Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-11-01

inmates whom she knew to be all
ing. She spoke pleasantly to the
people she met. Everybody in the
village knew her and liked her,
but she had no intimate friend
none to love her as she really de-
served, for she had a kind and gen.
erous heart under the crust of pride
and cynicism that was partly be-
cause her nature had been chilled
in its early blossoming.
She spent two hours in the poor
house, doing what she conceived to
be her duty, in reading dry books
to the inmates and listening to
the detailed accounts of their all
ments. Her face looked little
tired and worn when she came out
at length into the balmy spring
sunshine.
She stopped at florists OH her
way home and purchased an ex-
quisite little tea rose in full bloom.
1t was in a pot and she thought
how pretty it would look in the CEN
ter of her tea table and how sweet
it would smell.
THANK you, Miss Jones" she
said to the young woman who
served her; 81 should like best to
carry the rose tree home myself.
1t is not heavy. Put some paper
around the pot and ] can manage
nicely"
Miss West then began to ascend
the hill to her home. The fragrance
of the beautiful roses refreshing
her. She felt almost cheerful.
Suddenly, however, she remem-
bered that child" and some lines
of discomfort came into her face.
"Annie has been inconsiderate,
she said. AFTER so many years, ii
is the first time have known her
so. What could have induced hel
to want to take in a child? A
child-yes, | will say it cant
bear children"
Just then Miss Vests steps were
arrested by a thrill, gay voice that
seemed to come down from the sky
to greet her. Her flower-pot al
most fell out of her hands, and she
raised her eyes, wondering where
the merry sounds came from. Hor'
ror of horrors! a child was hanging
out of the upper window of the tai
house-a dimpled, rounded, rosy
child. Laughter came from the
red lips and the eyes sparkled.
Bling 'em up" shouted the i'm
perious little voice; bling tie wose'
up, pease. They is bootfull."
"Good heavens! she will fall
she will kill herself!" cried Miss
West, forgetting her hatred fol
children as she saw that this pretty
creature might at any moment
overbalance herslf,
"Go back, child; go back this
minute!" she cried, putting dowr
her fower-pot and stretching VI
her arms warningly to the child.
''B'ing the woses up-where has
90 put emp" cried the sweet, shril
voice above her. The golden, curly
head was pushed farther out, ther
came faint cry Of dismay and thu
child was whirling down through
the air.
Quick as thought Miss West
dropped on her knees and extended
her arms. The child fell plump
into them. She was good weight
being fat and round. Miss West
thought for moment that hel
arms were broken; then she wa.
conscious of an exquisit thrill Of
pleasure-she had saved a child''
life.
She staggered to her feet, helped
by two people who had run up ant
were Offering all manner Of services
Shall l 60 for doctor, ma'am
the child seems stunned-like, anc
you're hurt yourself, amt you, Miss
West?"
mo, no; | shall be all right in
a moment" breathed the pale wom'
an; "but the child" glancine
down at the little white face that
lay on her arm-"Yes, you had
better run quick and get doctor"
Then, as the man ran off on hi:
mission, Miss West asked woman
who stood by to ring the door bell
Before she could do this Mrs. Hall.
iday opened the door. She started
back shocked and amazed when she
saw Miss West standing in the
porch holding an unconscious child
in her arms.
ats darling! Oh, Miss West
I'm so sorry-how did it come
about?"
"She fell ont of the window and
Il