The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-01-02
CHAPTER v.
LADY GRAY.


Old Morocco had not gone very farm
fact, be could not resolve to 90 home until
he tId conquered his disappointment. In
half an hour, perhaps, he would be able 70
take brighter view Of things and bSltls
into his shop with great show Of cheerful
ness, sayirg swell, children, what do yuu
thlnkl Mrs. Homebody thinks the books
are beautiful, +Effd am To call day after
tomorrow and get the money" But he
couldn't make that remark seem very ex-
hilarating yet. So he walked very slowly
down the street until he was arrested by a
gentle pull at his coat, and looking down
perceived a small creature in most outland-
Ish costume, v no said to him: "Mr Book
binder, have you familyf'
The question was so serious and So sud-
den that he answered before he had real
lied the absurdity Of the situation.
Yes, indeed, God bless EN-, the best
series that ever was put IN cloth and leath-
er. Bot then he began to laugh and said
Why, my child what is your namel
Il am Lady Gray, she replied, with Of
Tended dignity. IL have been making
some calls, and would like to call ON Your
family if you have no objections. Would
He winked little at this, but soon lost
every other feeling in his amusement. The
manner of the child was 50 quaint and
comical he fell in at once with her fancy
that was his way with children, never to
spoil play by contradicting the httie
believes.
''Well, my lady, he replied, as gravely
as possible, II can't say without considera-
ton"
''Oh! | know; yoN needen't tell me,
was her answer. ''Children always like
ten cents. know little girl that got a
penny day for-several things, and she
says your children will like il. Will yon
please to pull it out Of my glove, for it has
got stuck in the thumb"
He bent over her and took hold Of the
green edge that peeped out at her wrist,
when, behold! with wriggle of joy, our
friend \ came out and unfolded himself to
the welcome air. Old Morocco suspected
at once that something was wrong, but he
could not believe that Sophy, who seemed
so fearless and innocent, however strangely
she might be making believe" for fun.
had really ran away with anybody's mo
ney.
why, where did you get thisl" he kind
ly asked
Sophy was not troubled with any sense
Of guilt. She thought y was ten cent
stamp and that she had right 10 him.
Nevertheless, she was a lAtle embarrassed
by Old Morocco's question. She didn't
want to say she had found ten cents in the
golden palace OF the Duchess of East Ne~
York for fear of being laughed at, so, after
a moments consideration, she replied: "A
friend of mine, Mrs. Homebody, requested
me to hand it to you" And, to make the
thing complete, she added what she had
overheard her mother say: "You can give
me q receipt bill"
Old Morocco could scarcely believe hii
ears, but his eyes kept saying to him thai
his ears were not deceived, for there wa,
X in his hand
eyes, yes," he said, ''ot course, "
Ill receipt the bill. You are Mrs Home
body's little girl, ] supposeF'
But Sophy was not to be caught asaeasil,
as that.
"My name is Lady Gray, she said with
dignity, "And call there on visit occa
sionally."
Eyes, yes, Of course, said Old Morocco
who was really thinking 50 much abou
what he would buy with part of the Y tha
he would scarcely have objected if Sophy
had said she was Queen Victoria or Eliza
beth Fry; indeed his wits were wool-gather
ing and oyster-gathering to such an extern
that fear II he had been suddenly calIeC
upon to arrange the Christmas celebration
he would have stewed the mittens and pu
the oysters in the stockings.
Involuntarily he hastened his steps, 81
that Sophy had some trouble in keeping
up with him, particularly - neither he
rank nor her shawl permitted her to trot