Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-17

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A little hand was laid on his arm, and a
little voice cried sorrowfully: Poor, poor
ogre! Don't cry, please. Or course you are
cross If you have no mother, for she can {
comfort yoH If you are sad. But JACK
won't mind when tell him, SO please don't
crv," And as the Colonel stopped to pick
up his fallen cigar, a pair of soft, chlldlsn
arms we're pressed around his neck and
warm kiss was imprinted on his rugged
cheek.
he raised the child in his arms and said
softly: "Neyer mind, little one, you shall
comfort me. Will you be my triend?" And
then, as the frightened clasp of the hands
round his neck told of the child's acqules-
cepce. he continued: "Here is Brother
Jacks ball. Give it to him from me. and
tell him 1 am sorry l was cross, but am
only gruff old ogre who doesn't know any
better. And now," he added, will you
stay and talk to me bit?''
The child nodded, and, setting him down
on the ground, the Colonel walked along be-
side him, becoming every moment more as
tonished at himself for being interested by
the childish prattle of his componlon, whose
name he learned was Norman Francis
Trscy-"after grandpapa," the boy added
proudly. He was Just in the midst of a
story of their aunt's cat, "who is called
Manky, cause she's got no tail, when the
garden gate opened and tall, lady-like
girl came quickly up the path. 1t was Miss
Grant, who, on her return, had found all
the children in great state of excitement,
for they said Norman has gone to the ogre's
and had never come back" They inplored
Miss Grant to 60 and see what had hap
pened at once, cor be may be half roasted, !"
they cried; for, having retired indoors on
Jacks return, they knew nothing of what
was happening.
Poor Miss Grant looked aghast, not that
she imagined the child would come to any
harm, but the idea of his going TO Colonel
Chalmers and bothering him was dreadful
one So, depositing her parcels, she rushed
off then and there to the enchanted castle,
as the children called 1t.
The Colonel looked rather alarmed as he
saw a fresh visitor approaching. Had Miss
Sophia or Miss Janet been at home he would
probably have rushed indoors for them, but,
unfortunately, they were both out calling,
and as he couldn't leave lady standing in
the middle of his path without addressing
her, he advanced courteously, hat in hand,
toward her, hs, dly treasured by Norman's
whispering, "It's only Miss Grant; she's
come for me.
81 beg your pardon, I'm sure" exclaimed
his visitor, almost as much disconnected at
sight of the renowned ogre as be was at the
sight of her. 81 have been out, and when
1 came home the children told me Norman
had come here. / am SO sorry he should
have troubled vou," and she looked re-
proachfully at the culprit, who looked up
penitently.
"Did L bother you?" he inquired.
mot at all-not at al" returned the
Colonel, patting the dark head reassuringly.
81 assure you, madam" he continued, turn
ing 10 Miss Grant. II have enjoyed having
him immensely. He is quite a companion"
''It is very kind of YOU to say so, an
swered the girl. 81 was afraid he had been
in your way. No, won't come in, thank
you, +" in reply to the Colonei's polite invita-
zion to come in and rest. SIT is time for
tea, and must be quick. Come, Norman"
The Colonel bent down.
"Well, goodby, little man, he said kind
". "Come and see me again soon, eh!
Perhaps mother will let YOU come to tea
with me tomorrow, and bring Master Jack,
too. May they. d'you think?"
This to Miss Grant, who was waiting very
much astonished at the sight OF the ogre al
lowing Norman to kiss him, and not only
allowing, but evidently enjoying the pro-
cess.
"Oh. certainly" she answered, ''if you
care to have them"
The ogre walked to the gate with them,
and as he bade them gOodby, he said sud-
denly:
81 hope my sisters will call on you all
soon."
Then, lifting his hat, he retired into his
garden saying to himself as be walked
slowly up the path:
Mice girl that, very-a sensible, nice
girl"
His sisters on their return were electrified
bv his announcing casually that be had in
yited some boys to tea the next day. And
you'll have to get some cake or jam or
something" he added, ''for believe that is
what children eat.
Miss Sophia paused in the midst of pour
ing out the tea and gazed in establishment
at her brother. 'Do you feel WELL Fred
erick, my dear?' inquired the elderly lady,
while her sister looked anxiously at his
eyes, to see if they were rolling insanely.
1t was the Colonel's turn to look amazed
'Qute well?' he echoed. "Of course
feel quite well. Why shouldn't I?-
Sophia, 1 should like my tea, if you please.
Why shouldn't feel well?" he continued.
i'Ot course there's no reason why YOU
should not" replied Miss Janet, "only it's
very odd. you know" and the two sisters
looked despairingly at each other.
Their brother stared. "Well," be said
at length, a grim smile playing over his
features, sit is odd, suppose. But, YOU
see, didn't know before how nice bows
were"
Whatever their feelings were upon the
niceness of boys in general, his sisters did
not express them, and greeted the bows
very kindly when they appeared the next
evening washed and brushed in state of
Sunday tidiness; and certainly the little
fellows. when the first shyness wore Off
were very amusing. They told their hosts
that mother" had gone away for fort
night, and they were afraid Miss Grant
found it very dull at home. I'VE don't
know many people, you see," Jack ex-
plained, "and Of course she must get tired
of talking to us sometimes"
When Miss Janet had taken the bows into
the dining room to get some cake before 60
ing home, the Colonel turned to Miss
Sophia: You had better ask that girl in
here sometimes, ne said quietly; ''it would
do her good"
"But / thought you objected to girls?"
exclaimed his sister.
Not TO girls like that. don't like old
women. Besides, L can go to my study
when like"
The result Of this was that Leslie Grant,
as she was called, became frequent visitor
at the enchanted castle, and very soon
shared the boys opinion that the Colonel
was ian old buck" and his sisters two of
the jolliest old girls in the world" Indeed,
when Mrs. Tracy came nome she was very
much astonished at the degree of intimacy
which had sprung up between her family
and the neighbors. So great, indeed, had
this intimacy become that when Colonel
Chalmers was tied to the freside
with bad cold the children were always
running in with little gifts and words
OF consolation, while the two sisters
found Leslie's help invaluable in the
matter of chess playing, reading aloud and
otherwise amusing the invalid, who grsdu-