Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-10-03
of the flies at such places. and the

l
three old maids. gave herself frivolous
airs. '.but as for the dear little chicks
in blue sashes, l wish l was boarding
in houseful.'
This childishness was leniently
overlooked in Patty: what discretion
could one expect at forty?
Mr.. Perine stepped into his shining
drag at precisely nine o'clock. He was
never quarter of a minute out OF the
way. and women along the road set
their cottage clocks by his appear
ance. He drove the two miles to
his city Office in exactly seventeen
| minutes, as he had done for twenty
FIVE years. The ladies Perine betook
| themselves to their several feminine
| occupations, for they were Industrious
women, in a way. and quiet reigned
in the hall and parlors. the few flies
that had braved an entrance through
the shaded windows felt lonely and
subdued, and meekly promenaded the
ceiling, with no thought Of buzzing.
The sound of wheels on the graveled
drive about noon Brought three heads
instantly to the oriel window of the
upper hall. and two woolly ones ap-
peared at the side porch.
WHO in the world is coming to see
us in a hack!" exclaimed Miss Louisa,
| in disgust.
"And such hack"
"Extraordinaryr cried Miss Ger
trude, there is a trunk, aud the
| wretch is throwing it on my grass as
if it were dirt road. Here, you fel-
low, there is some mistake; that trunk
does not belong here, especially on
the grass-here, listen"
But the slouchy hack-driver had
evidently gotten his fare, and paid no
attention to the shriIl, unintelligible
voice
..Sarvent, mistis;" the old gray
| headed butler showed signs of excite
ment about the whites of his eyes;
''dar is a young pusson in de parlor,
| marin. | meks bole to spose she axes
yo' comply"
els 1t lady, James,"
"Well now. mistis. she mought be a
lady, by de look Of her, and den agen
she moughtn't.
"Did she give her name?"
Lord love yer, mistis," cried the
old domestic, forgetting his decorum,
de po' thing cough so she amt got
BRET to say nuttin; pear like she gwine
faint away fo' she could get any word
outen her mouf, and ! tink l bes come
and let on bout her"
Before the words were fairly uttered,
Miss Patty was at the parlor door,
The poor young woman had indeed
tainted: the stained handkerchief. the
red line on her lips and her ghastly
pallor telling the pitiful story. Seat
ed on the rug at her feet was a sturdy,
three-year-old boy. in short skirts and
bare legs. He was fearlessly investi-
eating the eyes and teeth of the Loop
ards head, and evidently had no con-
seriousness OF any thing unusual in his
companions condition. Perhaps. alas!
it was a sight familiar to him. All was
confusion and terror in the usually
still house These old maids had never
been sick in all their well-regulated
lives, and, except for a sort of woman
ly instinct, had little conception of
what ought to be done. A bed,
spoonful of brandy. cool spray in her
face. doctor-and presently the sunk
en- dark eyes opened. but there was not
strength for a single word of explana-
ton. and before shutdown another hem
orrhage carried off the feeble life that
had so Suddenly and strangely come
into the Burnside household that morn
ing.
The child was too young to tell any
thing except that his name was
"Wim." He prattled of too-too cars.
bridges, of Mamma sick, OF liter b ack
doggie at ours home OF taniy in e
funk, and such objects of baby in
terest. Fortunately he did not pine
long for his young mother. hidden
forever from his sight in hasty, IN
wept grave. Doubtless she had been
too feeble to give the child much at
tention, and he seemed quite able to
bear the burden of his own existence,
finding vivid amusement in every
thing around him. There was not the
faintest clew to the identity of the
dead woman. In her pocket was not
even purse only coarse unmarked
handkerchief. The shabby little trunk
was almost empty. except for a few
suits OF neatly-made clothes for the
boy and a few carefully darned articles
OF female Undertaking. not a letter.
not book. not scrap of paper any
where.
1--WE will keep the child. brother"
said Miss Perine. until you ask ad-
vice of some experienced person as to
where to place him.
Yes" assented Mr.. Middleton
Perine, laughing uncontrollably over
Wins persistent efforts to sit on the