The Press., 1891-08-20

t braced herself against second gust she became aware of little woman in great distress, like some frail boat tossed upon the ocean in d gile-a woman with whom the wind was doing what it would, since it had first twisted her drapery about her in away. which, while it exhibited an unfashionable quantity of red and white stockings on two little limbs, thus reminding one of sticks of peppermint candy, rendered them per fectly useless
 ssSave mer cried this little being, as she clutched Eugenie's arm. Save me! or shall be blown over the housetops!" l
 It seemed possible. But Eugenie did her best to prevent the catastrophe. The fair sufferer by her aid remained on terra firma and found shelter in the open hallway of building devoted to offices, where Eugenie smoothed down the flounces, untangled the ribbons, adjusted all the huttering fnery, and came at last
 to A little woman with a tiny body, a
 large head, with round, red and white
 face. like Holland dolls, and a quan-
 tity of light hair, now wildly blown
 about and mixed with the trimmings of
 the most elaborate bonnet possible As
 she looked at her, memories of German
 folklore rushed upon Eugenie's mind, and she asked herself if she had caught
 a gnome, and if it would grant her a
 wish if she refused to let it go otherwise. l E "You are so good" said this little
 being, s'I shall never, never forget it.
 What looked like don't know, or
 what people thought of me. It was like
 an angel coming to me out of heaven
 when you caught me. ..> ,-'..rt.
 She was holding her bonnet now while
 Eugenie twisted up her hair. which was
 so plentiful as to overload her immense
 head. Curious memories were coming
 info Eugenfe's mind. This was a familiar
 face and figure. Where had she seen it
 before? E@H -.5," I
 "You are weally angelic" said the lit'
 tie woman. Eugenie laughed. ..
 ssThere comes the rain" she said, as g shower of drops fell on the pavement, "Oh, it pours! and you have no pn-
 bwella either" said the little woman. aBut though you may shwink you won't !, spot. for you are all wool. But am en- } tirely silk and satin and shall be utterly
 wuined. Mrs. Bunny told me to take an , umbwella and & waterproof. 1t will
 surely storm, Maisie, she said; but l , was naughty and would not l am well , punished for it.
 The right chord was touched at last. l Eugenie remembered where she had , seen this little gnome before. It was e when she was ten years old that Mr. 0 Bunny, 8 man with whom her uncle
 was connected in business, and who, she l. had heard, came from England ID the O l steerage, a poor boy with his wardrobe ' 1 in a handkerchief, to become million: {" aire in the course of thirty years, had
 come to take her to see Fourth Of July ,s procession that passed the balcony ol
 the old fashioned house in Bond stree' ,r where he still lived, though it was al a most given over to business even then. ,e Mrs. Bunny in a wonderful cap ha( y been very kind. ..<. l. aI'm so, glad to see you," she said 1t "snd 'oW sweet you are in that whit 1t frock. Give me 3 kiss, my dear. Maisi
 love, 'ere is little Miss Eugenie Ashton: pr Then Maisie came skipping out of tn S. balcony. ssOh, you dear" she said. IS le often Mrs. Bunny. has told me l shoul' m see you, and now this is the first time
 How stwaight you are. and how nicel Ut you cawy yourself. l always notlc 6 beauty. admire it, though never ha eR any myself. I'm never envious. Kls ae me, dear, and we will have just tn X loveliest time, won't wei Such bwigh 1e day. and the music. Tra-la-la! Hoy d. love music!" And Maisie spread he at skirts, which were very full, to the1 ir extreme width on both sides of her an -. executed sort of Spanish dance. 'Musl IT, and the soldiers marching, and one ca is see evwything from Mrs. Bunny's bear F F tiful balcony" lir At that time Maisie was perhaps tweI ol- ty years of age. She was extremely shor, ou her shoulders were slightly defor4net at but she contriveQ to conceal her detec1
 of figure very tolerably. Her good, sml CT ing face had many changing expression el- all of them good natured and amiabl' s+ Eugenie took quite 9 fancy to her Id. once. She thought Maisie very prett. ,e- with the f1uttering ribbons, the trills d- lace that adorned her costume, the string ,es of blue beads with which she bedecke is her neck, sthe bracelets. she wore upc
 her arms and the immense bouquet sf to carried in her hand. The sashes, u is buckles, the adornments of all kinds sl r?' displayed upon her person. It all can . !aek to Eugenie as she stood watchlr re- .hA rain plash upon, the pavement. ga! Could this be Maisie, who had scene err to her so pretty and so charmingl Tn ty. little oddity with the impossible costum for Had time wrought subtle change,
 was it that she now saw with the eyes or a cultured woman. Could ten years ! utterly have altered human being ly. her own taste? Yes, that curious diff she culty with the letter R was proof tn m- it was 30; there could not be so mar rod oos~os5arooo