The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-26

the place. And we can't raise the mon
ey"
"onIy hundred dollarsT
"Yes, but that's a large sum to poor
people"
And does Missus want TO goT'
Eyes, dearie.'
Pm sorry you ever told me about
Missus. I'm sorry l ever saw her" she
burst forth, pettishly. Il feel perfectly
miserable. Captain Ben. Don't you ever
talk TO me about her again. II was
dreadful enough for her to have to spool
spools. Poor old Alissusl"
Captain Ben looked suddenly ashamed
of himself.
81 ought not to have worried you,
dearie,'' he said, and strove to brighten
her with gayer talk until he left her at
the park gates.
Grandma Rollin sat by the reading
lamp in her own little sitting-room that
evening. 1t was beautiful with pictures
and rare china. The red shade OF the
lamp cast subdued glow through the
room and touched the proud. austere face
under the lace cap TO something tribe
softer In a shadowy corner of the room
stretched ont on a lounge lay Alberta.
She had her Angora kitten in her arms,
but her eyes had a far-away look IN
them Every once in awhile she concen-
trated her glance her grandmother and
nestled a little as If about to speak, and
hen. signing quietly, went on stroking
the cat.
At last she thought Of Old Glory. Was
this marching up 10 the enemy under the
/ flag? Not that the grandmother was
/ exactly an enemy either.
| Grandma" she began, at length, u
went out vlthou your permission this
| afternoon, and called on a poor woman
who worked in the thread factory until
she became too old. She needs hun
dred dollars to get into the Old Ladies
| Home. Can't you give it 70 her? You paid
! a hundred do. ars for Polly"
| 1t was out in a breath, and there sat her
grandmother. botL amazed and angry.
/ Alberta knew what those archins eye
| brows meant and shutting her lips tight
! took the sharp reproOf which followed,
IN silence.
Grandma, I beg your pardon" she
said. Il know j ought not TO have gone
without asking you, and / dreaded TO tell
you; but. grandma dear, didn't do II "a
be naughty Captain Ben said that Mis-
sus was once as rich as you, and truly
her hands are quite as delicate. And
then, you see, / began 10 wonder how J
would feel if my grandma lost all her
money and lost papa and mamma and
me, and had to spool spOols in terrible
| place, when she was used TO such COM
forti And oh, grandma, II bothered me
sol And then it seemed 10 me II any
| thing so dreadful happened 30 you and
had not tried to help Missus perhaps no
one would help you. SO i went 10 see
NIissus and l found her az lovely as YOU
are grandmother. not quite that, but
I thought-I hoped you would let her
have the money TO get her into the pretty
home"
80 she is almost as lovely as ~
Pretty nearly Her face was very
good"
Now tell me all about it,
Alberta felt forgiveness in the tone.
and told her story skilfuly.
Now" said ner grandmother. smiling
a little: mo more Independent visits,
and. indeed. it is getting too cold for any
more outdoor walks. You can drive on
sunny days, and Celestine can wheel you
on the glass piazza. Leave everything to
me and ask no questions. That is the
way / must punish your disobedience"
More than a week slipped by. and al
though Alberta wondered and speculated,
especially on the decisive Friday, not n
word did she say to her grandmother
on the subject and not a word did she
hear.
1t was raining dismally. The trees
were bare and the brown leaves lay
everywhere i'm sodden masses. Alberta
was in the library beside n wood fire. her
couch Uttered with books and games.
Celestine sitting near by, was looking
tired and vexed, and Alberta herself,
with very deep frOwn on her forehead,
stared modify into the fire. "Celestine."
she said slowly, II fear I've been terribly
cross Bring i'm the flag from the hall.'
Ceestine brought It.
"Now, Old Glory, see II you can keep
me from fretting. / am under orders
now TO be patient. Put it in the corner
there, Celestine. I'll think how brave the
boys in blue were when they had TO suffer
i'm those dreadful hospitals and, perhaps,
l may like my couch
The tired face turned toward the flag,
and settled into quiet again, and Alberta
grew drowsy.
A step in the hall, tap at the door,
and Captain ben entered bringing n de-
lightful outdoor freshness in with him.
He had a bunch of scarlet rose hips in
his hands, for Alberta, and his face
wore a beaming smile.
ooh, Captain Ben" she cried, raising
ioyfully to one elbow: how did you get
in? This is the first time you have ever
been TO see me! Celestine, give Captain
BIN a seat. ] am so glad. so very glad,
TO see you! Did you send your card up
to grandmaY' she asked anxiousiy.
mo" laughed the captain, your grand
ma sent her card up TO me. In fdct, she
invited me here to take tea with you.
Your servant, Old Glory" he said, spy
ing the flag Here's a bunch Of pretty
berries / picked for you, dearie. You
hav. plenty Of dollhouse flowers, but
these are real woodsy. Why, this fire is
quite camp-like," he said, but his eyes
twinkled at the discrepancy OF a blue
tiled fireplace.
Grandma asked your questioned AL
berta. curlously. II thought $50 did
l." nodded the captain. settling him
self into an easy chair. when j first
saw her. / thought she was all upper crust
but when i took her to see Missus, and
she was so sweet and tender 10 that
poor old woman, and when l saw her
write out that 500 check without wink
ing, and when we both drove with Mis-
sus over to the Ola Ladies' Home IN
her identical own carriage, and your
grandmother took of her bonnet with her
own two hands, and gave the matron
extra money to get her clothes,"-here the
captain caught his breath but went on
excitedly- "And when L saw Missus's
room all sun and comfort, and river
view, / began 10 see who you took after
Miss Alberta. j did indeed
DID my grandmother do all that" cried
Alberta, trembling with excitement.
"Ay, and she did it like lady"
Captain Ben, get up and take Old
Glory, and wave it three times for my
grandmother"
Never with heartier will"' cried the
pleased old veteran. swaying the flag
skilfully.
"Hurrah, say, for a good heart hur-
rah, hurrah"
Celestine made tea for them, and the