The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-30

face, her eyes dancing with laughter and
she put her hand coaxIngly in his.
'Only Just Tor Jun, Stubby. Didn't
fool 'em, though-all but you !" and she
laughed so merrily that Ira couldn't
scold her. In fact, as he watched the
happy face he couldn't help smiling him
self and 80 they walked on home, hand in
hand.
Mr.. Lorraine had been generous book
buyer and great reader of certain kinds
of books at different periods of his life, but
of late he had dropped his reading and lost
his pride in his library. In a room of the
parlor of his old fashioned house the
volumes were dumped in piles on the
floor, uncared for, gathering dust and
dampness and going to ruin. Within the
past year Babe had begun to develop a
fondness for books and for reading, and
spent many pleasant hours in looking over
Mr.. Loraine's volumes. The two were fast
friends, and the old gentleman found
much quiet amusement in gravely asking
her opinion and criticism on the different
works she looked at and read. She also
had a natural love for order and neatness
and on the day after Ira returned to his
| busiAess she was allowed to spend the
afternoon in busting and rearranging the
neglected books and wrapping the valu-
able ones In paper.
Mr.. Lorraine sat outside of the open
window watching the child busily at work.
lie heard the gate click and turned:
"What the dew"
Afternoon, Jim Lorraine. S'pose you
air s'prised to see me to your house" said
the newcomer.
81 mentally observed something to that
effect"
THAR didn't used to be no love lost be-
| twigst us. thet's so; but business is bus
ness an thet's whut brung me hare"
"What is it, Mrs. Bludgett?"
"I hain't no hand to beat round the
bush, an I'll come to the pint to wunst.
You hain't bean a-gitten' nuthin' like it's
with frum the Althery Davis house
what'll you take fur it?''
at isn't for SALE"
"Shool not at no figger2"
What do you want of the place?'
wall, l don't want it to start no orphin
asylum like Althery's done; l hain't in
the faoundlin' bus ness Say, Jim, We bet
ter sot figger ont; Althery's old an
Iry's turnin' out a wuthless coot, an wuth
tibet little brat she's TUX up-thet-"
stop" Mr.. Lorraine seized the widow
tightly by the arm and hustled her to the
gate. "If you ever put foot on nv prem
ises again, Widow Budget, I'll set the
| dog on you."
When he returned to his seat By the
window. Babe, with her back to him, was
looking among the early leaves of the die
tionary for some word, and he rightly
guessed that it was the last word Mrs.
| Budget used as he seized her by the arm.
An hour later Mr. Lorraine was visited
by the representative of some capitalists
VINO wished to buy the Aunty Davies place
and build thereon large summer hotel.
The place was not for sale, but it explaine1
why the thrifty and alert widow had
wanted to secure the property.
"lra told me, before he went away, that
Laura says you take to music very natur.
ally" said Auntv to Babe, when she had
returned from Mr.. Loraine's IAN he says
il you want a pyanuer very pad to &c
ahead an buy it, she continued, beaming
kindly over her spectacles at the girl.
The child's eyes sparkled. 'Oh. but
grandma, you can't buy me piano.
mo, child, | can't; there's 1884 which
your ma left you, that's been out at inter
est for these six year, an 10 must come e
over $500 now. ] wanted 10 leave it ill
you got married, but il you want tho Ply
amer, you may buy it out o that"
The girl crossed the room and kissed the
forehead of the old lady, and gently taking
her work.worn hand in both of her own
knelt down beside her.
"Grandma, won't you please toll me oil
about my mother"
you dear child" said aunty, 81 viii
tell you all know. but that Ia very little.
Then she got all the letters and the RIM
and gave them TO Babo TO keep, and tolC
her oil the circumstances OF hor being lef
| nj rho houqa- knuiFa Warrop "a al xvrtttat
twice TO Australia, but no word had eve
come back and Mr.. Lorraine had inquire,
OF some actors he had known in New
York. but mono OF them knew any Dor
Fielding Babe went and got her mother
photograph, aud looked nj IL long an,
earnestly; then she kissed tho picture
and sinking her head into the old lady
lap, cried silently. Then aunty suBpectot
that IN some way her doubtful pRrentae
had already cast it's shadow across the in
nocent girls lie.