The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-10-08

their dead mother. Do you think it
likely that | wanted them to be bound
out to respectable farmers or appren-
ticed to trades? p
a painted expression stole over Mr..
Dalton's face.
81 shall be more than glad, said he.
''to assume the care of one or all, if
81 want no help" interrupted the
high-spirited girl "We have learned
to love each other, these little ones and
|. Henceforward our lot must be cast
in together Will you walk over the
garden We have some beautiful
roses in bloom, and have been un-
usually successful with carnations this
secson."
The young fellow eyed Miss West
field as if she were a riddle that he
could not read.
"You have lovely place here, said
he, tentatively.
YES said Lima
"But is it not lonely p
"Not at ali"
"Wouldn't it be deal more amus-
ing in town p
"Not for me-" decidedly.
''But you are forgetting plays
opcras-theatres-all delights of an
evening in the city, argued Mr.. Dal-
ton. "These little cousins of mine,
now-won't you let me take them to
see real play Just for once ?"
The childrens eyes sparkled-they
nestled close to the fascinating slrang-
er whose proposals were so enhancing,
and cast pleading glances in the direct
ion of the prlncess-like Lima. She
shook her head gravely.
81 do not approve of the theatre for
children said she.
Mr.. Dalton lifted his hands in comic
amazement.
"But Miss Westfeld," said he, show
exceedingly narrow minded all this is !
Our theatre, for example, is the educat-
ioDal level of our age. The superb
lessons which it impresses on the
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Dalton
said Miss Westfield, "but there is not
one of your arguments which | have
not listened to before. l am exceed
ingly well posted upon the subject.
But it is getting late-my engage
ments-"
"A thousand pardons "lf l nuSt
say good evening"
Good evening"
There was no temptation to further
linger in the crisp curt tones of hel
voice. Mr.. Dalton turned away moi
without disappointment.
Il don't understand these girls,
said he. 'There isn't trace Of the
Jolly Girl element about this one
Well-one can always console ones
self by going to see the divine young
actress that Hillsdame raves about
the cold, the calm, the unapproachable
beauty of the tragic stoge'
And so Mr. Dalton bought himself 6
white silk tie, and pair of primrose
colored kid gloves, and bouquet, anC
went to the theatre.
But while he sat there, waiting fol
the gold fringed curtain to rise, hi,
thoughts wandered back to the cottage
ornee he had left.
"My unknown cousins!' he mused
"Pretty little spirits they were, too
Yes, it would have been pity fol-
them to be sent to the workhouse She
is a spirited girl, that Miss Lima West
field. But woman is nothing more
than woman after all, and ! dom
see for the life of me how she does it
a house like that costs money to keel
it up How does she get it En-
broidered frocks, blue velvet blouses
-roses and cabinet pictures Edwin
Dalton certainly married poor girl
and neither of them left any estate,
but debts, BY jove | mean to be a
the foundation of this family enigma
The girl will find that she can't bluf
me.'
But when the curtain rose and tn
beautiful actress gided on the stage
Mr., Dalton had neither eyes no
thoughts for anything else.
The next day he drove out one
again to the cottage. 1t was noon
the children were PLAYING under tn
shadow of monster elm on the miula
ture lawn, and in blue-ribbonet
wicker chair, with book in her lap
Lima sat watching them.
"Again ~
She raised her quecnly black brow
as he advanced, doiling his cap, so tina
the Sunshine turned his ruddy Saxo
hair to gold.
"les, again" he said smiling "Ms
Westfeld, | have your secret. Yol
and no other, are Leonora West, tn
superb actress whose grand impersol
atious are now stirring the heart c
this great city"
"An open secret she said smiling
swell, and what of 1t ? You know
now, how | support these ones-whG
{ has bought my cabinet pictures an
paid the wages of the groom who take
care of the pony 2 1t was necessar
to do something, and | do not beliey
in doing starvation work for starvatio
prices
miss Westfeld !" he cried, 81 hone
your spirit respect your indepen(
ence."
"Because have chanced to succeed
she uttered, not without a certain roy,
scorn. "And If had failed
"It you had failed think / shoul
have honorod you still more he SAT-
There was something in his earnei
look, his frank tone, that establishe
: friendship between them at once, 81
! smiled, aud the little cousins focke