The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-02-28

Dclld, Sdiu Oiu MIS- TculOu III HeE
shriil, cracked voice, ''go out and get
me new cap. | want new cap if |
am to 90 out to lunch tomorrow. Go
to Mrs. Deans. Tell her l want one
of those point lace things which tie
under the chin. She'll understand. |
looked at them on Monday"
Yes, ma'am," said Bella, who was
sort of humble companion, and per-
formed the duties of lady's maid.
Certainly, if you wish, | will 90 this
evening; but l should have to leave
you alone, since cook and Annie are
out, and | had better, perhaps, go
early in the morning. | could be back
long before lunch time"
Il want it tonight said Mrs. Fen
ton sharply. BLESS me, am | in my
dotage that can't be left alone? You
can take your latch-key, and | shall go
tomorrow. Yes, put my hair up, and
I'll undress now, and slip on my dress
ing gown, SO that [ shall have no
trouble"
Bella merely said every we'll" She
undressed her mistress, put up her
front curls, fixed night lamp, and
left her reading a paper in her own
room. Then, taking a hat and cloak
from wardrobe, she peeped once
more in the old lady's room, to say that
she was off, and departed.
1t was bright enough in the street,
all ablaze with lamps, and Mrs. Deans
residence was soon reached. That
lady was hard at work at brides
trousseau. She stopped her sewing,
picked out the proper cap and put it
in little box, and, after few words
with the girls at work under the gas
jets, Bella started homeward.
Before she had gone two streets she
saw before her little girl, who was
well-dressed and who seemed not at all
the sort of child to be alone in the
streets at this hour. She was looking
up at the names on the street corners,
and showing no sign of terror, until
at the corner of a lane the figure of
dirty old woman appeared in view.
This woman, arrested by the flutter-
ing figure of the well-dressed child,
stood still, and as she came Up accost-
ed her with some words that Bella
could not hear.
The next instant she saw the old
wamen seize the girl, smother her
head in her filthy shawl, and en-
deayor to drag her down across a short
street.
Instantly Bella flew across the inter-
vening space and uttered the first
words that occurred to her.
"What are you doing to the childp"
I'll, II h.,r ralao cod bor
Il thought the dear critter were
lost" she said; land bein' cold 1 jest
put my shawl around her the whilst
| talked" and she rapidly hobbled
away.
The child, trembling, and yet self
possessed, clung to Bella.
at isn't true" she whispered. .'She
put something that made me giddy to
my nose and held me so tight
''She wanted to steal your pretty
jewelry. l suppose" said Bella. And
where do you live, my dear? Your
parents don't let you 60 out alone at
this time of night, do they?"
''Oh, no" said the child, "Ive been
quite naughty, I'm afraid l went
home from school with another little
girl, and we played together. and took
tea with her; and she had such pretty,
curious toys, and | did not know it
was nine o'clock until it struck. Mann
ma does not know where / am. She
will be so frightened"
Yes. it was wrong. miss said
Bella. "And now I'll go home with
you. It is beginning to rain. Where
do YOU live?'
'.Oh. I'll show you,n said the child.
You are SO kind
They walked on, and reached the
house, after rather long walk. Bella
rang the bell, and it was instantly ans
wercd by lady, who cried
My child. my dear child! Where
have you been? Papa is searching for
YOU"
Il hope she'll get good scolding,
naughty little thing" said Bella to
herself, as she turned the first corner.
She was in 4 great hurry, and the
street was one of the many new streets
in Liverpool, which never seemed quite
finished. \ great building was going
up. and Il narrow plank crossed a
chasm in the pathway. They had just
left work. and the watchman was fix
ili- HIS lt-Hi Itild lOOl SilDDtIl Ou
the wet boards. and she fell without
anyone seeing her.
She did not get heavy fall, but she
went down in such way that she hit
her head against bit of the cellar
wall. and for time, how long she
could not guess, lay senseless in the
wet stencil. When she came to her:
self. she fancied herself in bed. in her
own room, and wondered what made
the couch SO hard and uncomfortable.
Then she sat up, and saw about her
darkness, and felt the mist in her face.
AT last she remembered. Her fore
head was stiff. She put her hand up,
and realized that she had been cut
about the head Her arm ached terri
bly,, but she could lift it. BY degrees
her senses returned. aud she contriyed
to stand up. to get the use of her
limbs, and to find a path by which the
laborers wheeled their barrows into