"I should think she would be lonely, poor little soul! What does she want most, Mrs. Sticht?" Stella asked.
A smile flickered over Mrs. Sticht's face. Perhaps this young lady would do something for her little sick girl.
"Her whole mind seems to be set on a doll; she's never had a doll, and she thinks she'd never get lonesome if she had one; she's a lovin' little thing, Patty is."
"She shall have a doll before the week is out," Stella said decidedly. "I have a pretty wax one with golden curls and blue eyes that I used to play with myself. I have not had it out for a long time, and it has no clothes, but I'll dress it up just as pretty as I can, and—let me see, to-day is Monday—by Wednesday I'll have it ready."
"Oh! That is very good of you, Miss Stella," the woman said gratefully. "Patty'll laugh for joy sure."
"Let me see, what is your number, Mrs. Sticht?"
"Number Eleven, Spraker's Court. I can come after the doll, if you say so."
"No, I'll not trouble you; besides, I want to see the little sick girl. Just tell her for me, please, that I'll be there on Wednesday with a beautiful doll, dressed in ruffled blue silk, and I will bring her some other things too."
Stella spoke earnestly, and a load was lifted from the mother's heart. Her unspoken thought was, "I believe the child will soon get better when she gets the doll she so longs for."
Patty's eyes grew bright when her mother told her that a dear, kind young girl was coming to her on Wednesday with a beautiful blue-eyed, golden-haired doll, dressed in blue silk.