The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-02


Il will do well by her if you will
let me have her." said Mrs. Gaylord,
addressing Mr.. Dame. Il lost nv
only child few years ago, and have
made up my mind to adopt one. |
can give your little girl advantages she
would never have here"
The cobbler hesitated a little while;
then he drew Mrs Gaylord aside, so
that he could speak to her without be-
ing overheard by Anice.
Il will let you take my child on one
condition." lie said, III she wants 10
come home within month YOU must let
her come; and if | find that l can not do
without her. and send for her at any
time, you must let me have her."
Very WE'LL" said Mrs Gaylord. II
agree to the condition, and am ready to
take her away at once"
Anice did not cry as she kissed her
father goodbye, for her mind was too
full of the fine things she was to have
in her new home 70 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, meditatively, .'but per-
haps it is as well for her to have it now
az later, and must do without my SUM-
shine for little while"
That evening Anice was dressed as
we'll as ever SyDil Pond had been, and
felt like little peacock in her dainty
muslin frocK, pale blue sash, bronze
slippers, open-worked stockings and
ruffled, embroidered petticoats.
She was given a 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, and to wish she might see
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, and it seemed hard to have
to 90 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. GaylOrd's idle hours, than as
creature to be loved and carefully
trained. She was alternately caressed
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 hsd me
all his life," she would sob. '.Nlrs.
Gaylord has me here only because
I'm pretty, and she likes to dress me
up"
She thought she would never see her
father again, for she had an idea that
he had made her present to Mrs. Gay
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. l fear your ex-
pertinent is not success"
''She can go home if she wants to-"
said Mrs. Gaylord. Il see very plain
ly that she never can take my poor lit
tie Jessie's place in my heart. She is
pretty, but | don't love her, and she is
a great care"
''She is not your own. and that is the
rsa> Oh YOU don't love her," said Mr..
Gaylord. Il am glad we did not take
her from the asylum, for in that ease
YOU could not have gotten rid of your
burden so easily. | will send for the
child and see what she says about 60
ing home. :"
He rang the bell, and directed the
servant who answered it to send Anice
to him ut once.
1T seems to me YOU are not happy
re. dear he said to the little girl, as
she came into the parlor and advanced
to his side. Would YOU like to go
back to your old home?"
For answer, Anice threw herself into
his arms and burst into tears.
''Oh, will you really let rue 90
back?" she sobbed. Can l really 90
home to my own dear papa Oh, papa,
papaI'
You shall 90 tomorrow, said Mr..
GAYLORD. trying to dry her tears with
his handkerchief. 80 don't cry any
more, my darling"
He took her back to her old home
himself by an early train the next morn
ing and left her at the door of the little
shop
Sac went in very softly, and found
her father sitting at his bench, his awl
in his hand But he was not working,
and looked very sad and lonely.
You ought to have seen how his face
frightened when his little daughter
rushed into his arms, and, oh, how he
kissed and hugged hert
so you found out that it takes some
thing more than fine feathers to make
us happy, little daughter" he sad,
land you've concluded that you'd
rather have your papa's love than silk
dresses and bronze boots"
And Anice cried and laughed By
turns; and when she had gone upstairs
to her little room under the roof. and
put Oh one of her plain gingham
dresses, and was sitting at the little
round table, pouring out her fathers
tea, she felt that she had never been so
happy before. Florence HatiOr0eI, IN
Chicago Standard.
Almost an Invalid.