Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-09-06

her loot Il must have birds for my
bonnets; every one wears birds.
People are cruel!' sobbed Kathleen
savage! Oh, do so hate fashion
and fashionable doingsl"
"And as | can't afford to pay the
prices that the milliners ask" languid-
ly added Nora, ''as long as papa keeps
my allowance at such 4 niggardly point,
must just do the best l can. After all,
you silly Dona Quixote, what's bird or
two, that you could cover with the palm
of your hand? Here's your half-crown,
Fred; let Dick stuff and mount them as
soon as he can. / want to wear them
nex> week"
You shan't have themr' cried Kath-
leen. My poor little murdered dar-
lings! Oh. anything-anything but a
fashionable womanr'
Nora, however, was waxing impa-
tent With rapid step forward, she
snatched the birds from Kathleen's
hand and gave them to Fred, who,
vaulting over the fence, vanished
straightway into the copse; and with an
exceeding great cry, the poor child
sat on the garden-seat and gave way
to sobs and tears. srEH
'Such sentimental nonsense muir
INJURED Nora, turning scornfully away.
And then she fell to wondering how
she should look in the new bonnet, and
whether MIR. Germaine would think the
blue-and-gold decorations becoming to
her; and il But who is to trace the
devious current of n pretty girls medi-
tations, when once she wanders into
the regions of IFS and andS?
Anything but fashionable wo-
mani" Ronald Germaine's heart echoed
Kathleen Connor's passionate words
anything but fashionable womanr'
The little discussion had had an
auditor that they rocked not of.
Was it strange that Mr.. Germaine
opened the latch of the lower garden
gate, and came to try and comfort poor
little Kathleen in her tribulation?
81 have heard it all, Kathleen" said
he. "Do not fret, poor little lassie-it
can't be helped. But after this l shall
never want to see the FURNISHED breasts
and glittering wings of heavens poor
little songsters on u woman's head gear.
IL is too much like sacrifice. Itmakes
one think of the slaughter of the inno-
cents"
Kathleen lifted those velvet-hazel eyes
of hers to his face, full of inexplicable
pleading.
IL know it's dreadfullv silly of
me-" she faltcred; ''but if could only
have my little pets under the green
grass"
you shallr' said Mr. Germaine.
but"
Don't look 50 troubled. Kathleen;
don't | say that you shall?'' reiterated
Ronald.
"Oh." cried Kathleen, You are so
good--so good. No one has comforted
me as you have. Every one seemed to
think it was so silly of me to care for
birds. But they were such beautiful,
innocent little creatures, and they had
been my pets.
In the carmine glow of the sunset
that evening, Mr.. Germaine brought
Kathleen little paper box.
Here are your darlings," he said. Il
bribed Dick, the taxidermist, to let me
have them. He will substitute others in
their places-unfortunatel there are
plenty of poor little sacrifices to the idle
folly of fashions barbarous within piled
up there on his counter-and Miss Con-
nor" Che did not say Nora. Kathleen
vaguely noticed will be none the
wiser"
"Oh, it is so good of you-so good of
your repeated Kathleen. "But how
Nora can wear those things on her hat!
Why, l would as soon 90 around like
the cannibals that we read of, with
strings of human teeth around my neck
and scalps hung at my belt. Should
you think me very childish and silly,
Mr.. Germaine." she added, with soft
eyes lifted imploringly to his face, IF l
bury these poor little winged creatures,
whose bright life is over now, in the
corner of my flower garden?"
Dear little Kathleen" he said, kind
ly. sin my eyes everything that you do
is right"
And so. together. they buried the
birds; while at Mrs. Joyce's musical
tea" every one was wondering where
Mr.. Germaine was-and Miss Nora,
most of all.
Kathleen" said Ronald, as he sat
on the crooked trunk of tree, when
the miniature obsequies we're over, will
you answer me one question:"
las many as you please, Mr.. Ger
maine" said the girl, who was slowly
sprinkling clover leaves on the tiny
mound, with her chin resting in her
hand.
''What did you mean, just now, when
you asked me if | should think you
childish in following the dictates Of your
hearth"
''What did | mean?' she repeated.