Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-12-26

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her arms.
what did you get?" she asked with
sparkling eyes.
"Get?' repeated Jane Elizabeth.
"Where?"
"Why, don't you know? From Santa
Claus of course. Look! got this"
And she held up the doll, at the sight
of which Jane Elizabeth's heart gave q
great bound. The next moment 1T sank
when she heard Mrs. Grady's shrill
voice:
"Jane Elizabeth"
While her little neighbor skipped
happily off, she went YEARLY back to
mind the baby. Mrs. Grady scolded
her for having gone away. 1t was too
much for the child's pent-up soul to en-
dure. Jane Elizabeth burst out crying
as though her heart would break.
Hold your clackw said Mrs. Grady
sharply. :Yellhave scmethin' to cry
fur if ye git to the asylum"
At this Jane Elizabeth's tears broke
ont afreeh. Quite out of patience, Mrs.
Grady took her by the arm and thrust
her into the adjoining room.
"There," she said as she closed the
door. Eye kin stay by yerself till ye
learn to kape STILL"
When she was alone Jane Elizabeth
continued to sob softly to herself. 1t
was not because the room WAS cold and
dark and she was afraid. What Mrs:
Grady had said about the asylum had
intensified her childish horror OF the
place. She struck her little hands to-
gether and determined she would never
90 there. Anything but that! She had
rather die and be with her dear mother.
When she was at last quiet Mrs. Grady
opened the door and called her out. For
an hour she played with the baby to
keep it still while Mrs. Grady grimly
proceeded with the ironing she had
promised to have ready the next day
After while Mr.. Grady came in with
the smell of liquor on his breath and
scowled blackly at her.
"Been cryin', eh?" he uttered, thlckly.
"What have ye been up tor"
Jane Elizabeth remained silent.
"She's been a naughty girl this morn
in" Mrs. Grady replied. II had to shut
her up in the room by herself"
"She mustn't try any of her tricks
around here" said Mr.. Grady, with a
coarse oath. eff she does, I'll show
her."
With quivering lip Jane Elizabeth
arose to help Mary Ann Grady prepare
the table for dinner. While they were
doing SO the other let dish fall. There
was a sharp cruch as it broke in a dozen
pieces on the floor. Thoroughly fright.
ened, Mary Ann turned quickly around
E y oIcf
"Who did that?" Mrs. Grady asked
angrily. >. -,
81 did not" said Jane Elizabeth, in
dIgnantly. "It was you"
Mrs. Grady's face turned white with
passion.
$50, not content wild breakin' dishes
you must lie about it, you young hussy
you!" she cried. "Come here to me Thu
minute"
As Jane Elizabeth advanced she raised
her hard, red hand and dealt her mum
Der of cruel blows upon the head. Their
she put her in the next room again, say
ing, as she did go:
"There, miss! Yell get no dinner fu
what we've DONE"
Jane Elizabeth, wretched and I'm
happy, threw herself despairingly on tn
cold feor.
ooh, nanny, nanny dear! sh,
walled. "Why don't you come back?
She could hear them drawing up t.
the table for dinner. As she listened t.
the clatter of tie knives and forks sh'
hoped that some one would bring he
something to eat. But no one came, ant
at last, tired out and hungry, she criet
herself to sleep.
By the time she awoke it had grow
dark. She shiveringly went to the win
dow and lifted the corner of the blind t
look out. One by one the stars were be
ginning to appear. Jane Elizabeth stoo'
and watched them.
"Nobody cares for me-" she said, a
the moments passed by and nobod
came. I'll 60 away"
There was another door, which Mr.!
Grady kept locked, communicating witt
the back hall. Softly turning the loo
Jane Elizabeth went out. Down tn
dark, treacherous stairs to the street be
low and out into the white world.
How crisp the air was! Jane Ellzs
beth wished she could havebrought he
hat and shawl with her. The sno'
came in through the holes in her shoe
until her feet felt very cold indeed. Br
on she trudged, with only one thou ht-
and that of leaving Mrs. Grady.
There was not many people on tn
streets. A policeman with his gres
coat mufHed up to his chin nodded as b
passed by, muttering that "it was a roug
night for youngsters to be out" Br
still she plodded on. On, on, only
get away.
By and by she came to building th'
was ablaze with light. Jane Elizabet
stole to the door on tiptoe and locke
in. An reclamation broke from III
lips at the beautiful sight she saw within
A tree brilliantly decorated with lighte
candlesupo whose green branches the
were hundreds of toys and games! An
gayly. dressed little children with cheel
flushed and eyes sparkling, waiting in
patiently to receive them!
| As she stood there watching, wit
parted lips, a lady dressed in white sro
i to sing. Entranced, Jane Elizabeth Ii
tened. 1t was q voice so sweet and pu
that it seemed to come from heave
Was she an angel, after all, Jane Eliz
beth wondered. She advanced ste
for better view of the singers face.
i A man who sat near the door observ,
her and silently arose.
"Have you ticket" he whispered
her.
"No," faltered Jane Elizabeth.
"I'm sorry" he said, 'but only the DO
and girls having tickets can come. Y,
should have joined the Sunday schoo
With q convulsive sob Jane Elizabe
turned away. Out of the please
warmth into the bitter cold of the mig
,, she passed. The last sweet strain di
softly away:
And ye shall have est, he shall have restr
Once outside, she paused moment
consider. Should she 60 back? s.