The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-06-23
TROT,s ADVENTURE.

One fine spring morning fine little
girl came tOddling in to be admired by
her admiring grandma and aunties be-
fore going down town.
''Tee my tockings"' she said, holding
out one plump leg, and nearly topping
over rs She tried to balance herself on
the other.
'.Booful, darlingr' said grandma.
obligingly; for in her heart of hearts
she thought the gay-colored stripes an
abomination, and considered white t0
be the ''only proper thing for little
girls" or anybody else.
''Ozer ones bOoful, too"' said TrOt,
holding it out for inspection.
just then Trot's mother, Mrs. Dainty,
came to the door and said: ''COme,
precious. run; here's the car" which
startled the girl so that she toppled over
entirely, and had to be picked up and
Strengthened out by grandma, and kissed
and comfOrted by her mamma and all
her aunties, which took so long that
two or three cars had chance to
trundle by before they were ready to
60.
Mr.. Dainty's store, so Trot thought,
was very dull and uninteresting place,
full of big boxes, hammers, saws, files
and nails; so, after she had shown her
new stockings to her papa, she went
out to the door in search of amusement,
and, not seeing anything but yellow
spotted dog which interested her, she
slipped out and walked composedly
down the street.
She looked back once or twice, ex-
pecting to see mother or father after
her, but they were busy talking. and if
they thought of her at all they supposed
that she was just outside the door.
Not being at all in favor of straight
lines, she turned up this street and down
that, gazing about her with great de-
light and trying to make believe that
she was "big. grown up lady,"
She did think of her mamma once,
and seeing pleasant-looking man driv-
ING along in buggy she stood on the
edge of the sidewalk and called out as
loud as she could: "Mister! Mister
Man,
He looked at the little red-cheeked
mite and drew up his horse, saying,
pleasantly enough:
"Well?''
elf you see my mamma, tell her not
to be worried
But I'm afraid she UiU be worried
said he-I think he must have had lit
tie red-cheeked girl at home and you
had better get Ri ht into my buggy and
let me take you back to her."
"No, flank your replied Trot, with a
gracious bow: GIVE dot to doe dis
way" with which she walked serenely
off and left her new acquaintance gaz-
ing after her in surprise and amuse-
ment.
"Whose girl is that?" he said to him
self as he went on. give seen her
somewhere before
1t was not until hours after, when he
met his friend Dainty coming from the
police office; that he was able to place
the midget.
Trot made very slow progress, for she
had to stop and gaze at everything; but
she had crossed and recrossed SO many
streets that the father and mother, who
were frantically searching for her by
this time, were completely off the track.
At length even she began to think OF
being tired and going home; she was
not by any means the same Trot who
had slipped out of the store-door and
started on and exploring expedition, for
her hair was in her eyes and her face
was sticky and dirty; also her hands, in
one of which was grasped the remains
of stick of candy.
The Young man with hair parted in
the middle was slightly surprised when
this little lassie walked in and said.
"I'll take tick of candy"
"Where's your money! he inquired.
81 amt dot no money. but my papa
dot a whole pottet full" replied the
small customer.
"Where is your papa?"
81 don't know" replied Trot, in
differently!
"pn give you stick of candy for a
kiss" said he.
IAN right" she said, and, standing
on tiptoe, she kissed him over the
counter and trotted of, evidently quite
satisfied.
She had worse luck in a bakery,
kept by sour-faced woman, where she
applied for cake.
"How many do you want?'' said the
woman.
just one,' replied Trot, patroniz-
ingly.
"What for??' was the next question
ITO eat. of tourse" exclaimed the
midget, astonished.
where's your money!
'sAin't dot nome
"Then 90 right out OF my store. you
little beggar.'' said Sourface, GROSSLY.
Trot retreated to the door, from which
place of safety she faced the woman and
said, Indignantly:
Il amt a beddar! You tink beddars
wear dis kind of tockings?" and stamp
ing her little foot she stalked solemnly
away.
She still tried to make believe that she
was a grown-up lady. but with very
poor success; she wanted her mamma
more and more with each moment,
though she was quite above admitting
if, even to herself
She did not dare ask anybody to show
her the way home, for her confidence in
the general amiability of humankind
was shaken sadly since her experience
in the bakery: her little legs, despite
the mucii-prized stockings, began to be
fearfully tired, and when the candy was
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