The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-09-12

much finer than that on the hill"
Then Ill go, slid Anice, I'm run
into the shop and tell papa"
She came out moment later, lead
ing her father by the hand.
"Why, it is Mr. Gaylord said the
cobbler, recognizing the gentleman as
the head of q wealthy leather firm in
the city, with whom he always dealt.
Eyes," said Mr. Gaylord, '.and my
wife wants to take away yonr little girl.
She has fallen in love with the child
blue eyes and golden curls.
Would you really leave me,
Anice?' asked the cobbler
'Yes, want 10 CO." answered,
Anice, in q low voice. al am tired of
living in this little old cottage, and
wearing these horrid Bingham dresses. -
IL viii do well by her ii you will
let me have her, said Mrs. Gaylord,
addressing Mr.. Dame. II lost my
only child a few years ago. and have
made up my mind to adopt one. l
can give your little girl advantages she
would never have here"
The cobbler hesitated little while.
then he drew Mrs. Gaylord aside, so
that he could speak to her without be.
ing overheard by Anice..
II will let you take my child on one
| condition." he said, If she wants 10
come home within month you must let
her come; and if find that i can not do
without her, and send for her ut any
time. you must let me have herr
Every we'll, said Mrs. Gaylord. #
agree to the condition. and am ready to
take her away at once
Anice did not cry as she kissed hen
father goodbye, for her mind was too
full Of the fine things she was to have
in her new home TO allow her to feel any
sorrow at leaving the old
The cobbler stood at the gate and
watched his little daughter out of sight
''She Is young to have so hard les
son." he said, meditativcly, ''but per.
haps it is as well for her to have it now
as later, and must do without my SUM-
shine for little while
+ That evening Anice was dressed as
well as ever Sybil Pond had been, and
felt like little peacock in her dainty
muslin frock, pale blue sash, bronze
slippers. open-worked stockings and
rufiled, embroidered petticoats.
She was given little room all to
herself, and was del GIFTED with the rich
carpet, costly furniture and beautiful
bric-a-brac scattered around. But
when the nurse had put her to bed and
gone down stairs she began to feel
little lonely, aud to wish she might seq
her father, if only long enough to kiss
him goodnight He had always sat
with her at bedtime, and told her won-
derful stories of fairies and strange
countries, AMI it seemed hard to have
to go to sleep all alone.
For the first few days she was pleased
with the novelty of her new life. and
the pretty things Mrs. GAYLORD gave
her; but she soon saw that she was
looked upon more as a toy to amuse
Mrs. Gayiord's Idle hours, than as a
creature to be loved and carefully
trained. She was alternately carcssed
and scolded, praised and rebuked. and
in every way the new life was different
from the old.
The dolls, toys and pretty dresses
lost their charm, and the poor little
girl cried herself to sleep every night,
SO much did she long to see her Kind
father.
''Papa loved me because he'd had me
all his life," she would Sob s.Mrs.
Gaylord has me here only because
Pm pretty, and she likes to dress mo
up"
She thought she would never SEQ her
father again, for she had an idea that
he had made her a present to Mrs. Ga:-
lord, and she felt sure that lady would
never give her back to him, no mat
ter how willing he might be to take
her.
She grew so pale and thin, and looked
so sad, that at length Mr.. Gaylord
noticed it.
THAT child will be sick, Lucy he
said to his wife. ''She is evidently fret
ting after her father. ] fear your ex-
pertinent is not success.
''She can 60 home if she wants to-
said Mrs. Gaylord. II see very plain
ly that she never can take my poor lit
lie Jessie's place in my heart. She is
pretty, bit don't love her, and she is
a great care"
:.She is not your own. aud that is the
rea on you don't love her," said Mr.
Gaylord Il am glad we did not take
her from the asylum, for in that case
You could not have gotten rid of your
burden so easily will send for the
child and see what she says about go
ing home"
He rang the bell, and directed tho
servant who answered it to send Anice
to him at once.
1T seems to me YOU are not happy
here, DEAR" he said to the little girl, as
she came into the psrlor and advanced
to his SIDE Would YOU like to 90
back to your old homer"
For answer, Anice threw herself into
his arms aud burst into tears.
.'Oh, will you really let me GO
backP" she sobbed. ''Can l really 90
home to my own dear papa. Oh, papa.
papar'
"You shall go Tomorrow" sa d MIR.
Gaylord, trying TO dry her tears with
hia hon1Earol,saF I<~.xft