Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-05-25
Dc OF THE NAY WALK.
by Geraldine Fleming.

hOrrid little Wret n! how care
e your hateful little paws On my
Really, I shouldn't think such
hble young beggars would be al
TO annoy people In respectable
&.
rene Lorimore jerked the folds of
Melegant tailor-made gown l7,dely
Is from the tmid outstretched hand;
the expression Of her naughty
nette features We're so Iispl.ased
threatening that the tiny offender
Junk away with sharp little cry
the piping of a scared bird.
5ut,, startled as the little creature
H. rs she was indignant also.
Nh am not beggar," she declared a
cond later II am lost, and L"
ssCyrenc. who had stopped to brush
6lne imaginary contamination from her
k1fts, silenced the child's protestltion
X nth a short, sneering laugh which was
3Ss cruel as a blow.
That's always the way with these
nendicants-if you don't give them
.Salms they resort to impudence," she
8nid .snappishly. '.But for PHYS sake,
w 2ita. what are you doing?"
sfi The companion of Miss Lorimorc'S
promenade had quietly walked across
$fO the child and was trying to soothe
ehe little creature, who had begun to
sob in terror.
one daintily- gloved hand she
H|pashed the tangle Of yellow hair away
&rom the poor, little, woe-bcgone face;
IsHHAnu then, after long look of celestial
S@pity, she bent her graceful head and
Il touched her fragrant, velvet lips to
the dusty forehead.
"Elita Keith, how can you be so silly
I and absurd? 1t always seems as if you
have some particular affinity with low
u people. But 1 will not stand here and
be made ridiculous by any of your dis
graceful whims. 1 am going this mo-
Y ment." declared Miss Lorimore.
4 And with that she tiounced wrathfully
u away.
Elita Keith did not notice the others
j insolent speech. Perhaps she had he
rome so accustomed to Miss Lorinnre's
q little ecccntricities that anything dif-
I ferent would have surprised her.
The lovely young face, so proud and
Il spirited, showed no sign Of either re-
sentiment or Of wounded feeling, and
& she seemed conscious of nothing save
Y the presence OF that forl0rn and griev-
4 ng child.
"Don't cry, little one she said gent
I ". ''Tell me what it is you want and
will help you"
81 am not IA beggar as she said,' the
! little thing protested again with re-
I sellious flash Of her fearful, pansy-col-
! pred eyes.
II am quite certain you are lot; and
even if you were, should love you Just
the same" Elita answered assu"insly.
She spoke the simple truth. 10 her
quicker and keener perceptions. it was
plainly evident that the little wandcrer
was no walt of the streets
Her clothing was torn and lraggled
cut it was Of costly material and fash
enable make. And the disfigurins
streaks and smears of dust and tears
md Precipitation could not hide the deli
vacy and intelligence Of her forloln
sountenance. And besides. her correct
speech and refinement Of manner ndi-
.ated gentle breeding and careful teach
ng. 49,
She could not have been more than
four years Of age; but she was uncom-
monly precocious for her years.
All this Elita Md noted at glance.
Although, had she indeed been beg
+,
pitiful just the same.
Those big, pansy-colored eyes gravely
searched Elita's lovely face.
you're good; like you,' the little
creature announced when she had fin
shed her examination.
TELL me your name," said Elta.
II am Angel-my papa's Angel, and
my mamma has gone to heaven. Will
vo11 holm me find nv papa ~
"You poor darling! Of course will:
What is papa's name, and where did
you lose him?"
The child did not heed the question.
Instead, she uttered a frantic cry of
wild delight, and flung herself raptur-
9usly forward, to be caught in the out
stretched arms of q gentleman who
was hurrying toward her.
"Oh, papa, papa! Here Is my papa
she cried as she chung to him with
laughter and kisses, her troubles all
forgotten in the joy Of that protecting
presence.
The gentleman had been standing at
dis horses head, not twenty PAGES
from the spot when Elita and her CON-
panion were first accosted by the lost
child.
He had seen everything, heard every
word l. oxen; and In his Keen interest
Of the scene-in his contempt for Miss
Lorimores unfeeling and unwomanly
behavior, and in his admiration for
Elita's sweet dignity and gracious char
ity-he had not at once recognized his
dainty lost darling in the dust-covered
and forlorn-looking wanderer.s
The little thing had been lost since
carly morning, when she slipped away
from her nurse in a small park not far
from the house.
She had followed a flower cart until
It crossed a crowded avenue, where
She became confused and frightened.
Since then she had trudged farther
than any one would ever know, some.
times creeping under murky area-stairs
to rest her blistered feet, and again
covering in damp alley-ways to hide
from something which had terrified
tier.
A locket she had worn with her pref
ly hat and cloak had been stolen from
ner.
"But am sure you would have cared
for her kindly. even had l not hap