Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-08-25
As INNOCENT AS She Was
PRETTY.

ct is all fol- de- rol, said Miss Henrietts
Henshaw, sitting bolt upright IN her BAN.
boo rocker. 1T is all fol- de-rol, say, fol
people to think they must make up jim
cracks that nobody wants and scatter them
about among their friends"
"But it is for birthday present, aunt.
"Well, what of that? Do you suppose
because my birthday happens to be coming
that i want anyone to give me an upgainly
pincushion with two HIS worked in the
CENTER"
What if there should be three H's?"
said Lottie, slyly, remembering old Peter
Hammond's clumsy attentions, with, as he
admitted, an eye to snug home"
whats that you say2" snapped Miss
Hetta.
Lottie did not venture q repetition, but
sat demurely considering what, under the
stress of circumstances, she should do.
Lottie was Miss Henrietta's orphan niece,
and had been member of her household
for nearly year. She had learned dearly
to love the prim old lady, though that love
was not unmixed with fear. Her wants
had all been kindly anticipated and gener.
ously supplied; but now she had come to
her aunt with a request for few shillings
to spend on trlfies, of which Miss Hetta did
not approve, and had been fatty denied.
Oh, dear, what should she do? Harry had
always brought Der some tasteful gift, and
she did so Want Ia make him hatband for
his new derby. ii . had not dreamed that
she could not, and lad put it of till the last
moment.
The great drops welled up suddenly to
her eyes. If Miss Hetta saw any symptoms
of heartache, she had had heartaches her
self, and they had never killed her yet.
But Lottie did not mean to droop. Auntie
was usually kind, and was albeit her only
living relative-e1cept Harry. Well, Harry
was not relative, exactly-and, oh, dear,
if she could only have hat-band!
She forced back the rebellious tears, and
went singing about the house like the blithe
Airl she was.
The birthday morning arrived, and the
pfoblem of Harry's presents was still I'M
solved. IF could just give him some-
thing" she sighed, looking wistfully down
the long street. "Oh," she said, suddenly,
clasping her hands. Il will, will! What
happy tloughtI" And she fairly jumped
into her cloak and hat and went skipping
down the street.
DR.. Beach, an eccentric bachelor, lived
in the rather lonely house at the extreme
end of the street. Lottie was never sick
herself, and Aunt HeIta never employed
DIR. Beach for her occasional ailments; yet
the bright hearted girl had contrived to
make the acquaintance of the uncouth doc
tor, who liked her and called her Little
Miss"
"What if the dear old man was little
gruf2 He was good" And into his Office
Lottie now went, assured of a warm well
AhsarIal 10 ar snSo
intent on her errand, she approached tho
bay window where stood the great monthly
yuoe-b nsh which had been the wonder and
envy of the admiring public since almost
before Lottie was born.
"Oh, Doctor" she said, Il came to ask
if you would be SO kind as to give me three
or four of those lovely buds?"
"What for?" growled the doctor, saw
agely.
"You see," she began, 81 wanted to make
something pretty for birthday gift for
for a friend, but could not" choking a
little, "and / had almost given up hope of
anything, when this morning. as l glanced
down the road, your beautiful roses seemed
to say. Come after us, so here l am.
Flowers are always nice to give, you know,
and i had none"
"Humph! Why couldn't you make what
you wanted to-"
"Aunt Hetta would not let me"
"Humph! Is not Henrietta Henshaw
good to you?" he demanded, bristling up.
sob, yes, as kind as can be. But she
does not believe in birthday gifts, she
says"
Hadn't you any money YOURSELF"
NO"
1She might give you cent or two from
time to time; then you would have fund
% draw from"
@Oh, she does; had five dollars Mon.
day that had not needed to use. But
saw Jennie and Tommy Elroy with their
little bare toes peeping out Of their old shoes
and"
$50 you sqandered your money to clothe
the feet of those little vagabonds?" growled
the doctor, wondering why he hadn't seen
the bare toes.
"Yes, got shoes and the incest red
stockings. Jennie cried and cried when
che Rugged me, because she was SO glad"
related Lottie, her quick tears starting.
The doctor rubbed his nuckles vindict-
lively in his own eyes.
well, little miss, if you had known YOU
could not get any more money for your
fummery would you have spent all you
had on the little beggars2"
don't know; hope so; I'm sorry you
asked me. really think should. But I
lid want the other SO dreadfully that I
might have saved out q little.n
"You could have got brown stockinsa"
$50 could. But guess I'm glad I did
not; the red ones are so much prettier, and
the poor like pretty thinPs as well as the
rich
The doctor looked ponderingly ON the
little miss. She was a pretty creature, and
- innocent as she was pretty. Though she
vas seventeen, her looks aud appearance
would hardly have claimed her fifteen we'll.
rounded years.
ST is bridal roee, said Lottie, keen.
InR her Grand in mind. e. she looked ID
niringiy into the great bush. whose bean
HUI blossomb rivalsd the whitsneGs Of the
lnOW.
.Hsnph! I suppose -. Yen vssld