The Osceola times., 1880-07-03
MISSION OF A BIT Of LACE.

/
was the winding ~ exclamation of
Burke Addison's reverie.
He was sitting by the window in
drcssing-gown and slippers, fuming in
wardly over the broken limb which had
kept him in doors for weeks, his neg
lected business the state Of things in
the kitchen and all over the house. Ho
was widowcr, and q slip-shod, lsca-
daisical girl made an effort to perform
the duties of housekeoper for him. lie
had been widower over year. aud
| during that tins he had sweet taste Of
the difficulties OF getting good house
keeper. lie had changed every few
weeks. One INDUCED too freely in the
use OF stimulants, and in . fit Of in
ever their heads Another helped hes-
self to sundry valuablss and then took
| French leave. A third set before him
such outrageously cooked dishes that he
came near dying with dyspepsia one
week and starvation the other, and so
on until he had one on sufierancs who
| he sometimes thought was worse than
any OF the rest, who he vowed should bs
cleaned out rs soon rs he vas about
again. He had begun to believe there
wasn't capable woman in the whole
city, at least none that he could lay his
hands on
He heard the patter of little feet along
the entry, and the door was pushed
open by little girl of three summers or
thcrcabouts, who entered holding up her
little apron, in which there were some
colorcd candies. "See what dot from
the candy man." she lisped, holding out
her apron with her little chubby solid
hands and showing them TO her father.
Then sitting down quietly on the not
over well swept carpet, she proceeded to
regale herself with the sweetmeats.
lie uttered halEdispairing groan as
he looked at her thin face, which WAS
very pretty when clean, but was now
bedaubed with the colored candies to
its utter Disagreement; her tangled
culs looked ~ il they had not known
brush or comb for . week, her stockings
were soiled and wrinklsd, and the trim
ming WAS torn from her drcss in several
places.
GLOW the child is neglected." he
thought, watching her ~, in blissful un.
consciousness Of dirt and disorder, she
smacked her lips after each dainty
morsel. "Shc is growing up like weed,
and her clothes look as badly ~ any
neglected child OF the street"
He had fine, sensitive taste for
order and neatness, and the sight of
Mabel was positively painful to him.
When he married he had made his
| home in distant city from his own
and none OF his relatives or those VI his
wife were near him.
Something must he donc," he solilo-
quized, hall savagely. "That girl il
wasting more down stars than her
head is worth. III he bound. shall
have to take day and look around ~
soon as am better. I've sworn WON'T
advertise for them. I should be be.eigcd
by host of husband hunters. It's
plaguey strange that no one OF my ac-
quaintlncos knows of good, capable
person they can recommend"
At this juncturc girl in y soiled cali
co wrapper, that was short behind and
long ON both sides opened the door.
She had II dull, monotouous face, and
| looking ut her one would wonder what
could bc her mission in the world.
"What shall get Tor supper, Sir?'
81 don't care, anything you like he
returned shortly, well knowing the food
was invariably spoiled in the cooking,
and therefore it was supertluous to or
der. The girl looked at him DULY and
| then, without reply, turned and went
/ down stalis. He graspcd his crutches
and hobbled around the room awhile 10
work off his impatience. Mabel began
to laugh at his movements, which looked
novel to her. and having finished her
candy, got up and battered along beside
| him.
60 down stairs and ask Jane TO wash
your face and hands" hs said in an ir-
ritated tone. He loved her, but it an-
noyed him beyond measure to see her
in such Il plight. With a suddenly
sobered face and quivering lips, the
| little one oheycd hun, and then hia
heart smote him for his harshness, II
shall become a perfect bear before long,
he thought. Poor little motherlesr
thing | must be careful not to visit my
annoyance upon her head. She's Q
good little thing, and it isn't her fault
that she is neglected
He sat down again, and laid aside his
crutches. Hc forgot the present for a
while, while memory went bach and
brooded over the past regretfully. Five
years before he had been the proud,
happy lover OF Mary Leonard, bright,
sweet, loving, wbole-hearted girl Ii
was the old story Of love and misunder-
standing. He had sent her . bouquet Of
of hot-house flowers and along with il =
note telling her OF his love, and request
ing her, il she returned it, ~ wear the
moss rose buds in her hair ct the party
thoy were both going to attend that
evening. The boy, who Srried then,
carelessly, lost the note, and when ques.
toned by Burke on his return declared
that be had delivered both all right
being too cowardly to tell the truth
His heart sank like lead when in the
worn the flowers. Then pride came
to his aid, and, mentally calling her Z
coquette for the vim ONE, smiling man
nef in which she had treated him fol
weeks past, he almost isAored her dur
ing the entire evening, and lavishsd
marked attention upon Kate Dennine
who was but too we'll pleased 70 reee,va
them. With Characteristic ran ness, ks
sfter week or two, ssked her " marry
him and she sccerted hiG, thinking hsi
lot most blessed, fpf she he'd loved him
oil along. snd he loving Masien Win
hsat and sorl, hut tso proud N even
seek an explanation sftsr the slight che
he'd Put upon him, - hs thouahtessly
led Kate 10 the alter. Then . shor,
time staS the htal step vss taken ths
truth came oat Ne found cut thst
Marion had loved him devotsdiy, end
that her heart ve brcakine over the
dieertion. he had made en- indifferent
hoshand, for he could not forget Marion,
and his VIII, dining her shoSt married