The Iola register., 1886-11-12

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building, when, from the waiting-room
q mans voice, softened to soothing, and
child's fretful little wall strike the ear
OF the energetic member Of the board
of visitors.
She pushes open the door of the ad-
mission room. Its only occupants are q
man of the so-called Yankee" type and
. little fair child in his arms, flushed
with fever, twisting herself fretfully
about. Her little hood lies ON the floor
and the shining golden curls are lying
roughened on his sleeve and shoulder.
mo, no" she whimpers, II don't want
to stay and get well-take me home.
Jenky; 'tisn't nice place-I want my
home"
Then, the visitors rousing her, she
lifts her head and stops wailing. The
man mods respectfully. but does not dis
turb his burden by rising. "Ah. good
morning; you want your little girl ad-
mitted? What's the matter with her
malaria? Let me see her?'' But the
child pulls away the little hand with a
pettish mo. no." Then. with the sud-
den inconsistency of childhood, puts out
both her arms to Mrs. Eliot, as if the
calm face was magnet Sitting down
on the bench, Mrs. Eliot takes the little
one gently in her arms and the girl
kneels beside her. Jessamine bends her
head and the child puts hot hand on
her cheek, gravely announcing. you're
pretty" Then. as if recognizing the
mother touch of the arms about her,
neste es closer, throws back her head
and with long, tired sigh closes the
blue eyes. heavy with fever and tears,
and while they silently watch falls into
a quiet sleep.
..Is this dear little girl yoursp" Mrs.
Eliot whispers. "My child, not my
daughter. Besides me she has only one
friend in tie world"
"Poor, little darling" Jessamine
murmurs softly. mamma, isn't she
the sweetest little thing you ever sawp"
"An orphan?" Mrs Farnham asks.
"Yes-her father was drowned the day
| before she was born-she and her
mother have lived on my canal-boat ever
since. More than two months ago her
mother asked me if l would take care
| of Hedeyetta-she called herself that,
she couldn't say Henrietta-if any thing
happened to her. l said I would, and
she went right to work and fixed up the
child's clothes all neat and tidy, and the
first dark night she wrapped herself in
shawl and jumped overheard. She
couldn't help it, ma am," he apollo
gizes. answering the look of contempt
on Mrs. Farnham's face, 'tshe fought it
for years-she got old, and hard and
haggard-looking when she should have
still been fresh and pretty-just longing
for her husband-and at last it got too
much for her to stand, and she went to
him. If you could have seen how young
and happy she looked when we found
her" Sudden tears of comprehension
and sympathy tll Mrs. EliOt's eyes,
and Jessamine's hand seeks hers low
ingly.
"Did Hedeyetta grieve much. "Well.
no. she didn't grieve. but she sort of
missed the care, expect tried, and
so did the woman who did the work for
Kathleen, to look after her, but she sat
up late nights and ran about every
where; and even before we laid up she |
was this way, SO at last got worried |
and brought her down here to see if |
you could cure her up-but no, she
won't stay"
Nonsense" Mrs. Farnham saws
briskly. .'you 60 and leave her here
that is if there is vacancy for her
and she will be all right in a few days."
but, as if she had heard, the child means
IN her sleep and the man shakes his
head.
Mamma" the kneeling girl inter-
poses softly, ''may have her for little
sister? Think Of our big. empty house
and how del GIFTED Susan will be to see
the crib slept in again and the nursery
open. If this gentleman will trust her
to us won't you take herr"
''Why. Semany, you must be crazy"
Emma Farnham exclaims; '.think what
care and nuisance she would be-"
and, ''Nonsense, my dear child. you
must be crazy" Mrs. Farnham adds de-
cisively, but the mother hesitates and
looks down into the beautiful. soft, up
turned brown eyes. Very little that
Mamma can give has this sweet one
daughter been refused. Jessamine
stoops lower and lays her cheek against
the hot little head. The child stirs in
her s,eep, throws out her arm and then
clasps it drowsily about the pretty white
neck. ':May VIC take care of her for
you; she shall be like our own?" Mrs.
Eliot asks, and the faithful friend of all
Hedeyetta's little life takes long, keen
look into both faces. draws a deep
breath of pain and huskily answers
...yes." l
1t is Thursday of the Artists Exhibi-
ton week in Philadelphia, and quite a
dutter of excitement runs throug gh the
gay world at something new to do and
see. The academy wears holiday air
and small groups of pretty girls and at
tendant squires are constantly disap-
pearing behind its doors. Inside, even
the stairs are crowded, for the music is
more than ordinarily good. and Jessa-
mine Eliot is wandering slowly through
an inner room, stopping before one
picture after another, listening dreamily
to the soft strains of music, thoroughly
happy, as her lovely face shows. Her
mother follows at little distance talk
ing quietly to an old friend, and in
another part of the room Emma Farm
ham is making the moments fly swiftly
for three much amused men. A group
of people are just turning from picture
with exclamations of delight, sex
quisite! the gem of the collection!' and
Jessamine hears and stops. II
1t is not "a large canvass, but every
detail is perfect and SO exquisitely
painted that it is instinct with life. You
can feel the hot sun pouring down i,
upon a light graceful bridge spanning
a dark, muddy canal, upon dingy
boat that seems to slowly move upon
the two sun-kissed children on the ,
bridge. tossing flowers, daisies and but
tercups, arms full of them-to little
gold-haired, barefoot /