Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-08
TOODLES.


eupols house on the hill. Quite as much
OF lady, said to myself, briskly, as |
busted up my little shop, and arranged
the sheeny ribbons and striped goods in
the window. The window was hung with
pretty lace curtains, and there was a
globe of gold fish in it that sailed about
IA conrteouslv and busily as though they
were getting their living as head clerks
1t was sweet soft autumn morning,
the village street was grassy and quiet
and | hummed tune as glanced cheer.
lily out at little Toddles, lifting about in
her scarlet ribbons under the old willow
outside. Bless her little rosy facet why
shouldn't | be happy when / have her to
'ook after9
was happy. and l hummed again that
"a snatch Of tune, and nodded gsyiy
Toddles, wondering vaguely to myself
That was going to happen that felt SO
- ncannily bright. Nothing - simply
nothing; things were done happening to
me long since. My way was straight
and narrow, my days quiet and unevent-
full.
As slipped my coffee that morning
remembered that held the cup up to
the light, and felt a certain sense of
satisfaction in the translucence of the
rare bit of china. 1t is so pleasant to
know that ones own election may keep
one aloof from the ugliness and squalor
OF poverty.
1t doesn't take much to keep one per-
son, OF course, and I dent count Toddles
for anything. 1t needs but the odds and
ends of things-a bowl of bread and
milk, cup OF coffee, with now and then
lively bit of ribbon--to keep the little
one going famously.
Yes, always wanted to be lady
And as I sst in nv bright little room l
half felt inclined to forgive Richard
Gray for the heart-break he gave me long
ago. And, oh God it lods heart break.
But if he had married me, perhaps he
would have shut me up in some gloomy
city house, to be lady after his fashion,
TO stiAe for want OF bit of fresh air, to
walk softly under thousand petty con-
ventionalities, and to cease being nv own
mistress. All! that never could endure
SO it is, perhaps, as we'll that Richard
, left me and went OFT some where-God
knows where.
You see, like Tiny little shop.
There's something SO delightful in seeing
the pretty girls of the village, with now
and then a fine lady, hanging over m
dainty wares and trying the tints of scar
let and blue and orange with many a
laugh and many glance in the mirror
call it my rec option when they pour in
OF q holiday afternoon. love Colors; l
love grace and beauty; and perhaps 1
might have been bit of an artist, in my
way, ii I'd ever had an opportunity.
Richard used to say so. But ali !! he said
many a fiattering thing and many a
false thing in those old days And if ever
dreamed of any higher life than contents
me now-well, I've given up dreaming.
For there's Toddles, so round and sweet
and soft and real. She leaves me little
time for building air castles
You see, I love the child as if she were
my own. For she came to me one day
thing, curled up in a heap on my door
+ step when went to open the shutters.
Wherever she came from l. never knew.
roddles never explaine /; she just stretch
ed up her little fat arms to me and gurg
led Tod -od doddle," and that was her
sue intro 1uction.
1t was suImised that the child had
het dropped by some travelling circus
passing through the town, and had ex-
cellent neighborly advice about putting
the treasure in the founding hospital.
Bat one seldom takes good advice, and
didn't.
To tell the truth, grew So attached
TO the child that-I should even have been
wicked enough, fear, to regret any ones
turning up to claim it. But that's MOI
at all likely; no more likely now, after sc
many years--no, not at all likely; ne
more likely than that Richard and
should ever meet again in this world
And that--tEat is among the things tina
can never happen.
1t was on this wise our parting:
Richards mother was cid and feeble
and miserely. She'd spent good dea
of money on him-sent him to college
and expected, folks said, TO make some
thing of him.n She always expected tc
get her moneys worth out of her tran
sactions. Richard held her in sort o
awe somehow, though. she was littl
wizened old woman that he could hav
lifted with his lefthand. But l like
him for respecting his mother.
One day we two were sitting at tWi
light talking of the future dreamily, a
was our wont.
any little ole, ;" said Richard, putin!
his arms about me; sit half seemed to
bright to ever be-"
Aver bel' ] echoed. con, Richard
if you talk that way it will ntver be-"
Richard smiled, but his face grew over
cast. felt that storm was coming.
"Well9"I queried, seeing that he 50
Drooding aud silent.
Darling" he said. so0thingIy, II kne,
1t would come hardly to you; but how ca
Igoagainst my mother2 Her poor oil
heart is bound up in me, Jeanette. an
she will never hear too anythin
that -
'That seems to lower you," I addel
IN a steely voice that seemed to. cut il
way out of my heart like a keen, col
knife.
10, Am coward-a poltrOon! erie
Richard, wringing his hands. 81 ws
born to bring trouble on those l lov
Who. who shall leave to suffer for n
now. Jeannette2'
1.-THE one who will say least about it
Ianswe,ed, hardly. My heart was throl
bing heavily, like the clock that ticks I'll
hour of execution; but I made no outer
and we parted II that final parting s
lently. And ! have lived silently ey
since.
One year af er that heard that RicI
ards mother was dead, and then that
had married who, / knew not--who,
cared mot. He had married anoth