The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-08-01

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"The one at Street s. Brown's2"
Eyes," answered the young man,
thoughtlessly.
"With the ship and the elephant onl"
eyes"
"Shall 1 count them now, uncle Tome"
said she, drawing long breath.
"Oh, no dear! Some night, when you
are out You can't see them all here.
The house is in the way, you know. Now
| you had better go to bee, Katey, for |
must go down stairs" SO after carefully
tucking the little girl in, and kissing her
goodnight, for Tom had very warm
spot in his heart for this little nuisance"
he took his leave.
Katey, left to her own devices, tossed
restlessly about in her crib, her mind in
a chaos Of excitement, at the prospect of
the bliss in store for her, in the possession
of the long coveted kite. The task to
be performed gave her no uneasiness
whatever, for" thought she, "it's only
coul ting, and can count beautiful,
clear up TO fifty; and there CAN'T be more
stars than that"
Finally, she jumped out of bed, and
started to the window.
"Oh!" whispered she, softly to herself,
gazing eagerly at the starry vault above
her. If | could only count them to
night" May Ford is coming tomorrow,
and wouldn't she be s'prised at the kite"
Then bright thought striking her, she
said, II wonder if mamma wouldn't let
me go out in the garden a minute and
do it, if pat Nancy'S shawl on. I'll 60
and sce."
Fairly trembling with excitement,
Katey seized the heavy shawl, opened the
nursery door and FASTENED down stairs,
her eyes shining, her yellow hair flying,
and the old red shawl trailing picturesque
ly behind. A pretty enough picture it
was. if any one had been there to see;
but Nancy was still in the kitchen, her
father was detained at his office, and
uncle Tom was in his own room, smoking
cigar.
Quickly Katcy appeared at the library
door. for this 'little nuisance" was not
iisobedient, and began, eagerly, MAN
ma, may l.
Bat she was allowed to proceed no fur
Their Mrs. Lester scarcely looked up
from her absorbing occupation. The
she was devoted to higher art. SO she
only exclaimed, impatiently, Run away.
Katey; what Il little nuisance you are.
Do what you like"
Katey, with these words which she
took for permission, trotted off we'll
satisfied.
Down the hall she ran, stumbling
little in the large shawl stopping u mo-
ment to open the hall door; then along
the piazza, and so out into the night.
The mothers cars were drinking in, too
eagerly, the words Palsy" Majolica,"
"Faience," to hear the commonplace
sounds of little feet pattering along past
the library window. Down the gra,eled
walk the bare, white little feet twinkled
in the starlight, until a desirable spot was
reached for taking the first astronomical
observations; and then Katey sat down
to begin her task, carrying on sort Of
monologue to herself, to keep up her
courage, with no one but the flowers, and
the trees, and the stars to listen.
"Now, Katey Lester, you'd better begin
with the moon, SOS not to lose your
place. Don't you be afraid, you silly
little thing; I'm s'prised at you. Tisn't
very dark, and you're going to get a kite,
with elephant on it and ship. One,
two, three, four, five. There's a unagree.
able little star getting in the way.
must begin again. One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven-that stars come again.
One, two, three,-why, you naughty star,
I'm 'shamed of you. Guess you must tie
n nuisance cause you can't keep still"
/ So ON, FIR some time, until at last the
weary head sank upon the grass, with
muimur, Il guess you'd better rest n
minute, Katey Lester, and then begin
again. Perhaps that little star III get
| tired"
Two hours after, Mr.. George Lester,
wearied with overwork, for u keep his
lady-wife taxed his every energy, entered
the gate of his su Durban home. A change
had taken place, meantime in the wealth
er. The stars were overcast, the wind
was playing sad havoc with the flowers,
in the tastetully -arranged garden, and
the rain was pouring pitilessly down
Mr.. Lester was fastening up the gravel
walk, when suddenly, in the darkness, his
foot struck against some obstacle in the
path, something which gave forth n low,
frightened cry. He stopped with a star
tied exclamation of horror, as his hand
came in contact with little, cold, we,
foot. "Katey, can it be my little
KateyW
Papa" said relieved, childish voice,
and in an instant the father was hurrying
to the house with the child in his arms.
A bush had protected Kstey's face
from the peting rain; but the shawl had
fallen off. and the thin, white night
gown had been the only protection to the