The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-01-04

rose pOr1uInOQ GIlTS0- cOEuGf0O AObG.
6 From the ovid maid, sur, said he.
" Miss Osborne, you mean," said his
master, sternly. ''Don't call her an old
maid again"
"Would Mr.. Guernsey the note
ran" give Mrs. and Miss Osborne the
pleasure of his company this Christmas
evenings Brother Robert and his wife
have come down from the city, and
there would be little music, little
supper, and whist"
ssWait, and I'll write an answer, said
Mr.. Guernsey. And while Mike waited
he began to talk again. s'Shure, We
heard the news, SURF The village is full
NV it. They say she oughtn't a done it;
that it's incouragin' wickedness an
:" Who the dickens are you talking
about % asked his master, turning impa-
tiently around, pen in hand.
"The owld-I name Miss Osborne,
sur" answered Mike.
Sand pray a0hat shouldn't she have
done2"
ssTaken Bessie Vests baby, sur"
9" Taken Bessie Vests baby9' Go
on this moment, Mike, or I'll brain you
with the poker"
"Well, you see, sur" Mike, thus adj
monisned, went on glibly enough. "Ye
know that unfortunate story about Bes-
sic West, the purity sewing gurrii2"
eyes, yes-heaven knows I do. Not
woman's tongue within ten miles, ex-
cept one, but has wagged about it,
swell, sur, last night she died, an
she STINT for the owld-I name Miss Og-
borne-for she was frighted NV the
other women, they'd been so hard to
her-bad cess to 'em IAN half NV ZEN
wild childher Nv their own, an not
KNOWN what they're comm to an the
owld-I name Miss Osborne-wint-"
"Of course she did," interrupted his
master. eco on"
cam she prayed wild the poor thing,
an closed her eyes an whin she came
away she fetched the young wun wild
her, an they do say she's agoin to 'dopt
it, an they'll niver shpake to her agin."
Which would be very great pity p
said the old bachelor with emphasis, and
rather diabolical grin.
'' Yis, sur. An now I suppose we'll
be afther movin, she4re, for it only naded
the baby to make it complate; owld-I
name Miss Osborne, cats, dogs and ba-
bies"
"Get me my great-coat," was the only
reply he received. "I'l answer the note
personally" And, the great coat on,
away started Miles Guernsey for Rose
Cottage once more.
Bedad," said Mike, with an intoxi.
Gated wink, "it's mesif knew LIE
wouldn't shtand the baby
Miss Osborne's parlor was that night,
if possible, brighter and cheerier than.
it was on the summer day the old bache-
lor first entered it. Instead of roses,
Christmas greens dotted with brilliant
red berries Topped back the curtains,
enwreathed the pictures, and dropped
from vases and shells, and right over the
tall wax candle burning on the center
table hung bunch of mistletoe (sent
with kindly greetings and real English
plum pudding from some kinsfolk across
the sea), it's waxen berries cleaning like
clouded pearls among it's slender green
leaves. Miss Osborne had evidently not
expected her guest so soon, for she sat
before the glowing 6 ate fire with Bessie
Vests baby on her knees, it's small toes
held out toward the welcome warmth,
and itself cooling and gurgling after the
fashion peculiar to extreme youth.
How lovely she looked, with spray
of holly in her hair, tender light in
her eyes, and the loose sleeves Of her
dark silk dress falling back from her
shapely white arms. as she held the
child with motherly grace, and softly
sang dreamy nursery rhyme! Miles
Guernsey thought of beautiful Ma
donna he had seen in Rome as he looked
earnestly at her moment before she
became aware of his presence. (The
black-eyed maid servant going out in q
hurry as he reached the door, he had
entered unheard.) At last she started
up, the roses in her cheeks sweeter and
pinker than ever. GA merry Christ
mas !" she cried. elbow good of you
to come SO early I'll go call Brother
Robert"
st don't want to see your brother"
said the old bachelor, " at least not yet.
I came to ask"
Il "S@o 1AAO JON "OUANA3 hANA ~AAA0S
Osborne, breaking out into laugh like
a young girls. II told mother SO this
morning. Z know what you came to
ask"
"Are you quite certain you do9" said
the old bachelor, an odd smile spreading
over his face, until it danced in his
handsome dark eyes.
"Quite cert0ara,' said the old maid,
seriously. "But we really don't need
your help, Mr.. Guernsey for, although
we are far from rich, we have enough to
share with this dear little one, sent to
me, it seems-don't think me foolsh-as
a precious Christmas gift on the blessed
Christmas day-the day Mary clasped
her beautiful boy to her heart in the
stable of Bethlehem. See, isn't she
pretty9 And so plump! Take her in
your arms. am sure yoW, who are SO
kind to cats and dogs, must almost love
Ab;o vi >, And oh