The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-18


Severed her tangled, red 5rotcn locks from
her head.
81 don't see as you're SO mighty busy;
/ just Iookin' out of the window" And
/ across the yard went she, muttering to
/ herself: Il amt goin' to try no mo- to
| love father, and one of these days I mean
to find Brer Nicholas and stay with him
always. Brer Nicholas is glad when 1
hold his hand"
Angry and sore, Missy sat her down
upon the knife block under the magnolia
tree, glowing green in the wintry sun
shine, and wept for the brother who was
| blessed with the genial gift Of expression.
Col. Thorne sighed, and locked the
door, and thus secured against unwarned
/ intrusion, he sat before the fire with his
head in his hands, and gave himself up
10 vain regrets. His little world seemed
slipping from his grasp. In the sum of
his joys and sorrows, his submissive,
inane sister had never counted for much;
his son by that hateful marriage was lost
to him; he would remember Nicholas no
more, and now that Flora was the wife
Of Alex Gage she could never again be
the same Flora: there remained only
Missy, and her he had driven away! The
cOloners desire to have her with him at
that moment was Just not strong enough
TO make him willing to risk a refusal by
calling her back, SO he consoled himself
by making plans for her future. His
little daughters education was a prob
lem that had vexed his soul not infre-
quently of late, and knowing well Miss
ElYira's incompetency he resolved to
turn tutor himself.
And now began an era miserable alike
for Missy and for her father 1t lasted
five months. AT the end of that time
the colonel abdicated in favor of vaca-
ton, thoroughly convinced that for a
little girl u years old vigilant gov
erness was an imperative necessity, to
be sought for diligently and secured at
any cost. Meantime Missy and the
colonel enjoyed a rest.
June had come again, but Nicholas had
not been heard from, nor had old Gilbert
returned. The two names were instinc-
lively avoided in the coloneTs presence,
but otherwise life at Thorne Hill had re-
sumed its accustomed course. Company
came and went; Miss Elvira bought new
finery and gave parties, paid and re-
ceived visits, and went to dinings, and
through it all read her daily allotment
of Bishop Ken. Every Sunday, if the
weather was fine. she drove to church
with Missy. At long intervals she went
to see Mrs. Herr, for the colonel had
withdrawn his prohibition when Flora
was married; but the intercourse was
not cordial as of old, and, except for
hissy's opportunities, Miss Elvira had
made her visits not only few and far
between. but of short duration as we'll
Missy held the opinion that she could
not visit her cousins too often. and on a
certain day near the end of June-it was
the anniversary of Nicholas departure,
though Missy made no alusion to this
she insisted upon going to Mrs. Herry's,
not only to spend the day but to remain
the night. Miss Elvira sighed and sub
mitted; she was looking forward to that
good time coming, when the memorable
gOverness should be discovered.
To Lottie and Bess, Mrs. Herry's two
young granddaughter. Missy was always
a welcome guest, and she herself desired
nothing better than to be turned alOose,"
as Glory-Ann phrased it. in the lumber
room upstairs. Here Missy had contrived
a stage on which she personated her IA
vorite heroes and heroines, with Lottie
and Bess Henry and their little twin
brothers, sometimes as audience. some
times as coadjutors. As audience they
could not be more appreciative than Am
ity, who often fled in terror from Missy's
realistic impers0natiOns, but as coadlu-
tors they were unquestionably more salts
factory.
The children had manufactured a
theatrical wardrobe and properties"
but these had lost their novelty, and on
this particular day Missy was jubilant
over the discovery of a faded and shrunk-
en- nankeen suit that had been Paul
Henry 's-the eldest grandson-in years
long past, and had since been lying for
gotten in an UNEMPLOYED closet.
Amid much uttering and expostula-
ton from Louie and Bass, Missy attired
herself in this suit, and as if suddenly
endowed with the ire OF genius proceed
cd 10 improvise a drama based on the
adventures of a lost boy.
1t was already late in the afternoon
when this performance opened, and
Lortie, when she saw the light beginning
10 fade, reminded the protagonist that
she ought TO hurry the catastrophe in
order to be dressed for tea.
Yes: cause Brer Paul is ceDin' home
this very night for his vacation; he's
comm in the stage, piped one of the
twins.
Missy had heard this news before, but
al this moment it seemed TO have gained
q painful significance for her.
DO you s'pose I want to see him."
she cried. And my Brer Nicholas far
away"
Down she sprang from the little stage,
thus bringing her performance TO an
abrupt conclusion.
But Missy's drama was not yet over:
before the children could divine what
she would do, she had seized a pair of
shears, and with two or three swift
strokes, had severed her tangled, red
brown locks from her head. The riotous
curls fell around her On the floor, and
she threw down the shears and ran-ran
as if for Kfe, Down tie hack stairs and
into the garden, her cousins following
after, half AFRAID, and wondering what
was to be the end Of tais escapade. !