The Delaware ledger., 1883-09-08
nay never come back and l want you


"Hsvn't you any little girl of your
own ?" she inquired, thoughtfully.
"No, he returned, somewhat sadly.
"Then you must be awful lonesome,
I'm sorry for you. My papa says he'd
be lonesome 'thout me-"
''I've no doubt OF it," said the sol
dier, releasing her, and smiling into her
grave face. snow tell me your name
and kiss me-"
"My names Phoebe, and I'll kiss you
cause you havn't no little girl of your
own, you knos," she replied, putting
up her rosy mouth with childish con-
fidence.
swell, goodbye, Phebe-there, you
dropped your dime You must keep 1t
to remember me by-because have no
little girl of nay own to think of me,
he said, as he bent down and took the
proffered kiss, with laugh ending in
sigh.
"I'n keep it and member you, she
rejoined, and the soldier strobe rapidly
away, while Phoebe ran to relate all that
had passed to her mother, and assure
her that there were lots of soldiers
alive, and little girls would not be
drafted.
Twelve years after this little incident,
a merry party of four young people
were passing out of theatre, when
suddenly the sharp metallic ring of
silver sounded on the flags of the YES
tibule.
"Oh, | have broken my bracelet ~
cried one of the ladies-a sweet-faced
and winsome creature instantly
dozen gentlemen stopped and gathered
the scattered coins of which the ''ban-
gle'' bracelet had been composed
She received them with smiles and
graceful acknowledgment, and was
about to drop them into the pocket of
her fur bordered cloak, when she said
with touch of anxiety in her voice
1.-THE soldiers dime is lost"
"Never mind it, Phoebe" said the
, other lady of helittle party, "come on"
"Oh, must find it ; have kept it 80
long that l cannot bear to think Of
losing it," returned Phoebe, peering
carefully into corners and crevices, but
without being rewarded by its pale
! gleam.
. "Oh, let it CO." said the other lady,
/ with an air of impatience 81 can't
; understand the value you seem to at
Q tach TO such trifle.'
! 81 promised to keep it" began
/, Phoebe, but at that moment, a tall,
e bearded man, with stately military
q air, stepped forward, holding the miss
y ing coin to her and said:
I, "Have the pleasure of presenting
It this to Miss Phoebe second time ?"
@ She drew back in startled manner
and cried
d You are not"
# "The soldier who had no little girl Of
,s his own," he said, as she hestitated {
+ moment. eyes, am the one, but
ii am afraid that my unfortunate lot will
not move your pity as pleasantly as L
3 did twelve years ago, he added, rathe
T. mischievously. .
y The sweet face grow rosy, but tn
le honest blue eyes looked up with smil
rs sparkling in them.
ly 81 am glad you came through the wa
ID unharmed," q" said the girl, frankly, ''ant
ly since have had this memento so long
70 | suppose l may as well keep 1t ?
Thank you," and with gracious smil
l and bow, she passed on the street, and
le with her companions, entered carriag
IN which stood waiting, and was drive
IS rapidly away. @
gn 81 wonder who he is ?" though
p Phoebe, as she regretted the haste wit
he which she had parted from him, Will
es the soldier himself stood watching tn
n retreating carriage, vexed and disal
at pointed to think he had not found OF
ed the full name of the girl who had for s
a many years kept his silver dime ST
", member him."
ely Some weeks after Phoebe, was at
nix party when her hostess approached h,
and said
nd "Phobe, Major Gresham desires 9
Dis introduction to you. May ] presel
est him ?"
Phoebe gave assent, and in few mi
,or 4 utes Mrs. Winlove stood beside h
tie again, saying:
mo miss Winlove, Major Gresham
MT and, looking up, Phoebe found herst
ne face to face with the tall soldier, who
no face had of late shone oftener in h
y,rl dreams than she would have acknoy
nIv edged.
and The gallant Major soon became &C
I'm vinced that he was sadly in need of
little girl of his own" and concludi
the that the said girl was no other tn
Won Phoebe, set himself to work to make
top OF the same mlnd.
That he succeeded is evident from
aad fact that Mrs. Gresham wears a sill
and dime, trimmed with gold, as one of
liver ''charms' on her watch chain, and
ar ), claros but for it she would not have b.
she loved and wooed by the ''best husbs
inst in the world. "-iSt. Louis Hl,lstro
atb. MagaEine
an s-~s---------
French Etiquette.