The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-03-06

times as coadjutors. AS audience they
could not be more appreciative than Am
ity, who often fled in terror from Missy s
realistic impersonations, but as coadju-
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 faded and shrunk-
en- nankeen suit that had been Paul
Herry's-the eldest grandson-in years
long past, and had since been lying for
gotten in an unexplored closet.
Amid much tittering and expostula.
ton from Lottie and Bess, Missy attired
herself i'm this suit, and as if suddenl:
endowed with the fire of genius proceed
ed to improvise a drama based on the
adventures of lost boy.
1t was already late in the afternoon
} when this performance opened, and
Lottie, when she saw the light beginning
to fade, reminded the protagonist that
she ought to hurry the catastrophe il
order to be dressed for tea.
"Yes; cause Brer Paul is comm 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
at this moment it seemed to have gained
| a, painful significance for her.
do you s'pose want to see him.
she cried. "And my Brer Nicholas far
awayr'
Down she sprang from the little stage,
thus bringing her performance 20 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. REQ
brown locks from her head. The r., ;ous
curls fell around her On the floor, and
she threw down the shears and ran-ran
as if for life, down the back stairs and
into the garden, her cousins following
after. half AFRAID, and wondering what
was to be the end of this escapade.
But Missy outran them. They lost
sight of her beyond the row of ounce
bushes, near the fence, and thereupon
abandoned the pursuit. The dog, that
had been close upon her heels, turned
back, when he saw Lottie and Bess and
the twins no longer following; he thought
the game at an end, and he was not I'M
willing to rest and pant in the broad
walk, while his playmates sat upon the
bench under the bean arbor, and waited
for Missys return.
They waited there until the crescent
moon frightened in the west, as the stars
came out, and the shadows gathered over
the garden; but Missy did not return,
and when the tea bell rang, the children
went back to the house in fear and per-
plexity.
"Where is Winifred?" Mrs. Henry
asked, as they filed into the dining room.
Miss Elvira, being at that moment ab-
sorbed in the perusal of the last few
lines Of the days appointed portion of
Bishop Ken, had not observed her niece's
absence.
''She's waitin' for her hair to grow,
reckon" said little Joe, with an hysteri-
cal giggle, in which his brother and sis
ters joined.
sob, very WE'LL" said Mrs. Henry, who
did not understand this joke; "we will
not wait for laggard little girl"
"Dear! Dear!" sighed Miss Elvira, as
she shut up Bishop Ken; Il never will be
away from home with that child again,
unless have Glory-Ann."
When supper was over and Missy did
not appear Mrs. Henry demanded, with
visible annoyance:
"Why does not Winifred come in?"
Then Lottie told what had happened.
Except for cutting off her hair, this
behavior is nothing out of the way for
Winifred, said Miss Elvira, placidly. 81
never know what to do with such child,
SO l let her alone. hope she'll grow
wiser as she grows older. / wouldn't
worry about her, Cousin Myrtilla; she
won't come until she chooses"
But Mrs. Henry could not resist grave
uneasiness; she suspected a deeper pur-
pose i'm Missy's flight than mere child's
play, and she fastened to send her coach
man and her dining room boy to explore
the premises, while two of the women
were dispatched TO inquire among the
neighbors.
All this made Miss Elvira suddenly
very nervous, and she began to walk the
floor, wringing her hands.
1t was drawing near to o'clock, and
Mrs. Henry was sure she heard the stage
horn. 81 trust Missy may not be run
over," she said to herself, for this seemed
the most formidable danger that could
threaten the child.
This thought had not long occurred to
her when there was heard shutting of
many feet on the back piazza, a murmur
of many voices in subdued lament, and
Larkin, the carriage driver, followed by
every negro on the place, came hurry
ing in, TO announce solemnly:
"Somethin' is happened, inistis; pre-
par yo' MINI"
Then the front gate was heard to slam;
some one ran up the front steps, rushed
in at the open door, and Mrs. Henry was
clasped in her beloved grandson's strong
young arms. He, at least, was safel No
harm had befallen Paul, this glorious
boy of II, on whom her fond old eyes
rested with proud delight.
But this was no moment for rejoicing.
Something is happened, dear grand
mother" said Paul, gravely, before he
stooned IN kiaa hia clomOrOus brothera