The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-07-30

Awaiting the mothers ear.
Who is the prince OF babies!
Why, OF course, my baby dear!
Mary D. Brine, in the Independent
lMPROMPTU FIREWORKS.
" t"Are YOU my Uncle Robert?" said a
sweet, childish voice. And stopping
the cheerful whistle that always ac-
'coupanied his work, and looking up
from the plane that was loudly lisping as
it rapidly skinned along the board he
was planning, Richard Foster saw, stand
ing in the doorway of his workshop-a
bright June sunbeam resting on her
pretty head-a little fair-haired girl.
Lost in astonishment, he did not an
swer the child, but gazed at her with
wide-opened eyes. She had appeared
80 suddenly and quietly, and, moreover,
she was so unlike the round-faced, rosy
checked, white-haired, chubby little
ones of his native village-so tair, so
fragile. with a strange, yearning look IN
her large violet-blue eyes, and tint of
purest gold on the long flowing hair
that fell about her small delicate face
that she seemed to belong to an entirely
different race.
Are you my Uncle Robert?" she re-
peated, coming a step or two into the
shop. .,
"No, I'm not,g baby; I wish l
were," answered the CHEEKY young fel-
low, recovering from his surprise; for he
dearly loved children. and this. child
touched some chord in his heart that had
never been touched before. :.
"My names not Baby; it's Eva:
said the child. shaking the black hair
from her face, and regarding him with 4
serious look. 'And mammals name is
Eva too.m And then, with little sigh :
Il fought perhaps you was him."
What made you think so, baby--l
mean Eva?" asked the young man, with
pleasant smile. tossing his plane aside,
and sitting! down on huge block OF
wood that stood near. .
Youl look like him "-speaking with
quaint preciseness. "He went away
when I was very little girl-I'm most
five now-but / member him. He had
a face; like you, nice laughing face;
butn-glancing at the shirt sleeves
..he wore a coat, and he used to give
me candies for kisses-two candies for
one kiss; and mamma cries because he
does not come back and take us away
with him..
The dinner bell rang loud and long in
the.eottage adjoining. The young car,
penter mechanically rose to his feet, and
then deliberately sat down again, as he
said, with tender look in his honest
brown eyes, I'm sorry mamma cries. "
Eyes, she cries lin lowered voice,
and. completely won by the kind look,
coming to his side, and putting her mite
.ofsa hand confidingly in his because
papa has gone up there" (pointing to
the sky).l,'. don't member him; twas
long, long, long ago; and Uncle Robert
don't come back; and she's beggar!'
this last remark evidently quoted,
with dramatic little gesture.
=. Again the sfdinner bell rang violently.
~ WiM youS tell me where you live,
Eva?". asked, Dick, paying no attention
to the summons; but before the child
could reply, a stout, buxom, black-eyed
girl few into the room from the rear
door, and slight. graceful, fair-haired
woman came in at the other.
"Dick, why on earth don't you come
to dinner?" almost yelled the buxom
girl; and, EVA, my darling, what are
you doing here?" cried the pretty
woman.
Il fought he was my Uncle Robert,
said the child, smiling at the young
workman as she dropped his hand anc
went toward her mother.
op"He?" exclaimed the pretty woman
scarcely glancing at him. "Why, he
with a light laugh, and slight in
Election of scorn, or something very like
it, in her voice" he's carpenter.
And catching the child in her arms
she disappeared as suddenly as she hat
arrived. g..
Goodness gracious sakes alive" sale
Dicks brown-faced, red-cheeked sister
with not an infection but a whole
volume Of scornin her voice. I" A car
penter. indeed! u And what is she?"
What is shep" repeated Dick.
ooh, come along to dinner. Dick. ant
don't bother. I'm hungry, if you amt
giving him a by no means gentle pull.
"Stop moment, Lib" jerking ava,
from her" that's a good girl, and tel
me all about it,"
"An about it? Pshaw! you men arr
all aiKei All about her. you mean
Do yon think she's pretty?"
"Well, all about her, then" sait
Dick, utterly ignoring the question.
EMother'll be, hopping mad. and tn
victuals'll besstone-cold. but I'spose II
better hurry and tell you what | know
at once, or you'll be pestering The iif
out of me till I do. She's a widow
Mrs. Leonard Deming, NJ. D. that is
Mr. Leonard Deming was NJ. D. ant
she came here two days ago to live il
the Brick cottage round the corner, will
her aunt. old Mrs. Paulding, who is al
ways talking Of better days, and boast
ing that there never has been meciani
in her family. .. And yet she's as poor 4
a-ehureh mouse, and no one knows how
she manages to live" ..
"Go on, Eib"-as she stops to TAX
breath.
"Therergoesy the bel, againw-turn
ing toward thedoor. = = ~
"You shall not stir a step until yo'
finish your story,'l says Dick, detainin!
her with firm but gentle force.
ooh, Richard Foster, what teas
younare. and only; yesterday you wa
caling me o gossip. and saying how Wo
mems tongues did run on, and-eh !!
(wfh s. Sslirill scfeafn) what q pinch
You tofmentipgth Well, her hus
band was a doctor, and went off to som
placb br other when they been marrie
wear or SO, and caught the yellow fever
and died, and left her nothing but nj
MD And she's as poor as old lad
Paulding and just as proud; and, on
Dick, the funniest thing-she's filled on
of her aunt's windows with wax flower
for sale, Just as though any one in thi
place would buy wax flowers! Com
along" ~. ,.
lib, think wax flowers are beauti
ful"-he had never thought Of them i
his life before. and fact knew nothin
about them" an6 wish you'd set tn
other folks good rxample and buy lo
of them frohl-Mrs. Deming for our pal
lor mantel," and he thrust a bill into he
hand.
"Diek, Foster, are you erazy7 Wa
flowers, and mother wanting a ne,
cook stove this minute:-the old one
c11:~ ~ ,uto ,;oooe and horopit-S