Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-07-24

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the street; a car was Just in sight.
waited moment in breathless inn
patience, then turned to go and meet
it. AS | did so, a voice was borne on
the breeze behind me-
"Floribel ="
turned, and beheld, half square
distant, the little girl who had started
out to walk with Floribel. She was
in hot persuit Of me. | threw discre-
ton to the wind and rushed down the
street to meet the advancing car. I
raised my hand to frantically signal
the driver, when a heavy hand came
down upon my shoulder, and stern
voice said.
Stop, madam"
almost sank to the earth as look
ed round and saw myself in the Gus
tody of policeman. The next mo-
ment the little girl came flying up.
"Oh, good graciousl is it you,
ma'am2 ! thought somebody was
stealing little Floribel, and | begged
the policeman to stop you. l beg par
don ma'am. Oh, good gracious
But wasn't | scared, though Oh ;"
And the little girl was almost hysteri-
cal.
was furious at being thus foiled
second tine, and could with difficulty
conceal my real feelings. But the
presence of the policeman aided me
greatly in collecting myself
Did | brighten you, child2" l
asked, forcing a laugh "You care
lae-1,v 1af+ L1ioriba1 ,,nCv, tho cfa,, ov,J
| thought / would teach you lesson
but l did not mean to frighten you
so.n
| spoke the truth; fer I had no
meaning, no intention, no thought
but one, and that was to gam posses
sion of my coveted treasure.
81 will help you take her back
home" / added, as the policeman,
seeing our apparent friendly relations,
retired.
AS we walked back 1 pondered
modify upon my failure, not noticing
the child as she ratified on. had not
better try this game again, l thought;
it is too dangerous.
Amelia, / said suddenly, for l had
become quite intimate with the chill
dren, do you think" and here l
hesitated, and looked at the little girl,
fearing the effect of my next words.
"Do you think, | continued desper-
ately, that your mother would sell
me Floribel ~
The child's eyes opened to their ut
most extent.
Sell .Floribel! Indeed, ma'am she
would notl"
But mean to ask her, I cried ex-
citedly. "Oh, Child, / would give her
any priceP
"Oh, dearl what 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 so to tease us.
But come in, maam, " as we reached
her home, 'and tell mamma yourself.
La how she will laughW
was not so sure of the mirthful
effect the child predicted for my re-
quest The lady would probably
think me demented and so | actually
was, believe for the time.
The child ran into the parlor lead
ing little Floribel, and / followed.
There sat the tall, dark-eyed lady
reading by the window. She looked up
as we entered.
Mama, said the little girl, there
is the lady we told you about, who
always notices Floribel so much when
we take her out with us. And mann
ma, she wants to buy herl just to
think of it and the child broke into
peals of laughter at the bare idea of SO
absurd a suggestion.
The lady who had risen politely at
my entrance, sank back into her chair
with a look of utter amazement upon
her countenance, and snatchlng up
Floribel clasped her to her bosom
with many endearing epithets. But
| had gone too far to retreat now, and
I was so thoroughly convinced that
she was not Floribel's mother that if
| thought she was her own flesh and
blood. So summonlng up all the dug
nifty / could command | said:
"You are doubtless astonished,
madam, as well you may be, at my
strange request, but cannot help It,
| coyet your treasure so earnestly that
l would pay any price for her posses
sion. "Oh, madam" ] continued
as | saw that the lady regarded me
with indignant looks, ''if YOU only
knew how your little darling has
wound herself around my heart
strings, you would pity ehildless
wife who yearns for some sweet little
creature to console her lonely hours.
You have two charming little girls,
and others, too, perhaps, - fancying
her looks relaxed little, while /
have nothing Here / could hardly
restrain my tears. and one rolled down
the lady's cheek and fell upon the
! little ones silken carlS.
Hope sprang in my breast, and at
that moment the street door opened
and young man walked into the
room. He stopped and looked at oui
emotion in surprise.
why" he began, looking from
one to the other.
ooh, Henry, cried Amelia, run
ming to him, this lady has fallen II
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