Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-11-23
Again Felicie smiled.

a WchoSi'"i EiCW pCbWSSh
the two. The boy would sit for hours
at her feet, supremely happy only to
touch fold of her dress, or catch q
glance from her eyes. The life of the
forlorn little waif was not without COM
pensations; genius had already out
weighed much, with love added, power
ty and contempt kicked the beam.
With spaniel-lke faithfulness Tony
would follow while Resale pushed her
young mistress in wheeled chair up
and down the sands.
Feicie saw the longing in his face.
LET Tony try, Rosalie," said she.
1t was pleasant thing to see the
proud light leap into the boys face
"Don'G worry about me, little mann
ma! I am so comfortable to-day, and
Tony is 50 careful" Felicie would say.
$50, sail with the rest. | can't have
you shutting yourself up and losing your
roses"
~ am little off color, am l not, Fe-
licie?' Mrs. Severance would cry with
an anxious glance into her mirror, I" Bat
you know | don't mind that. / would
willingly wear myself to shadow for
you. But you are surely better, my
love"
"Ever so much better, mammal
Then with much patting of cushions,
and numberless charges about draughts
and elixirs, Mrs. Severance would fit
away, and Felcie and her loyal little
servitor be left together.
The old banjo had been replaced by
new one, from whose sensitive strings
the small, black fingers drew wonder
full harmonies. The mail steamer had
brought the package, aud unsuspecting
Tony himself had cuJ the cords and I'M
wound the wrappings,
~ dom hardly dast TO keep it, Gll
along o. inc Joe, He's that umptious,
Missile Eel. ese. ~ he said when he had
with difficulty been made to understand
that the treasure was his very own.
Sing for me, Tony said Felicie, one
day.
The chnd's voice was strangely mellow
and sweet. He touched his instrument
softly, and began to chant,
"Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus.
Steal away, steal away home.
haven't got long to stay here.
My Lord calls me, He calls me by the thunder,
The trumpet sounds it IN my foul,-
haven't got long to stay here"
Felcie took the little hands in her
own.
Il must tell you something, Tony,
dear. | have wanted to tell you for
long time. viii you try to understands"
Eyes, Missie.''
81 am going away sOon-no, no, my
chilG-don'G look like rhat! DO you
want to break my heart?'
Tony swallowed a great sob.
II won'6 no more Missile deed l
won't"
~ am going t. beautiful city far
away"
SIS you gwine to Wash'n'ton, Missie?"
"No, Topy,-farther off than that,
and lovelier place"
The chiId's eyes grew large with grief
stricken wonder.
Use hears tell right smart heap
bout Wash'n ton, missile; Marse Aruu-
del--the old Marse CuDnel-he was 'lect-
ed, an he went to Wash'n'ton. Dey sairv-
naded i'm, the night afore he started"
Tony uttered the long word with SOW
carefuIness. SO missile. dat ar was
mighty fine music. De musicianers, dey
all stood in row, an de ole Marse Cunnel,
he come out an talk to 'em. Den he
say: Gennulemen, low me to otfAh
some 'freshmentar Den he sent out
plates am glasses, an poun' cake am
wine. You suah it's fahder off n Wash
'n'ton, Missie?"
VERY sure, Tony"
"An' you couldn't no ways take me
along, mIssie?'
The intensity of eagerness in his face
was more than Felicie could bear.
80 Tony, | wish [ could! But
can't-oh! | can't!'
Tony threw himself at her feet in an
agony of self-reproach.
Dom yO' fret, missile Feleese; | do
N huCcom | say SIGH ting. I'd ort TO
had my haid broke-dat l had Co'se
20 can'tn'
Felicie controlled herself with strong
effort.
"But [ love you, Tony. You are my
friend-my little brother. | am going
TOO far away to write you letter, OF send
you any word; but sometime, Tony
sometime, if you are good, you shall
come to me. | cannot tell when / must
go. l am waiting to be sent for. 1t may
be in the morning, or at noon, or at
| nigh, but it will be soon, | think. Try
not to feel so badly, Tony. Keep saying
over to yourself, Miss Felicie remem-
bsrs me-she loves me. am to be good
and e" to her."
Felicie was tired that night, and Mrs.
Severance was near giving up Mrs. Dray-
| tons open-alr musicale. Felicle. how
ever, was so distres sed at thought of the
sacrifice-(the moon was full and the
evening divine) that she yielded at
last, charging Rosalie to especial watch
| fulness. She had not been long gone,
when low knock sounded upon the
door of the chamber, which opened upon
one of the cosey galleries overhanging
the old-fashioned courtyard. Rosalje
went to answer it, and recognized Tony
standing upon the threshold, with three
other small figures vague in the shadow
behind him.
{" If yo' please, Yves come to sairynade
Missile Feleese."
What?' said Rosalie, in perplexed
whisper.
"Rosalie," called Felicie's voice faint
ly-sweet from her couch beside the Oper
window, 81 understand. Come here
Tony, dear-stand where / can see YOU
There was suppressed giggle, anG
a slight waverng of the duskv retinue
"Here, yo' Luce, quit lsffiu'!" exhort
ed Tony under his breath. "Don' 20
hear Missile Feleese? jake Bill, I'll take
my ole barjo fun yo', if yo' ac' dat {
way,-'deed l will! Come along, Bob