Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-05-20
sGITTLE TIFF. !"

| home in an hour or so; meanwhile he wouiu
take stroll down Main street.
Will was pleasant-looking fellow OF ~
years. with brown, curly hair, honest,
| laughing eyes, and very decided mouth
and chin. He had glow upon his sun
burned cheek, and breadth of shoulders
and length of limb that were good to see.
1t was balmy spring day; every one
seemed to be in the best possible humor,
VIII sauntered along, studying the diff
ferent specimens of human nature which
he met, and making mental comments
which would have surprised most OF the
objects thereof, who saw in my hero only
stalwart country-man, ruddy-faced and
brown listed.
Presently, as he came to an opening be-
tween two buildings, he stopped suddenly,
look of amusement and tenderness max
ing him almost handsome
| In the shadow of tall brick block sat
| little girl-a mite of creature-her black
curls snarled all about wee, gypsy face,
with great black eyes:
| By her side lay an old brown strawsh hat
and small red violin and bow.
The child's dress was miserable and filthy
in the extreme, and her poor little toes
peeped from gaping holes in shoes, which
were at least two sizes too large for her.
But she looked as happy as queen, and
was talking and laughing softly to herself
and singing little snatches of songs as she
stuck some big dandelion blossoms into
little mound of dirt.
| Will saw, with great throb of pity,
that she was one of the MINISTRIES who
wander about the city streets in the sum-
mer; she was SO young-not more than 7
or s.
And while he stood there looking at her
she glanced up and saw him.
The happy, debonair look vanished in
stantly, the dandelons were scattered, and
she sprang to her feet, violin in hand, and
she stood before him.
'Museek, m'seer?" she said with an I'M
mistakable French accent.
And then, before he could answer, she
broke into light swaying song, accompa-
nying herself upon her instrument, and
ending with quaint little curtsy, held. out
one very small and very dirty hand.
Will, feeling in his pockets for some pen
MES, inquired:
"What is your name, chicken?'
"Tiff m'seer.''
''Tif?'
''Oui, m'seer; Tiphane-Tiff.
And seeing the smile in his eyes the
midget laughed, showing a double row of
small white teeth, and began another
French song, striking into fantastic dance
at the same time, always keeping the small
face, with its big laughing eyes and gilt
tering teeth, turned toward him.
You're d little monkey" he said,
laughing heartily, as he tissed her silver
dime, which she caught and, throwing him
kiss from the tips Of her dirty little fin
gers, turned away, and was soon lost to
sight among the shifting crowds.
The sun was just sinking behind the
western hills when VIII drew up his team
in the doorway of the old-fasbioned, COM
Portable cottage.
Further on, half mile or So was the
village, with the vanes on it's two white
church steeples glttering in the suns last
rays.
The shrill piping of the frogs came up
from the meadow BRONX behind the house,
and q whip-poor will fled sobbing through
the woodland.
This was Wills house, and his eyes
frightened as little, tidy old lady came to
the door to welcome him.
But as he sprang to the ground there
scrambled from beneath the high wagon
seat a queer little object-TiA.
she swung herself lightly to the ground,
and, running forward, clung to the skirt of
Wills coat.
"Don't send me beck, M seer. They are
so cruel. You were kind to me to-day l
saw you riding from the city, and remem-
bered. | sprang up behind, and am here
to live with you always!'
''What does this mean, William?" said
mother Tabor, in establishment.
Then VIII told his mother how Tiff had
played to him in the street. He had never
expected to see her again, however, and
her sudden appearance had been as much
Of surprise to him as to his mother.
''0f course we shall have to keep the
little ting tonight, mother; and to-mor-
row will go back to the city with her."
So little Tiff was taken in and treated to
a bath, and delicious supper of brown
bread and milk, and was finally put to bed
in tiny attic chamber; clad in cean
cotton night dress, which Will had worn
in years before.
The next morning little Tiff was very
i'll, too i'll to sit up. The great eyes We're
unnaturally bright, and the little checks
were scarlet. Her mind wandered at times,
but she knew Will, and smiled at him as
he approached the bed. And when he
asked her where she lived, she told him:
''With old Kaniff, on Mechanic street.
But have come to live with you now,
m'seer."
| Will went away to the city, leaving little
Tiff In charge of his mother.
He found old Kanif up three flights of
stairs in a filthy tenement house.
| He vas villainous- looking Frenchman;
and a woman and two boys, evidently his
wife and two sons, were with him.
! When VIII spoke of little Tiff he snarled
viciously
''She Won lazy leetle rat. She do nozzing
all day but play in re dirt and bring home
no pennies. Mine! No, she not belong to
me. She ess one orphan. | try to have
her play re violin WIZ my boys, but she ess
not good for mornings M'seer will keep
her? Very well; but re violin-dat should
be worth So. Merci, merci, monsieur
| The old miser pocketed the So bill which
| Will rendered him for little Tiffs violin,
and the young man hurried down stairs
and into the open air, drawing a long
breath of relief.
Ten years have passed. Little Tiff, I'M
der the gentle influence of the Tabor home
has grown to beautiful Young woman and
thorough housekeeper. Her violin is
still precious to her, and her voice, is some
thing wonderful.
This is what Max Kenton, their summer
boarder says, and he is great musician,
leader Of the - opera troupe, and off
duty now for awhile on account of i'll
| health.
He is {: very elegant man, this Max KEN
ton, and be greatly admires Tiff.
The knowledge of her history does not
daunt him when he asks Mother Tabor
and viii for their permission to WOO her
for his wife.
"If she will listen to me-" he said, eve
will be married at once and start for the
old country. If mademoiselle chooses, her
future may be glorious one. Her face
and her voice are worth fortune to her,
So Max Kenton received their consent.
They will not stand in the way of little
Tiff's brilliant future, even though the
thought of losing her makes their hearts
ache sorely.
VIII strolls off across the pasture and
papses at the bars to lean upon them with
folded arms and stare straight before him
eyes and about the handsome lips.
He knows now what his feeling for her
is; he had not known before.