Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-05-20
BELLA DONNA.

tricks of skeerin' team OF horses going
down grade or a whoopin' unexpected at
an elderly man that's some narvous from
stage drivin' over twenty-five year; but
she want never that er way. She was
leefie, pale faced creatur', with the Slim
NEST arms, the longest legs, and poor,
shabby gowns allus too short fur her, she
growed 50 fast, an they want made
with tucks to let down, as | told her
they'd oughter be. She come to town
Miles Canon--that sets down at the foot
Of Mt. SneifIes like It was dropped there,
along with her father, lizard Luck"
Stevens. He was drunk as usual, and
she luggin' big bundle done up in red
bandanna, tiny sun bunnitted creatur'
not more'n years old
Its too bad, Isays, SISSY, TO LET you
lug that, and that old villain staggerin'
as usual What's he to your"
Just plain dad" she answers with a
Titles sigh; hes allus thater way, and
they've put muver In the ground over to
Leadville, and I've got ter live with him;
but I'm goin' to be spectacle allus, /
promised my muver that.
BLESS yer heart | cries, "if Mike
Brcen kin help you to the same he will
Them leetle old ways Of yourn kinder
chokes me up"
As they did every time SEQ her keep
IN house fur that old reprobate, he pre-
tendin' TO DO prospectin', but settin'
around saloons loailn'. When she got to
be knowed, there was alIus some one to
lug him home fore he got too fur gone
to be hateful, as he done when deep in
liclxer Their yittlcs somehow got paid
for, though lizard Luck" never airnt
nawthin'. Missy would thank q Teller
so cute, with such mite Of a curtsy, It
was with dollars buyin' of pork or
swer to anythin' but Miss Stevens,
though her name was Bell, fearin' it
want high toned.
My road lay by her cabin half mile
from town, an got In the habit Of
breathin' my horses there, fur it's steep
pullu the grade, an out she'd come to
say How de do, and arter q time to
ride piece with me. could swing her
up over the wheel like q bird, fur she
weighed nawthin', an there she'd set
aside me, her leetle sun bunnit hangin'
by the strings, her yaller hair blowing,
her pale cheeks tinted bit, and them
big, black, sorrerfuI eyes full of child's
delight. Land, how purity she was thenl
One day she says:
Mister Mike, you an me Is acquaint-
ed a long time"
Five year, missy,"I answers, hickin'
the off horse with the whip; he allus
shirked.
''I've bin thinking we're such real
frcns you needn't call me Missy emmy
more. That's just fur the camp, you
know"
Better not change-rm used TO
Missy"
..But kin DO spectacle just the same
an want to make you think care q
hemp about you. Now, Bell is 50 short
it amt fine ernuff, On / shall be way
up lady some day, SO got me name to
tho drug store that bitches onto mine"
Gimme suthin' easy; l can't get over
no jaw breaker, Missy"
You wan't laff. loolxinf at me with
them big, serious eyes.
Not grin, even.
ssWell" breathless like, "it's--it's
Belladonner. Amt It butiful?"
One day when she rid up with me she
told me, as she was going to be great
lady, she ought to DO dedicated.
II can't go to school in the canon, fur
father would set hisself fire or suthin,
an hey to git our meals; but / kin read
some, muver teached me little, an I've
picked up more, an want you to git
mo some books"
An If she didn't put a silver quarter
ii my hand, warm from her tiny fist. !
took it, fur she was that proud she'd bin
mad, an I've got it yit, an Worried all
tho way to Silver City what I'd git.
let her think her money paid fur all
She airn't some mendin' fur miners, fur
she'd set patch wonderful with them
leatls claw fingers, an as she growed big
wouldnt take no more gifts of vittles. A
pal an me explored Silver City fur them
books, an brought her o book called
Monter Christer, Bible, volume Of
plays by Shakerspear that thought
wouldn't do her no harm, q fust reader
an 'rilhmetic She was tickled, tell
vou, when dropped them inter her
aprin, an arter that allus see BeIladon-
ner. las 1 keerfully called her. though
he'd to lar inwardly-but lawl I'd called
her hull drug secre 20 please herr with
volume under her thin arm. an the
words she used ev'ry day was reg'lar
double deckers.
She Jest soaked up larnin' like .
sponge, till used 70 wonder that leetle
head could hold 50 much
So time goes ON, an the ieetle gowns
its better. IS long ernuif, an Is neat,
made b. her own hands. an she gets
more flesh on her, an our leetle maid is q
young Teddy. an d young civil engineer
surveying for railroad comes often TO
the cottage good chap Jack-an' ]
liked him. She growed so purity. too.
with her golden hair. and slrinin eyes,
an the pink IN her cheeks, an the sorter
light on her face is young love gives