of their congenial acquaintanceship 1 I wish you to come with me it if you will mr ware she said brightly one day 1 I must show you the good your gift doll has done there was a poor fading invalid child to whom it has baa given great joy and a new grasp of life roslyn ware never forgot that sweet presence near him as they gazed cautiously through the open win window of a little humble hut but where a sweet child sat up on a couch an audience of juveniles about her while the wonderful doll went through its clever paces dear miss aliss verner he said at the point of tears as they moved on let me buy dolls tor for the whole crowd but lois smiled forbiddingly athis at his rec reckless kIess enthusiasm sha was grave earnest womanly the night he left tor for the city her pulses fluttered as he said in hla his awkward but manly way miss aliss verner I 1 will come coma back here for my vacation next year it if you say so she looked up into his eyes earnestly as only a woman who is in love can look then her head drooped shyly as she whispered oh please mr air ware please come back sooner than that |