The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-08-09
MISS vI'LET'S DAD.
A Summers Romance of the Noun
tains in California.
Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Free Press.
The large hotel is filled to overflowing with
guests who have hurried away from the South
at the first hint of over warm weather. At an
early hour in the day the piazzas are thronged.
Here and there are couples strolling along,
stopping only to inhale to the full the invigor-
ating tonic of the mountain air. Now and
then one comes across an invalid, costly
ensconced in steamer chair, and he seems to
glory in having the SUMS warm rays wrap him
from head to foot. We hear steady tramp
of feet, and as we move aside to let gay
troop OF young people pass US one calls out
''We are on our ninth round now ~ They
have estimated that the distance four times
around the piazza makes a mile. Behind
them, with slower gait, comes pale-faced
man with bowed head and hands clasped be-
hind. Doubtless his thoughts are upon his
Northern home. where perhaps he has left his
wife and babies. Possibly his mind is filled
with desire 10 clasp them once more in his
arms. the hope inspiring him with new zeal to
make greater effort to regain his lost health.
He throws back his shoulders, and as he
draws in long breath or two fancy his
eyes brighten and he feels new life surging
through his veins.
A little figure approaches the entrance to
the hotel. Her faded sun bonnet lies care
lessly on her shoulders and leaves exposed
small brown face OF unusual beauty. From
her bare arms hang various small baskets
fashioned curiously only the Carolina
mountaineer makes them. ''Well, what have
you brought this morning, Topsy?" an old
habitue of the place calls out.
She disdainfully ignores the question and
turns her small shoulders squarely from be-
fore the voting man, then moves toward a
group of ladies. Would youo all like to buy
some bawskets ~ she asks, holding up her
wares
The ladies take what she offers, eager to
have something TO carry home as souvenirs of
the place. The pale-faced man approaches
and She glances up at him, holding at an arms
length the one remaining trlnket.
''Osly i've CENTS sab, y she says, with a
fetching little smile, showing row of small
white teeth, The stranger bestows glance of
interest upon the child
81 viii take it, 4" he says, and as he fumbles
forthe change he asks who weaves the bas-
kets.
sDad makes EN-, " she answers, adding
with an assumption of dignity, ''but takes de
awdahs. "
''You must be very busy" the gentleman
returns kindly, 81 if you always make as ready
sales as YOU have this morning. -
"Wel, de wuk slacks up when de norfers
90 home, am den me an dad res' up, "
she says with the air of an over-worked
millionaire.
The young man who had greeted her on her
after him disapprovingy and then ad-
dresses The pale man; 81 My name isn't
Topsy, she says confdentially, "rs Miss
Yi'let.
Thereafter Miss Vi'let appeared several
times each week and became familiar figure
around tie hotel. She generally sought out
this pale-faced man, who seemed to take an
interest in her which she returned. One
morning she brought her baskets filled with
trailing ar0utus. The blossoms were speedily
bought by the guests, excepting one bunch
which she jealously guarded. The dainty
pink petals shown between her small fingers
often as q customer selected this particular
cluster she shook her head decidedly.
"Dis ere ones served" she said. OH
Reepin' it fer de gemman."
"When de gemman' approached for hi
survey Of ner stock, she held de blossoms ou
to him. "Dey's de berry nices' | could fin,
she said, her cheeks dimpling deeply.
He put mis- hand in his pocket, but she in
tercepted the movement.
81 glib 'em to YOU" she explained, an(
YOU'RE very highly favored" bystande
called out lightly,
The pale man seemed TO treasure the littl
Gift and looked for the child to come again
She had saved special bunch for him as be
fore. Il demonstrated with her.
''You will ruin your trade, Miss Vi'let an
/ must insist on your allowing me to buy you
posies."
Her large eyes filled with tears and her lip
trembled as she replied: 'You kin buy
bawskets, sab; dehs dads trade, but d
beauties is my gif'."
The gentleman said no more. His room wa
ever fragrant with the early blossoms but W
noticed that he gave most extrayagant order
for basket work and screen frames
'Miss Ni'let is an amazing politician" on
of the young people Ventured.
One day was out on one of my usual ran
bles, sketch-book in hand, ''seeking whom
might deVour," when came across han(
some young negro at work near tiny 10
cabin. l implored him to pause for me, bl
he declared he was too busy.
"You'll make just as much money by sittin
stiIl, ] argued, ''as by working all day"
He seemed tempted to yield to my inYitin