Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-07-04

6 " "obn oA0 EVV "
down the steps when she seemed to
have forgotten something, for. setting
down the little one on the stoop,
she vent back into the house,
leaving the door open. She had hardly
entered when y sudden gust of wind
slammed TIE door to. There was
not a soul near; no one but my little
precious, Who stood on the upper step,
gazing wistfully at the closed door. In
an instant I raj across the street, and
had caught her up in my arms. She
knew me at once, gave a glad little cry,
and put her face up to.mine to be kissed
But [ had no tine to waste in caresses
now. The house was gu a corner, and
l flew around it into a cTv~s street. I
should not be foiled this time. If I
could only reach the horse-car ] would
be safe; but 1 had another block to go
and that was a long one between the
avenues. 1 would have run with all
speed but wa afraid of attracting at
tention. Walking rapidly L at length
reached the car line. I looked down
the street; a car was Just in sight. I
waited a moment in breathless impa-
tience, then turned to go and meet it.
AS l did so, a voice was borne ON the
breeze behind me
"Floribel!"
l turned, and beheld, half a square
distant, the little girl who had started
out to walk with Floribel. She was In
hot pursuit of me. 1 threw discretion
to the wind and rushed down the street
to meet the advancing co.. l raised
my hand frantically to signalthe driver,
when a heavy hand came down on my
shoulder, and a stern voice said:
"Stop, MADAME
L almost sank to the earth 40 [ Hooked
round and saw myself in the custody of
. policeman. The next moment the
little girl came flying up.
"Oh, good gracious! is it you, ma'am?
l thought somebody was stealing little
Floribel. and I begged the policemen to
stop you. 1 beg your pardon, ma'am.
though? OH" And the little girl was
almost historical.
was furious at being thus foiled q
second time, and could with difficulty
conceal my real feelings. But the pres
ence Of the policeman aided me greatly
in collecting myself.
"Did l i ghten you, child?' Iasked,
forcing a laugh. "You care!essly left
Floribel upon the step, and I thought I
would teach you a lesson; but 1 did not
mean to frighten you So"
Ispoke the truth; for [ had no mean
ing, no intention, no thought but one,
and that was to gain possession of my
coveted treasure.
uT will haln vo, tobo bo, h,,lx
home" 1 added, as the policeman, see
ing our apparently friendly relations,
retired.
AS we walked back I ponderedmood-
lily upon my failure, not noticing the
child as she ratified on. I had better not
try this game again, 1 thought; it is too
dangerous.
'Amelia," 1 said, suddenly, for / had
become quite intimate with the chill
dren, ''do you think" and here 1 hes
itated, and looked at the little girl,
fearing the effect of my next words.
'Do you think" I continued desperate
Floribel?"
The child's eyes opened to their ut
mostextent.
"seU tloribel! Indeed, ma am, she
would mot!"
"But 1 mean to ask her." l cried, K
citedly. ooh, child, 1 would give her
any price!"
ooh, dear! what a funny idea!' said
the little girl, laughing heartily. "Papa
does say sometimes she is one too many
in the family, but none of us think so;
and papa doesn't think so either; he
only says 80 TO tease us. But come in,
ma'am, " as we reached her home, land
tell mamma yourself. La! how she will
Taught"
I was not so sure of the mirthful eff
feet the child predicted for my request.
The lady would probably think me de-
mented; and so I actually was, I be-
lieve, for the time.
The child ran into the parlor leading
little Floribel, and I followed. There
sat the tall, dark-eyed lady reading by
the window; she looked up as we en-
tered.
Mamma" said the little girl, ''here
is the lady we told you about, who al
ways notices Floribel so much when we
take her out with us. And mamma,
she wants to bug her! Just to think of
~: duO CAO Cullu UlOhc luUO pCdlS VI
laughter at the bare idea OF so absurd a
suggestion.
The lady, who had risen politely at
my entrance, sank back in her chair
with a look of utter amazement upon
her countenance, and snatching up
Floribel clasped her to her bosom with
many endearing epithets. But 1 had
gone too far to retreat now, and I
was so thoroughly convinced that
she was not Floribel's mother
that I began to feel more confidence
than if 1 thought she was her own
flesh and blood. So summonng up
all the dignity [ could command I
'.You are doubtless astonished,
madam, as we'll you may be, at my
strange request, but l can not help it. 1
covet your treasure so earnestly that l
would pay anXprice for her possession.
ooh, madam" 1 continued, as l saw
that the lady regarded me with indig-
nant looks, s'if you only knew how
your little darling has wound herself
around my heartstrings, you would pity
. childless wife who yearns for some
sweet little creature to console her
lonely hours. You have two charming