Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-10

N-- fOuucsuded nom hrst page.l
In and to see when they went away Her
arms grew tired, and she put her loot N
the crack; but the door was heavy and
burt il. so she pulled off her slipper and
put that in. which did nicely. How 1t
happened. exactly. / don't know; but Ger
tie was very tired, and cuddled up IN the
corner Of the broad stair with the warm
shawl about her, she fell fast asleep.
For some little time nobody missed
her; and then there began TO be great
cry COR Gertie-Mrs. Washington. But
she couldn't be found anywhere. The
dressing-room was looked into; but no.
BODY noticed the crack in the tower door
or the little heel in it. The gallery was
looked through, but no Gertie and pres
emily the ladies began to be alarmed, for
where could she have gone to? Harry
Low had fidgeted about. and looked very
uncomfortable; and finally he couldn't
bear it any longer, and he went to Mrs.
Gray and told her how cross some of the
girls had been TO Gertie, and said that he
thought she had gone home. Mrs. Gray
thought it very likely, and, without stop
ping to question the girls. she sent at
once to Geriie's home. But the rooms
were locked. and no one was there, for
Mrs. Holmes had taken the baby and gone
to spend the afternoon with Mrs. King.
When the messenger came back, they
were all thoroughly frightened; and Grace
began to cry, because she was scared,
and Nelly began to cry, because she knew
that if anything dreadful had happened to
Gerte il would be her fault. The ladies
were distressed for two reasons; because
she was lost, and because it was time for
the people to begin to come for the even
ing, and without Mrs. Washington there
could be no show at all. 1t was almost
O'Clock, and Mrs. Holmes, who had left
the baby at Mrs. Kings, came down to
the hall; and, of course, she had TO be
told at once.
She stood minute thinking. and then
said: "Itisn't ike Gertie TO run away.
She must be here somewhere. Have you
looked to see if her shawl and hood are
gomez .Ta4eeaf -
Nobody had thought oft. Mrs. Holmes
went there, and soon found Geftie's things
"Oh she must he here" she said. and
turned round. to find herself in somebody's
arms.
Frank p she said, when she could
speak, for establishment. "You! Where
did you come from! How did you find
me p 5sasas asas S e. ai sasas sesss 2
II just came, and the people at the
house told me You were here; and in the
hall heard some one say that you were
here. looking for Gertie.'' 49, .ss
"Yes. We can't find her. - fs
Cant find her? Isn't she here p
''She must be. Here are her things.
Her father looked round.
"Why, what is this in the crack of the
door? A slipperr'
The clock began to strike seven in the
tower'ov Gertie's head and Just as she
was dreaming that she was Cinderella and
running away when the clock struck, and
all her nice dress turning to rags, she
woke up, to find herself in her fathers
arms and with ever so many laughing and
talking about her. So the prince came,
too. And the best prince in the world
for little girls, or big ones either, is a
good, kind father. Gertie told how she
had hidden herself. and how she supposed
she must have, fallen asleep, as she had
heard no one calling. But when asked
what she had hidden herself for, she said
only: II don't want to tell.'
Such a good time as they had, that
night Tableaux and dance for the
little people; and such a supper-ice-
cream in the shape of cats and birds and
fruit, and cake and lemonade enough to
make them all sick for month. Aud
Nelly Carter whispered to Gertie: '1'm
sorry" And Gertie put her hand behind
her and gave Nelly's little squeeze, and
left in it her very prettiest motto, one that
had flower on the top of the paper. And
when Nelly wouldn't take it, Gertie whis-
pered: Eyes, please. | want to be
friends"
$50 it all ended happily, after all, just
like story, as Gertie said, when her
mother put her to bed, that night And
Mr.. Holmes told his wife how he had
gained his lawsuit and got back his money.
and that he meant to buy the pretty house
next the Kings; which he did. the next
week, to the great JOY of Gertie and Grace.
Nelly Carter's fright did her good, and
she hasn't been "hateful' for so long that
she has almost forgotten how--f'so they
all lived happily till they died. for it was
such little while ago, you sse.a and they're
all alive aud well and as happy as they
can be- And Gertie. studies very. hard,
indeed, and says she is going to Vassar
college, and be a professor of something,
when she grows up, so that she can earn
her living by something better than sew
ing. if hard times come; and means to
earn her living any way. if she is a girl.