The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-02-28

turns her head round, glancing out o.
the corner Of her eye The baby crows
clutches 1t her with both hands
shows his two funny white teeth; and
Florry turns round entirely now, and q
smile creeps 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 face close to Florrys.
florry kisses him, with both her hands
on his ears. Then she exclaims;
"Oh, l can carry him! Come 10 me,
Willy. My baby's only got no teeth
yet, and not very 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 Florry; can hold you.
Yes can. splendid"
Dolly draws out from its corner a lit
tie wooden rocker, in which Florry de-
posts herself carefully and receives the
baby in her lap, swaying to and fro,
while Willy leans his head contentedly
against her cheek. Dolly picks Joey
out Of the coal box once again, scolds
him, kisses him, gives him great piece
of bread and sugar, and then proceeds
to warm the baby's milk, part Of which
she prepares nicely with crackers and
offers to Florry. SO, while Dolly feeds
the baby Florry feeds herself, like q
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 basket on her arm, a stout,
coarse-looking woman with bright,
friendly eyes, and a loud, pleasant
voice.
swell, and how did you get along"
she asks cheerfully, setting her basket on
the table and beginning to uotie her
wooden hood. "1'm late q little, but
such storm is blowing up The rain
fairly pelted me. ran the last three
blocks. Ahai who have we heree Some
pretty little girl don't know"
ats Florry Vance, says Dolly.
I" Dick brought her. She--she was
lost And at the word Florry hides
her head in Dolly's skirts and bursts out
into sobs again.
II want to 60 home. l want man.
ma! You said-you would take me-
in a-little whilei It's little while
now. Oh, mamma, mammal"
Dolly, handing the baby to its mother,
who looks on in establishment, stoops
and takes up Elorry in ner arms.
"Dick wanted TO keep her," she ex-
plains. "He told me to tell We ther'd
be a reward-but we mustn't. And
guess I'D better carry her home right
away. / promised, ye know"
"It's crazy you are, Dolly. The child
would be catchin' her death Of cold II
you took her q night like this. Never
mind; let her cry It ont. She'll forget
all about it and 60 to sleep by and by"
"But it's her mother I'm thinkin' OF, :"
says Dolly, quickly. Sim thinkin' II
Joey strayed away, and we were sorry
here at home, and worritin', and no one
came to tell Us. II cant take Ylorry
with me I'll GO any way, and let her
mother know she's safe. / must go.r
"But what'll Dick be after sayingP
You're doing foolish thing, Dolly.
He'll be mad enough to kill some one.n
81 cant help thai" says Dolly, faint
". If I knew he'd beat me black and
blue I'D GO! Oh, no. can't wait for
supper. Ill hurry back" And then
with gentle words and promises she
coaxes Florry to the lounge again, makes
her comfortable on the pillow and takes
of her little boots, one Of which she
slips into her pocket, and so goes out
with brave smile into the darkness and
whirling storm
Down comes the sleet in rafting
showers, the streets are slippery as
glass, and round the corners the wind
PUSHES, shaking awnings and banging
shutters. and sending the few foot pas
sengers skimming before it, over the
shining pavement, like accomplished
skaters. Dolly's old waterproof flut-
tiers back from her clutching hands now
and then, and spreads out behind her
on the wind like dark wing. Street
after street, square after square, are
passed swiftly, and still the little figure
struggles onward, drenched and cold
and storm-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 breathlessly to
count the numbers. The first she reads
Is 48, the next IS.
~ am all right now" cries Dolly,
joyfully, TO herself, "22'll be about the
next blockl"
As she hurries on gentleman, walk
ing quickly, hurries past her-stops an
glances back, turns back, and
his gloved hand touches Dolly. He
drops some silver coin into her hand
and goes on again As rapidly as before
As for Dolly, she only whispers,
/" Tha-thank ye," for the wind nearly
takes her breath away, and she Is very
much surprised besides. For moment