Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-11-07

"No," answers Tot.
She means to tell the truth, but sh,
has to think little before she is quit,
sure what she really does feel. No, sh,
does not feel hungry, she does not fee
cold. 1t is very strange, but the onl,
feeling she has is an intense longing t,
SEQ "inside." She would like to know
why everything seems SO far off, ant
why her head has gone from her body
but she does not care very much abou
that: what she wants is to see 6 inside.
! My lord is in q strange mood thi
night, and a strange idea seized him.
| "Leave the child with me" he be
gins.
"But, my lord," says Policeman
doubtfully.
"Have you seen her take anything
No Then you are quito sale in le,.v
ing her.
Policeman releases Tot, and my lort
(utterly Indifferent to the fact that al
who pass by stare hard o him and tht
child) says with pretty smile:
my little ragged girl, we will 60 to
gether aud see this wonderful inside
but remember when you get there to re-
pay me for my great kindness by ex
hibiting the most extreme astonish.
ment. Have you name2"
Tot looks up at lim in doubt; but
his face reassures her, for it is very
pleasant, and she almost persuades her.
self he is not "kidding."
"Dont know. They calls me Tot, >
she says, with her eyes still upon his
face.
"a very good name, Tot, a very good
name. But Unjust apologize to YOU 70,
o gross breach of etiquette on nv part
should have first introduced myself
Know me, then, Tot, as Lord Casual,
equality Of property and universal Ia.
Dor. And respect me, Tot, for con.
seientiously discharging the duty tina,
devolves upon me of showing to the
world practical illustration, in INV
own person, of the excellence of nv
theory Il should, perhaps, soy taeories]
by o hard life of sleeping, eating,
shooting, hunting and sometimes even
dancing. What if indulge in occa.
sional fits of madness2 Surely life 90
completely given up to the public vel.
fare should gain mo forgiveness Some
would call me mad even now. But
come Tot, wo are close to the inside. .
Ny lord speaks to himself rathe,
than to Tot. She, for her part has nc
idea what he means; but she likes to
hear him talk. Her head is getting so
far away that she is afraid of losing il
altogether; everything is getting ia,
away. They go up some steps, and
every one they pass turns to look at
the ragged, white-faced child and the
tai, handsome man. Some know him
and say, when he has passed:
Just like Casual, just like him."
Tot feels weak going up the steps,
but she says nothing. She begins tc
doubt whether it is not all q dream
She has dreamt of policemen before
often but never of gentleman talk.
ing to her. They walked some distance
along a passage. one side Of which is
all doors, and at last they stop at one
of them. My lord takes a key from his
pocket, places it in hole in the door,
gives a little turn and push, and il
opens.
"Here we are, Tot only four steps,
and you may look at the inside till you
are weary"
A bright light comes from the open
door. Tot goes in and stands motion.
less, as though suddenly turned to
stone rigidly staring, her eyes wide
open, faint flush on her cheek. and
her chin dropped. Oh! what won.
derful place! So big and so bright !
Brighter even, she thinks than the sun
itself F! All the people are there, too ;
she can see their dresses of red and
blue, and gold and silver. And
You may sit down, Tot" says nv
lord. He looks in her face, and sees
there intense wonder and awe, Nv
lord, thereat, is surprised and pleased. /.
yet troubled withal. But ne says cal
": e"'
Accustomed as you probably are,
Tot, to wooden chairs, on first touch.
ing one of these you may find its re.
sistence to your frame impact but fee
BILE, and fear it will not support you.
But don't be afraid, Tot; you will
find it will ali come right in the end. -
Tot is very weak, and the flush in
her face has quickly died out, but won
der and the awe are still there. She
sits down, or falls rather, on chair
On how pleasant it is. If the other
people are sitting on chairs like that
how happy they must be And she
can see in every direction. The place
is round, and up higher there is 4 cir
ole of lamps. But very thin circle,
not nearly enough to make it 80 light =:
and Tot believes the people who arc
all of them so clean, must give out light
themselves. So sho looks ut nv lord =:
but his clothes are black, SO they can.
not shine but she is not sure about
his hair she almost fancies she can
see light coming from it. There is 9
big thing at one side of the place, made
of pipes, and she would like to know
what it is. But she is not quite surt
that she could speak if she tried ther.
is numbness coming over her, not
bringing any pain with it though, not
a blt. The chair is very comfortable
and Tot is in state of tho most pcrfcc
rest never before has she been SO ell
tirely free from hunger and cold. Hel
wonder aud awe at the vast place, too
decrease by degrees, till she is simply
happy. My lord talks to her wha
about she knows not-education, sec
ular, denominational, mutual obliga
ton, class legislation--shc never heari
such words before. But he wants IL
answers, only to talk, and perhaps m,
lord has never before had 50 satiyfac
tory an audience.