, 1877-10-12
COrinne's Mistake.


the terminus Of city road. They were
bright.eyed, intelligent, and full OF fun.
@Oh, do hope" said Annie Welsh,
arranging her skirt and her books COM
fortably, tive shan't have single pas
senger from here to Haight street. 1just
want to talk and laugh, and act exactly
as please, without the presence Of a
critical fourth"
"Unless it should happen to be a very
nice young gentleman" laughingly sup
plemented Corinne Baker.
Anything but that" cried the first
speaker, with grimace, adjusting veil
and curls, however. "I'm brimful of
mischief, and in such case / know |
should do something detestable."
" do hope we shall be alone, though" !"
said little Lottie Deering, the youngest Of
the three, as she placed her books on the
cushion at her side ats so much better
fun to have the car all to ones self, or
selves"
"I'm afraid the fun must 60 by the
board, them" exclaimed Anne, "for l
see the funniest, plainest, homeliest old
woman coming right straight this way.
Oh, misery she will surely spoil every.
thing"
"And look at that antiquated hand
bag--a century old, at the very least" :"
CoTinne cried. Did you ever see such
relic of Noah's arkG And how ridicu-
lously she is dressed I'm not so sure
but that we can have our fun after ALL"
Meantime, bowed down by some in
trinity, dusty with day 3 ride, and really
antiouated in garb and manner, the old
lady drew nearer and nearer to the car
When she had gained it, her face bright
ened visibly at the sight of fresh young
girls, and in the kindness of her heart she
nodded as much as to say, "My dears,
you are all strangers to me, but | am glad
to see you"
They did not, however, return the nod (;
but one by one they smiled, looked in
each others faces, and at last Uttered
audibly.
The poor old woman seemed shocked
at this incivility, and drew herself as far
from their vicinity as possible, while she
turned her keen eyes, that almost dis
proved her years-so large and black they
were--from their faces to other objects
outside.
Suddenly, Corinne, possessed as she
had said before, with the spirit Of mischief,
took up one Of her school-books, and
with wink at Anne, began to read in a
low tone
''She was the scrawniest, wierdest-
looking object, with wart on the bridge
Of her nose, and a crinkle-crankle bonnet
of an uncertain age, like its owner. All
she needed was broomstick and black
cat to make veritable WITCH"
Here the mirth of the thoughtless girls
became 80 audible that the reader was
forced to put some restraint upon her
fun-loving proclivities, and lay the book
aside.
"Here's Haight street." said Anne
"Corinne, / never thought to tell you,
Uncle Hal brought us two Spitz dogs
yesterday, white as wool, and as cunning
as they can be. Come home with me and
see them. 1t won't take five minutes
more, and perhaps I'll give you one of
them"
"But mamma expects company, and"
'Oh, botherl l tell you it won't take
five minutes longer. Come, there's a
darlingW and the old lady sat looking
after them, as the girls tripped away in
high spirits, sad expression on her care
worn face.
"Corinne," she murmured, ~ thought
! knew the face. I hope it was only
thoughtlessness," she added, and her lips
trembled. "But perhaps l looked for too
much from Corry's child. And young
folks can't be expected to enter into the
feelings of the aged. But it is hard to be
so disappointed" and she shook her head
dejectedly.
Meanwhile COrinnG had seen and ad.
mired the dogs, and the girls were about
parting.
Come over to our house soon," said
Corinne to Anne, as they stood on the
steps. VI want to introduce you to one
OF the grandest old ladies-my mothers
auntl l have Fever seen her myself, but
1 know | shall love her, for che saved
mammals life at the risk of her own,