The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-11-03
AS INNOCENT AS SHE WAS PRETTY.

ut is all fel-de-rOl," said Miss Hen
rietta Henshaw, sitting bolt upright in
her bamboo rocker. "It is fol-de-rol
say, for people to think they must make
up jimoracks that NOBODY wants and
scatter them around to their friends"
"But it is for a birthday present,
aunt"
swell, what of thatr Do you suppose
because my birthday happens to be COM
ing that / want any one to give me an un-
calmly pin cusion " III two HIS worked in
the center.
"What il there should be three H's?"
said Lofty, slyly, remembering old Peter
Hammond's clumsy attentions, with, as
he admitted "an eye to snug home"
"What's that's you say!" snapped Miss
Hatts.
Lottie did not venture repetition, but
sat demurely considering what, under the
stress of circumstances, she should do.
Lottie was Miss Henrietta's orphan Leice,
and had been member of her house
hold for nearly year. She had learned
dearly to love the prirn old lady, though
that love was not unmixe6 with
fear. Her wants had been anticipated
and generously supplied; but now she
had come to her aunt with request for q
few shillings to spend on trines, of which
Miss Hetta did not approve and had been
fatty denied.
Oh, dear, what should she dor Harry
aad always brought her some tasteful
gift, and she did SO want to make hat
band for his new derby. She had not
dreamed that she could not, and had pu6 it
off till the last moment.
The great drops welled up suddenly to
her eyes. Ii Miss Hetta saw any symp-
.,fh haa ha fhua hau to- has
herself and they had never killed her yet.
But Lottie did not mean to droop. Aunty
was usually kind, and was, albeit her only
living reletive-e-cept Harry. Well,
Harry was not relative and oh, dear,
if she could only have a hat band!
She forced back the rebellious tears,
and went singing about the house like the
blithe girl she was.
The birthday morning arrived, and the
problem of Harry's presents were still
unsolv.d. If I could only give him
something" che sighed, looking wistfully
down the long street. "Oh," she said,
suddenly clasping her hands. Il will, l
will, what happy thought" And she
fairly jumped into her cloak and hat and
went skipping down the street.
DIR. Beach, an eccentric old bachelor,
lived in the rather lonely house at the ex-
treme end of the street. Lottie was
never sick herself, and Aunt Hetta never
employed DIR. Beach for her occasional
ailments; yet the bright hearted girl had
contrived to make the acquaintance of
the uncocth doctor, who liked her and
called her Little Miss"
What if the dear old man was little
gruff. He was good. And into his office
Lottie now went, assured of a warm well
in he int a nd
intent on her erraud, she approached the
bay window where stood the great month
ly rose bush which had been the wonder
and envy of the admiring public since al
most before Lottie was born.
sOh, Doctor" she said, 81 came to ask
If you you'd be so kind as to give me
three or four of those lovely budsW
s'What fort" growled the doctor, saw
agely.
"You see," she began, ~ wanted to
make something pretty for a birthday
gift-for friend, but could not" chok-
ing a little. sand / had almost given up
hope of anything, when this morning, as
glanced down the road, your beautiful
roses seemed to say, Come after u.s. so
here l am. Flowers are always nice to
give, you know, and had none"
"Humph! WAY couldn't you make what
you wanted tor"
Aunt Hetta would not let me-"
"Humph! Is not Henrietta Henshaw
good to your" he demanded bristling up
ooh, yes, as kind as can be. But she
does not believe in birthday gifts. she
says"
Hadn't you any money yoursoifs"
"No."
"She might give you cent or two from
To svra wnuId fnnC
to draw from"
"Oh, she does; had FIVE dollars, Mon
day, that had not needed to use. But
saw Jenny and Tommy Elroy with their
little bare toes peepiDg out of their old
shoes apd-"
$50 you squandered your money te
clotho the feet of those little vagabondsF =
xrowled the doctor, wondering why he
hadn't seen the bare toes.
"Yes, / got shoes and the incest rec
stockings. Jennie cried and cried wher
she hugged me, because she was so glad,
related Lottie, her quick tears starting
The doctor rubbed his knuckles vindic
lively in his own eyes.
"well, little miss, if you had knowI
you could not get any more money fol
your fiummery would you have spent al
You had on the little begsars"
II don't know; nope so; Pm sorry yot
asked me. I really think should. But
did want the other so dreadfully that
might have saved out a LITTLE"
"You could have got brown stockings.
$50 l could. But euess I'm glad di,
not; the red ones are 40 much prettier
and the poor like pretty things as well a
the rich"
The doctor looked ponderingly on thu
little miss. She was pretty creature
and as ipnocent az she was pretty
Though she was seventeen, her looks an'
appearance would hardly have clsimet
her fifteen well-rounded years.
at is a bridal rose," said Lottie, keep
ing her errand in mind, as she looked sad
mirinely into the great bush, whose beau