The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-05
..Let go-she's mine. Let COL Let

/ ssLet go-she's mine. Let go! Lei
1 gol',
her, but you must come out of this
4 Johnny opened his eyes. 1t was moi
the horrid elephant but pleasant-faced
/ man who was lifting Kathleen from the
grass. and another man had hold of his
own arm. He stared about and saw
that night was coming. and that men
were making things ready for the even.
! ing show. He took Kathleen's hand
and led her out.
He half expected Bridget would be
waiting somewhere for him, but not see.
| ing her he struck bravely out to take
Kathleen home. feeling sure he could
find his way alone.
She walked demurcly by his side till
both became tired. aud then she fretted
a little. but he gave her all the candy
he had left, and still led her on till his
poor little heart began TO fail him.
At last Kathleen sat down on a door
step and set up cry which terrified
him. He tried to coax and comfort
her, but she cried louder and louder,
and Johnny was nearly beside himself
by the time policeman bent over the
! two.
"Lost?''
"Oh. no." said Johnny, "it's hom.
we're going"
..And where is your home?"
"Well. l don't Exactly know jus,
now, but I'll know when we get there. u
"Very likely. Do you know your
street and number?"
"No but it's right next to Mrs. Din.
giles house,
"And where is Mrs. Dingle's?"
"Why! Right next to our house."
"Well. l guess you'd better como
with me and have some supper"
Johnny was so greatly relieved at
Kathleen's having stopped crying that
he viii ngly followed as the man took
her up. The poor little strays had
hardly eaten the bread and milk which
was given them at the station before
both had again forgotten their troubles
in sound sic p. So sound and so dream
less was .Johnnv's rest that little hub
bub which came soon after never
aroused him, although the end of it was
that, with many an exclamation of
"Ach-mein kind! Mein pabyi'' amid
tears. laughter, hugs and kisses, the be.
loved kathleen, red cheeks, yellow hair
and all, was borne away.
Telephones and policemen had been
astir since Bri get. after two hours OF
active search. had carried home the
alarming news. Mamma sat with head
bowed over crib, wondering ii the cur
" head would ever again ret on the
pillow. forgetting that there were in the
world such things as books and papers.
And Johnny. held closely in papa S
arms. was half way home on street
car before he became awake enough 10
lift lis head and say:
is this you, papaP Where's kath-
leen?"
$40 YOU mean the little girl who
was founi with you? Her mother
came for her, and was almost as glad
to find her as l am to find you, my
boyn'
Ioor Johnny laid his head down
again, with lips tightly pressed, and
quiet Ii tie tears falling. and said moth
ing more till they reached home. He
did not inten to speak of his grief and
disappointment to mamma-indeed. he
expected she would be so busy writing
that Bridget would hold up her finger
with "whisht, whisht," and put him
to bed as quietly as possible. But
mamma rushed to the door and gath
cred him into her arms with such tor
rent of tears and kisses and loving
words thai he was astoniShed out OF
all his reserve, and sobbed:
"Oh, mamma had little sister
AMI it's gone entirely she isl
Bridget stood waiting to take him to
bed, but mamma sent her away and
undressed him herself, while he told
her about Kathleen. And when it was
all told. ard the p:tiful look settling
over his face again, she said:
How do you think I'd do for sis
ter, johnny
"You, mamma" Johnny laughed,
and went to sleep thinking it very
funny idea indeed.
But the next day his crib was moved
into mammals room, taking the place
of the big table covered with paper, al
though plenty OF room was left for that.
too. And the piazza was turned into a
cnildren's paradise very like to Mrs.
Dingle's, anl many children found
their way to it. And mamma suddenly
showed such surprising talent for
playing games, telling stories, sing ,ng
songs and doing everything else de-
ligntful to little boys, that Johnny. al
though he never ceased to think fondly
of his lost Kathleen, never found time
to mourn for her. as he romped, shout
ed and laughed merrily about his home,
neyermore hearing he sound of Bird
gets ''Whisht, thin! whisht!'' -Sidncy
Dayre, IN CsicTqo Interior.