The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-25
beggar child, and with it was note that

No name was signed.
Mr.. Sidney thought minute. "Mrs.
JONES'" said he, "this is a new develop
ment not laid down in the story books.
The young lady really ought not to run
away; it contuses things so. Poor child
Read this note Mrs. Jones; who are her
friends?"
"She has always kept by herself, sir,
and I really don't know that she has any,
except her drawing teachers family"
THAT'S it," said Mr.. Sidney, and he
hastily wrote a note. "Send John with
this" he said, "and I think the young
lady will be found in an hour or two"
Mr.. Sidney was right, and it was not
long before repentant little girl was
brought to him.
"Well, young lady," he said, "do you
think this polite way to meet me, after
I have been away six monthsp to run off,
without coming to shake handsY There
was no answer but burst of sobs.
"Why did you run away?"
Because" she said, "John said, you
might lose all your money"
"Was that the only reason? Was any
one unkind to your
Eyes, sir; that was all; and everybody
is good to me-" she said in voice choked
with tears.
"Then let me tell you, my little girl,
that only a very small part of my prop
erty was in danger, and that it I should
lose it all, don'tyou know that the proper
story ending is that you should
support me with the brush-I think
that's the way they put it, and not run
away and leave me to die in poverty, for
your drawing teacher says that you have
talent enough to do some good work by
and by. Mrs. Jones says you have few
friends, and I think three or four years in
a good boarding school will be the proper
thing. It's quite according to the story
book, too" he said to himself.
"Only," he added aloud, for his love of
teasing overcame him, "would you mind
promising me that you won't run away
before come back? for am going away
to be gone three or four years."
"Yes, sir" said the girl, 81 will prom
Use. will do anything you want me to-"
Mr.. Sidney went to Europe and wan
dered about for two years; then, as a
party Of friends were planning an extend
ed tour in Asia, and as there seemed no
special reason why he should return to
America, he went with them, and it was
four years from the time of his departure
before he came again to his own home.
Everything seemed just as he had left
it, and he inquired for Tina, half expect
ing at see the slim, brown girl in the
ugly green calico.
"She's been at the school where you
left her," said Mrs. Jones.
"Has she ever had another green cali
COZ" asked Mr.. Sidney.
81 don't know, sir" said Mrs. Jones,
with shade of injury in her voice. 81
was fond of her and I made my own
dress es over for her, but you left her in
the care OF the principal of the school,
and she's bought her dresses. She grad
yates tomorrow"
"Indeedr' said Mr.. Sidney. "Then 1
must go and see her do it. Tell the gar
dener to make me up his finest basket OF
flowers"
The next day Mr.. Sidney made his
way into the crowded hall, and sat there
through two hours of the usual school
girl essays. He could not find Tina
among the graduates on the platform,
and he was beginning to wonder if any
illness had prevented her being present,
when her name was called.
But where was the little brown girl in
the green calicoi For young lady, in a
white dress with deep red carnations,
stepped quietly forward. Gould this be
Tina? The thin, brown cheeks had
rounded and were glowing with richer
color. The prim knot of dark hair had
become loose curl, while the waves half
hide and half reveal the outline of her
forehead. Her clear, low toned voice
filled the hall as no other had DONE Her
subject was cart and it's Friends" and
her whole heart was in what she had
written. There were several illusions
that to one who knew the story of her
life were full of pathos. The shape of
some little child of poverty to whom the
of a new penny was great
happiness. He trembled as she praised
the whole-hearted goodness of man Of
wealth who would give that child
chance to find out the best that was in
her.
Mr.. Sidney listened with utter amaze
ment. Was this self-possessed young
lady shy Tina? But soon as the exer-
cises were over he went in search of her.
II am 30 glad, was all her greeting, but
her eyes and the little culver of her lips
gave a deeper welcome than her words
Mr.. Sidney was in so dazed a frame of
mind that his usual GOODNESS entirely de-
serted him, and when he came away he
hardly knew what he eaid to her. The
one that was dearest in his mind was
that, when he had said that the carriage
was ready for her, she had told him that
she was to stay with Madame Richard and
teach painting to her pupils. When he
thought it over he saw that she was right
but to him, with his love of freedom, it
seemed hard thing for the brilliant girl