Sharp County record., 1879-03-20

arc growing fainter, and she presently
turns her head round, glancIng out OF
the corner of her eve. The baby crows
clutches at her with both hands
shows his two funny white teeth; and
FlOrrv turns round entirely now, and a
smile Greens into her wet cheeks in two
deep dimples.
" Kiss the pretty little lady, Willy"
says Dolly coaxingly, and Willy obeys
by opening his mouth very wide, and
pushing his tace close to FlOrrv'5.
Florrv kisses him, with both her hands
on his ears. Then she exclaims;
" Oh, / can carry him! Come to me,
Willy. NV babv's only got no teeth
vet, and not verv much hair-just few
right on top OF his head; and he can't
open his mouth vet, not to kiss any
body. Come to F.orryi l can hold you.
Yes [ can, splendid!n
Dolly draws out from It's corner a lit
tie wooden rocker, in which tlOrrY de-
pOsits herself carefully and receives the
baby in her lap, swaving to and fro,
while Willy leans his head contentedly
against her cheek. Dolly picks joey
ont Of the coal box once again, scOlds
him, kisses him, gives him a great piece
of bread and sugar, aud then proceeds
TO warm the babv's milk, part of which
she prepares nicely with crackers and
offers to Florry. So, while Dolly feeds
the baby Fl0frv feeds herself, like
very hungry little girl indeed, When
supper is over, and joey, after one last
excursion to the coal box, is snugly
tucked in bed, Polly comes in from her
work with a basket on her arm, a stout,
cOarse-lOOkiug woman with bright,
friendly eyes, and a loud, pleasant
voice.
SO Well, and how did you get alOngs"
she asks cheerfully, setting her basket on
the table and beginning to untie her
woOlen hood. I'm late little, but
such a storm is blowing upt The rain
fairly pelted me. I ran the last three
blocks. Ahal who have we hereP Some
pretty little girl | don't know"
cts Florry Vance," says Dolly.
" Dick brought her, She-she was
lost" " And at The word Florrv hides
her head in Dolly's skirts and bursts out
into sObs again.
"I want to 90 home. I want man.
mat You said-you would take me-
in a-iittle while! It's a little while
now Oh, mamma, mammal
Dolly, handing the baby to its mother,
who looks on in astonishment, stOops
and takes up FlOrry in ner arms.
Dick wanted to keep her," she eX-
plains. 50 He told me to tell ye ther'd
be reward-but we mustn't. And |
guess I'd better carry her home right
away. I promised, ye know"
It's crazy you are, Dolly, The child
would be catChin' her death of cold if
you took her night like this. Never
mind let her cry it out. She'll forget
all about it and 90 to sleep by and by"
But it's her mother I'm thinkin' of, "
says Dolly, quickly. "I'm thinkin' if
joey strayed away, and we were sorry
here at home, as.sSworritn', and no one
came to tell US. If / can't take FlOrry
with me III 90 any way, and let her
mother know she's safe, must 60"
" But what'll Dick be after savingP
You're doing q foolish thing, Dolly.
He'll be mad enough to kill some one -
81 can't help that" says Dolly, faint
ly. a" If knew he'd beat me black and
blue I'd 90! Oh, no. 1 can't wait for
supper. I'll hurry back" And then
with gentle words and promises she
coaZes FlOrry to the lounge again, makes
her comfortable on the pillow and takes
off her little boots, one Of which she
slips into her pocket, and 50 goes out
with a brave smile into the darkness and
whiTling storm.
Down comes the sleet in rattling
showers, the streets are slippery as
glass, and round the corners the wind
rushes, shaking awnings and banging
shutters, and sending the few foot pas
skimming before it, over the
shining pavement, like accomplished
skaters. DOlly's old waterproof tiut-
ters back from her clutching hands now
and then, and spreads out behind her
on the wind like a dark wing. Street
after street, square after square, are
passed swiftly, and still the little figure
struggles onward, drenched and cold
and tOrm-beaten. The poor torn shoes
are wet through, her skirts cling to her
limbs, but her face looks forward with
the same brave smile. And now at last
she turns into Barclay Place, where the
street lamps shine in long bright rows
and the halls look all aglow with warmth
and light. Dolly begins breathlessiy to
count the numbers. The first she reads
is AZ, the next 46.
g. am all right now," cries Dolly,
joyfully, to herself, "221l be about the
next blockl"
AS she hurries on q gentleman, walk
ing quickly, hurries past her-stops an
instant, glances back, turns back, and
his gloved hand touches Dolly. He
drOns some silver coin into her hand