The record-union., 1891-02-01

over, before any one could catch hold of
him to prevent the mischance.
He was the smallest little fellow ever
seen in trousers. His tiny white sailor
suit might almost have been made for a
very large doll, and yet it suited every
inch of the plump, rounded, healthy little
frame.
"Why. he cannot be more than three
years DID," decided Miss Chevenix, with
the eye ofexperience.
HE certainly is not four"
She could not help regarding favorably
the little fodder; she and May were fond
OF children.
Hi, Johnny" said Johnny's compan-
ion, quickly, take care; come along"
Johnny picked himself up. and stood
delicious meal he saw before him!
All at once, doubtless, the little boy
realized a sensation which had been i'm
preceptible to him minute before.
Hi, Johnny, come along" This time
the stranger, rather gruff in the voice and
red in the face, just lifted his hat to the
young ladies in apology, as he endeavored
to cut short the scene.
But now serious matter occurred. It
is very serious matter to bring young,
unreasoning child into the presence OF a
display of viands just at his own tea hour,
and it was now considerably past Johnny
neutrality-suspicious. tea hour. For this
cause it was that the said Johnny was
steep incline which an older hand would
have known was fraught with peril.
Johnny was all of sudden very tired
as well as dreadfully hungry.
Come along, Johnny" Emphasis on
the ''along' showed that the elder
brother-Hattie and May had once de-
cided that the leader was the elder
nd
temper.
Johnny, however, was not to be ''Come-
alonged" at by any one in that tone of
voice. For reply. he only drew a little
nearer to the snowy tablecloth ON which
the good things were spread and sighed
aloud.
The sigh made Hattie Chevenix bite
her lips.
She and May were in an awkward posi-
ton certainly; for all their bostelous
glee, the outpouring of two glad young
hearts, they were gentlewomen and had
the instincts of gentlewomen; it took all
the desire to laugh out of them to be thus
confronted with a predicament in Which
two other unknown individuals played
part, and they were notin the least in
clined even to smile at this crisis. III attic
only bit her lips because she longe'l to
give the Ii tie boy cake, and bid him
gently to run away, and she knew that
lQlS she could hardly 90.
Johnny's brother had now turned
round and got his back to the girls.
Come along, you little beggar," q re-
iterated in an imperative undertone. ''Do
as l tell you this moment, or you'll ever
come with me again. Come" taking a
pace or two forward, and looking over
his shoulder.
Rebellion made itself Enthusiastically evil
dent in bumped back and pouted lips.
You little fool-come, / tell you"
Back came the discounted elder.
Stock still stood the child. He had seen,
he had smelt, the very milk in the bottle
had an irresistible fascination fol: his
parched tongue. Large tears slowly
welled up into the blue eyes.
Apparently without effect, howev er.
"pll haul you along, if you don't
come" The unfortunate speaker was at
his wits end, and he almost groan ed as
he gave vent to the appalling hreat
Johnny, | say, come," he added sud-
denly, in new and inviting accents, as
though the happy idea had only j, lst oc-
Cured, and was sure to prove irresi stible.
But the vile was thrown away, ;as the
entreaty and command had alike been.
Come, then, this minute" Ex.asper-
ated beyond endurance, the young man
strobe roughly to the spot, and brushing
past Hattie Chevenix's summer draper
vious intention of bearing him off willy
nilly.
But this was easier said than done. At
the first touch of the hand which laid
hold OF his with grasp the int rpreta-
ton was clear even to his infantile under
standing. Johnny's forces of mind and
body gathered themselves together in one
final effort, and with roar of rage and
disappointment such as only little boy or
a little lion cub can emit, he flung him
self down full length upon the moss.
dark flush mounted to the brow of
his unfortunate guardian for the ntonce.
IF ever again!" he ground his teeth,
IF ever get let in for this agairi! Get
up, you little beast-oh, confounc you!
What am / to do?' calculated be. the
drops standing ON his temples and his
broken breath coming and goin g in an
agony of vexation and shame hey ond the
powers of endurance to conceal.
Meantime Johnny lay and bawled.
He looked such cherub lying there,
kicking his little trousered legs, and
shouting with all the strength OF, his lit
tie healthy lungs, that at last HattiR Chev-
enix could stand it no more.
Besides, what was to be done?
No one, except a skilled and ,nimble
nurse, can lift a kicking child and carry
anything like dignity, or even sa iety; and
on steep hillside the chances were that
Johnny and his captor would have come
to considerable grief. Add to- which,
what dreadful predicament for the
boys poor brother to be placed I'M =! Ifhe
resound till general attention W ould in
fallibly be aroused; if he set hi N down,
would he ever get the little wretch to
move on?
HE is little wretch, but he has the
dearest little face in the world, ~ thought
Hattie, and made up her mind.
II hope you will not think it strange"
she said, with a gentle shyness that was
the most absolute contrast possible to the
free prattling humor friendship and
familiarity would have warranted, ''but
l am afraid the poor little boy really is
very tired and-and hungry. If you
would not mind, we shall be so glad to
has rested little, he will be quite good
and ready to go on" confidently.
A sudden cessation of the outcry by her
side showed that somebody wss listen
ing;
Would you not be quite good, J Johnny,
if you had little cake and mil K, and sat
up here and ate it with us?" whispered
the pretty lady in the naughty little ear.
"Es." a loud sob, tribute to the de-
parting storm, accompanied the promise.
!" Then let me wipe your eyes" added
Hattie, bending over him. Johnny
must not cry any more, but have drink
of nice milk and sponge cake" suiting
the action to the words. MAY, the large
horn cup" hastily. Now, dr. ink, dear;
don't cry any more" nothing: but pity
and tenderness in her tone; : he really
can hardly stop now" she tur ned round
with the feminine instinct TO, apologize
for tears, and the silent figure n the back
ground made a shift to seem ,ppeased by
the apology; he is so tired, aid he is so
little,'' she concluded, drawing the small