The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-02-05

The next uay was oliSitu anu "''ii"Ji
and Lady Tenderton took violet out
after luncheon in an open carriage, per-
mission being given for me to accom-
many them. Held well in view by my
| little mother. | attracted unsversal atten-
tion-though since, l have thought 1t
lust possible that my companions may
have shared it, The truth is that the
handsome, proud Lady Tenderton, clad
in rich velvet and furs, and her winsome,
fair-haired child, made charming
background for my less English style OF
beauty.
Once, when we stopped at Liberty's,I
decidedly was the magnet that drew an
untidy, little beggar girl to the side OF
the carriage, where she gazed at me with
open-mouthed wonder, and CLEAN OF
envy in her bold, black eyes. | noticed
her hands stretched out as if she would
like to clutch me. Such dirty hands,
too, they positively frightened and dis
gusted me, Not so my little mistress,
however She smiled swcetly on the
street Arab, and held me nearer to give
the little creature a better view while she
opened and closed my eyes.
us she alive?n asked the little beggar
mo. she is only a doll, but she can
walk and talk. If | could get out. l
would show you"
"Well, git out, then, and show us,
was the rude request.
81 mustn't, little girl" said Violet.
~ promised my mamma not to move till
she came back
Lady TendertOr at this moment came
toward the carriage, followed by the
footman with her parcels. In the move
ment which followed, lost sight of the
beggar girl; but in the meantime she had
steiilthily crept round to my side OF the
carriage,
just as the carriage was driving on she
raised skinny arm, snatched ne from
Violet's arms, and darted away. Then
was conscious of loud cry, rude
shock and in another moment my captor
had fallen with me under the feet OF 4
horse. Intent upon her theft, the girl
had not noticed hanson which was
driving past us, and had knocked her
down. In a moment Lady Tendertol's
carriage was stopped. A policeman, who
had witnessed the occurrence, lifted me
and the child out of the road, and came
to the carriage door
as the girl injured?" inquired Lady
Tenderton.
''If she is, she reserves il" he said
with growl. "A regular young limb.
Do you charge her with this theft, mum"'
) pointing to me,
mo" said Lady Tendorton, looking
pitifully on the thin, white face, streaked
with blood from a cut on the head. II
7 you will lift her on the front seat, will
drive at once to a hospital and have her
injuries attended to. You had better
r come with us, policeman
So | was restored to Violet, who held
, me so tightly that it was quite painful,
as my chest had been hurt in the
! accident.
On the way, the strange child's eyes
, opened with a shade of defiance in them
when she found the policeman holding
her, but Violet cried with delight:
] "Oh, mother dear, the little girl is not
2 dead-see-see." Then noticing the
eager hands again stretched toward me,
. she gently placed me gently in her arms,
3 Udding, "You may hold my doll. little
| girl"
''Well, I'm blessed!' muttered the
policeman, though why he should be so
/ have never discovered.
At the hospital the doctors found no
bones were broken. The child was only
badly bruised, and had deep cut over
her temple from the horses hoof.
Doubtless, in a few days she would be
well enough to leave. Violet kissed the
vagrant tenderly before going away, say
ing: Little girl, shall leave my dolly
with you till we come again. You can
play with her, and she'll be such com
fort, as auntie said-won't she mother?'
Lany TendertOn smiled dOubtfully, but a
nurse standing by promised to see that l
came to no harm, and | was left. As
Violet and her mother went away felt
so Inundated and desOlate that if had
acted like some of my smaller human
friends, should have given away to sobs
and screams. Dolls, however, have too
much self-respect to show such weak
ness. No one ever saw them shed a
tear.
Meanwhile, the police had communi-
| Gated with the child's mother, and the
next morning Mrs Smith tor that was
her name), paid her daughter visit.
"What a noisy, slOvenly woman she
was: one minute kissing and crying over
r the child, the next disturbing all around
by the shrill tones in which she abused
, the brutes who had injured her dearie.
The child pushed her away angrily.
Don't make such a row, mother. All,
} you can't wallop me now. Git out, do,
, and gimme my doll. She don't 90 on a
spree fust thing in the morning.
"You're'a doOtiful gal, you are" said
t the irate mother. o! you may Singer,
! but it'll be the wrong side o. your
mouth when you come home, my gal.
S'elp me goodness" she suddenly ex-
r claimed in a change of tone, 'wot a
sumner, Polly"
This was in reference to me, for
. the nurse had placed me on the child s
cot.
Eyes, amt she beauty, mother"
said Polly
"And wot frOck! LOOkce, Polly, you
lend it to yOr pore old mother and I'll
wash it where its tumbled and stained.
E There's lovey."
mo. you don't" said Polly, sharply;
''that amt agin' to the pop-shop for go
''That doll belongs to the ladies who
drove your daughter here" said the
nurse. Its under my charge, so kindly
leave it alone"
At that moment Lady Tenderton and
Violet came in. What contrast be-
tween the two mothers and their respec-
tive daughters. In a dull sort of way,
: Mrs. Smith seemed to feel and resent it,
for whom Lady Tenderton said, kindly.
land how is Polly to-day?"
care you here, mother?' she rudely
replied.
''Welll il | be, what then?''
Lady Tenderton looked steadily at the
woman.
''Then you should be grateful to find
that your child is but little hurt, and will
soon be out again"
Grateful" said Mrs. Smith, in burst
of fury. Grateful TO you, my lady, for
: Rocking her down, and then cartin' her
to yer charity 'Orspital in your carriage
and pair, in charge Of n policeman?
Grateful Var! and she snapped her
fingers defiantly.
"Shut up, MOTHER said Polly, "and
don't talk rot. IL was a keb bOwled me
over when was a priggin' little missiles
, DOLL
ooh! hush, Polly dear" said Violet,
reproachfully.
"Ah! / daresay," the angry women re-
marked turning to Lady Tenderton.
you thinks, as I'm pore 'ardworking
, woman hain't got no feelins like you
: rich folks, and that I've neglected the
! gal. Speak up, Polly, and tell 'em rs
nussed you keerful all through the fever
an KEEP of the drink all the time"
Lady Tonnerton's face grew graver
and paler.
"Did your child have fever recentlyP"
} What fever?'
"Scarlet fever, to be sure. Yesterday
|, was the first time she'd been out since,
and to go and git run over"
Lady Tenderton drew Violet TO her
quickly, and said 81 think, dearest. we
must be going now" Then tyrning to
the woman, she added: "If you want