The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1877-02-22
The Tan,6Ourine Girl.
An INCIDENT or ZEE STREETS.

harl anu Betnne were playing .
i fore one OF the houses in EastC
E Square. Karl's hand organ was
:. very old-fsshioned one, which b
e father bad brought from Germany
2 and in the front Of it there were or
e tesque little figures that moved @
: wires. A pert little lady, in q II
] skirt and blue bodice, danced & horI
pipe with q dRshing young soldier
: 3 scarlet Uniform, with white cOel
Rde in his hat, and q prim-loOking Ol
lady sat In an armchair, constant
taking pinches of snuff from 8 paint
: ed box in her hand. Then there wa
3 sprightly little dairy maid, WI
tripped up and down with q pail {
milk poised on her head, and a b1s
ket Of eggs on her arm and an oil
grenadier, in blue coat and yello'
breeehes, who came nimbly mp, an
held out his cooked hat to psssers-b.
for pennies.
1t was q very pretty sight to Sc
them moving all together an
whenever Karl and Bettine stoppe
to play, crowd of children were sur
TO collect around them. But they pu
very few pennies into the old grena
dier's hat, and when Karl and Bet
tine counted their money at night
they very rarely found enough TO ge
their supper, without thinking Of hav
ing any breakfast or dinner next day,
except what some kind person a.
whose house they played might Civ
them. Then every week they had t
put aside littis. money to pay tn
/ ha Ifftfa Ao f.f
Of q room they had, in the very dirt
lest part Of the city; and they wsr'
so afraid of being turned out of that
that they very often went without
their supper, when they had gained
very little money in q day, to saw
| that little for their landlord.
Now, for more than q week, Kar
had been Ill this was the first day hG
had been out, and they had beer
obliged to spend all the money they
had for food, and the rent was due Ol
the next day, and not q penny to pay
it with ! Poor little Bettine's hear
was almost bursting with grief, as
she looked at Karl, so pale, and thin,
and feeble, and thought what would
become Of him when they were turn
ed out of their miserable little room
with no shelter, and with no one tC
care for them in all the great city.
They had always been poor; bui
before their father and mother died
the poverty had not been so hard t.
bear, for they did not feel so lonely
and desolate then, and their fsthel
had been so hopeful and courageous
cheering them always with predic'
tions of happier times.
All at once Karl began to play
"Home, sweet Home" The organ
was very old and out of tune but
for all Of that, the air was very sweet
and touching, and, though BettinC
had heard it so often, the great tear:
began to roll down her cheeks, and
blinded her eyes so she could not see
her tam BOURNE, nor the group o.
childish faces that surrounded her
She had no recollection Of any home
save the dresry little attic where she
staid st night; she could not remem-
Der the "Vaterland' for which hel
mother had wept and pined her life
away; but that tune always made
her sad-made her think how terrible
1t was to have not even the memory
OF home.
Suddenly the door Of the great
house opened and u riehly.dresseC
young lady came out. She was evi'
IDENTIFY in haste, for she did not even
glance at the little tam5ourine girl,
nor at the figures in Karlis wonderful
organ, but swept hurriedly down the
steps, to the elegant carriage, with
glittering trsppings and sleek bay
horses that awaited her.
But as she passed, something fell
from her arm, at Battine's feet, drop
ping with q metallic ring on the pave
ment. Bettine stopped and picked II
up-a gold bracelet, set around with
stones that glittered and flashed il
the sunshine SO that they almost
blinded her eyes. She turned quick
ly to look for the lady, but already
the lively coachman had sprung u
nIs seat, and the carriage was whirl
ing down the street far out of reach o
her voice.
Then she glanced at the grouI
gathered around the organ. All the
eyes were fixed intently on the NOV
ing figures, and no one had seen he
pick It up.
Here was relief from all her troub
les. She knew the bracelet was val
liable; it would pay the rent, anC
buy for Karl-poOr, sick, patient Kar
the STRENGTHENING food, and medi
cine, and freedom from care, when h'
SO much needed. For one moment s
fierce temptation ragged in poor Bet
tines heart but she thought Of hel
mother, apd put it proudly back. No
she could die of hunger-wOrse thar
that, could see Kari suffer for food and
for shelter-but she could not keel
what was not hers.
Just then q rOsy-cheeked maid pu
her head out of the basement window
OF the great house, to see the hand
organ, Bettine stepped toward hel
with q fast healing heart.
'Will you please tell me the name
of that lady who just went away from
here, aud where she lives ?" she
asked timidly.
The girl stared at her in astonish'
ment.
"Thst is Gen. Faulkner's daughter
and she lives out at Norwood. Bui
what would the like o. you be aitel
askin' about her for ?" she said.
Bettine didn't stop to answer her
but ran back to Karl, who had collect
ed all the pennies he could, and was
strapping his organ again to his back
"What were you asking about thii
lady for 2n he said, as sne walked along
by his side.
"I found her bracelet, Karl," sht
answered and she took the bracele
from her pocket and showed it to him
He uttered 3 quick exclamation o
surprise, and a flush lighted up his sal
low cheek.
IBettine, those are diamonds ?" ht
said. ''Tbey are worth q mint o
money. We can pay the rent, and
have enough for food and clothes
You need never be hungry again, my
poor little Bettine."
but it isn't ours, Karl said Bet
tine.
HYes. It Is ours" be answered
stoutIy. Nobody saw you pick it up
and what is it to those rich people
ONLY an ornament, whose loss they
will forget in an hour, while TO US it il
life ITSELF"
TWbat would mother have said
Karl ?'' said Bettine, reproachfully.
The flush faded swsy from his
cheek, and he was silent for mo
ment.
TBut you don't know where the LADY
Iiyes,n he said, besitstingly, ct last.
''Sbe lives at Norwood, the girl told
me, You know where that is, for WI
have often been there; and when vi
get there we can inquire where Gen
Faulkner lives"
"Well, perhaps you are right. A
sny rate, we might as well starve frs
as last there's nothing else for Us,
said Karl, gloomily.
Sobs almost choked Bettine's utter
ance, but she brushed them bravely
back, and said, hopefully:
hPerhsps the lady will be ki1d t.
US, Karl perhaps che will give u
something"
"Give US something W muttere'
| Karl. ''It's much more likely tina
| she will accuse Us Of having stOlel
the bracelet"
"Well, whatever happens, We shal
be sure we have done right. And d.
LET Us hurry, Karl for, il we don't,
am afraid / can't help keeping II
when l see you so III, and pale, an
I discouraged
| And paffina tt,rarv her arnos arount