The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-30

Now hold still" as he tried to wriggle out
of the apron she was putting on him, "be a
goodie, goodie boy, to please Dennie."
So the toilet WAS finished, and the baby
was drawn up in his high chair to eat the
basin of milk that sat on the table.
Baby felt a little mischieyous this morn
ing, and he played with his spoon, and
reached out with it to strike everything
near by.
"Oh, you bad. bad baby cried Donnie,
as he overturned a glass OF water, and Its
contents ran all over his clean apron.
OF came the apron, and Baby, subdued
by the mishap, finished his breakfast in
silence.
Then he and Donnie played on the coor,
and his baby laughter mingled with her
shouts of merriment.
But when she left him for a moment. at
tracted by some noise in the street, she came
back to find him fast asleep on the hard
floor. Gently she lifted him up, and put
him ON the bed. Then she hung the wet
apron on a chair near the fire, tip soeing
softly about the room. For a few moments
she was very still; but soon the same noises
under her window attracted her attention
and, looking out, she saw shat the children
were still gathered in the alley playing hide
and seek. They were all Dennie's playmates.
Dirty and ragged, some of them. yet with
happiness enough in their hearts to com
pensate them for the lack of clothing on
their backs.
For a while DENIM 9 watched them list
lesslv enough.
Then her excitement grow as the game
went on, until she could hardly restrain
herself.
Suddenly they caught sight of the eager
face at the window,
Come down, Dennie." they cried.
Dennia shook her head.
Come on and have a game" they
shouted again, making all sorts of inviting
motions to her with their hands.
Dennie looked w~isfully at them. 'Td
like to-" she marmured.
One after another shouted her name, and
q wild chorus of Dennis, Donnie, Den,'
and other nicknamss filled the air.
II may as we'll CO." she said. half aloud,
they'll wake Baby with their screaninR.'i
She cast a sidelong glance at Baby.
He was still sleeping. The apron by the
fire was stsaming and evidently dying
disobedlence perhaps, Dennie stole softly
out of the room and joined the group be
low. She Was welcomed eagerly and was
soon foremost in the noisy game they were
playing.
In and out, among boxes and barrels, be-
hind trees and fences they chased each
other, occasionally sending forth from then
strong, young lungs q whoop that would dc
Justice to an Indian warrior. Every step
in the exciting chase took them farther and
farther away from the corner of the allie.
where they lived, and in the pleasure Of the
pursuit Dennis entirely forgot she baby
All at once she remembered with a pane
of remorse.
Mother had left him with her and nov
she had been away from him "a near as tn,
child could calculate. three or four hours.
He must be hungry and was probably cry
ing.
The little girl felt conscious stricken
when she announced to her playmates that
she must 90 home.
No, not yet, Dennie," they all shouted
together. have one more game"
But Dennie turned resolutely away.
ClanR! elangi a bell strikes the air an,
s~tartles the echoes around the village.
''Firei tre!' shouted PENNIES playmate
in q joyous chorus. and Immediately oil
they started on the run.
Again the baby WAS torgotten, as DENIM
ran along behind the others.
A fire was q rare sensation in GAINESVILLE
and Dennie could net lose this one. Nc
not even for the baby.
F1Ihere was a rush of hurryinR feet. the quic
stamp of horses and ths engine house doc